Cress Williams

Cress Williams

Cress Williams is an American actor born on July 26, 1970, in Heidelberg, West Germany, to American parents. He studied acting at Fullerton College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of California, Los Angeles. Williams began his acting career performing in college plays, notably in productions like Shakespeare's "Othello" in 1990 before moving on to television and film roles. He is best known for his diverse roles on television, including Terrence "Scooter" Williams on the sitcom "Living Single," Inspector Antwon Babcock on "Nash Bridges," and Detective Ed Williams on the drama "Close to Home." He gained further prominence as Mayor Lavon Hayes in The CW series "Hart of Dixie" and especially as the lead character Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning in the superhero TV series "Black Lightning" (2018-2021). Williams has also had guest roles on numerous popular shows including "Prison Break," where he played the assassin Wyatt Mathewson, along with appearances in "Friday Night Lights," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Law & Order: SVU," among others. In addition to live-action roles, he has voiced the character John Henry Irons in animated films related to the DC universe. Off screen, Williams has been married twice and has four children. His career spans from the early 1990s to the present, marked by a steady presence in television dramas, action series, and superhero fiction, earning him recognition as a versatile and reliable actor in the entertainment industry

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Known For

Filmography

2025

Eyes of Wakanda
Eyes of Wakanda
as The Lion (voice)
TV - Released: 8/1/2025

2024

Dead Wrong
Dead Wrong
as Paul Drake
Movie - Released: 5/21/2024

2022

What Remains
What Remains
as Marshall
Movie - Released: 12/2/2022

2021

Crime Story
Crime Story
as Jimmy
Movie - Released: 8/13/2021

2020

The Violent Heart
The Violent Heart
as Lee
Movie - Released: 9/9/2020

2019

The Death and Return of Superman
The Death and Return of Superman
as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/1/2019
Reign of the Supermen
Reign of the Supermen
as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/13/2019

2018

The Death of Superman
The Death of Superman
as John Henry Irons (voice)
Movie - Released: 7/24/2018
Black Lightning
Black Lightning
as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
TV - Released: 1/16/2018

2017

Lowriders
Lowriders
as Williams
Movie - Released: 4/28/2017

2016

DC's Legends of Tomorrow
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
TV - Released: 1/21/2016

2015

Code Black
Code Black
as Cole Guthrie
TV - Released: 9/30/2015

2014

In Your Eyes
In Your Eyes
as Jake
Movie - Released: 4/20/2014
The Flash
The Flash
as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
TV - Released: 10/7/2014

2011

Hart of Dixie
Hart of Dixie
as Lavon Hayes
TV - Released: 9/26/2011

2005

Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
as Tucker Jones
TV - Released: 3/27/2005
Close to Home
Close to Home
as Ed Williams
TV - Released: 9/20/2005

2004

Little Black Book
Little Black Book
as Phil
Movie - Released: 8/6/2004
House
House
as Hospital Attorney
TV - Released: 11/16/2004
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
as Nathan Woods
TV - Released: 9/22/2004

2003

Cold Case
Cold Case
as Jimmy Clarke
TV - Released: 9/28/2003
The Lyon's Den
The Lyon's Den
as Eddie
TV - Released: 9/28/2003

2002

The Dogwalker
The Dogwalker
as K.C.
Movie - Released: 9/13/2002

2001

Pursuit of Happiness
Pursuit of Happiness
as Ace
Movie - Released: 1/17/2001

2000

Masquerade
Masquerade
as Marcus
Movie - Released: 11/10/2000

1999

Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed
as George
Movie - Released: 4/9/1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Sam Dufoy
TV - Released: 9/20/1999
The West Wing
The West Wing
as Lester
TV - Released: 9/22/1999

1998

Fallen
Fallen
as Detective Joe
Movie - Released: 1/16/1998
Creature
Creature
as Tall Man
TV - Released: 5/18/1998

1997

Home Invasion
Home Invasion
as Freemont
Movie - Released: 1/13/1997
L.A. Johns
L.A. Johns
as Bill Allen
Movie - Released: 6/10/1997
Leaving L.A.
Leaving L.A.
as Dudley Adams
TV - Released: 4/12/1997

1996

Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder
as 'Grey' Toussaint
Movie - Released: 10/16/1996
2 Days in the Valley
2 Days in the Valley
as Golfer
Movie - Released: 9/11/1996
Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges
as Antwon Babcock
TV - Released: 3/29/1996

1995

The Doom Generation
The Doom Generation
as Peanut
Movie - Released: 10/20/1995
JAG
JAG
as Captain Overton
TV - Released: 9/23/1995
TV
If Not for You
as Ahmed
TV - Released: 9/18/1995

1994

Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Riley
TV - Released: 9/21/1994
ER
ER
as Officer Reggie Moore
TV - Released: 9/19/1994
ER
ER
as Reggie Moore
TV - Released: 9/19/1994

1993

NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
as Silky
TV - Released: 9/21/1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
as Talak'talan
TV - Released: 1/3/1993

1990

Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
as D'Shawn Hardell
TV - Released: 10/4/1990

Unknown

Movie
Reimagined
as Ray
Movie