CW
Cress Williams
ActorBorn July 26, 1970 (55 years)
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
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
Cress Williams Filmography
| 2025 | Eyes of Wakanda (TV Series) · as The Lion (voice) |
| 2024 | Crisis on Infinite Earths: Redux · as Black Lightning |
| 2024 | Dead Wrong · as Paul Drake |
| 2022 | What Remains · as Marshall |
| 2021 | Crime Story · as Jimmy |
| 2020 | The Violent Heart · as Lee |
| 2019 | The Death and Return of Superman · as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice) |
| 2019 | Reign of the Supermen · as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice) |
| 2018 | The Death of Superman · as John Henry Irons (voice) |
| 2018 | Black Lightning (TV Series) · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning |
| 2017 | Doubt (TV Series) · as Ada Gates |
| 2016 | Lowriders · as Williams |
| 2016 | DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV Series) · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning |
| 2015 | Code Black (TV Series) · as Cole Guthrie |
| 2014 | State of Affairs (TV Series) · as Dale Scott |
| 2014 | The Flash (2014) (TV Series) · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning |
| 2014 | In Your Eyes · as Jake |
| 2011 | Hart of Dixie (TV Series) · as Lavon Hayes |
| 2009 | HawthoRNe (TV Series) · as Tony Gee |
| 2008 | Ball Don't Lie · as Dante |
| 2006 | Friday Night Lights (TV Series) · as Ornette Howard |
| 2006 | Haskett's Chance · as Hudson Chanticleer |
| 2005 | Close to Home (TV Series) · as Ed Williams |
| 2005 | Prison Break (TV Series) · as Wyatt |
| 2005 | Grey's Anatomy (TV Series) · as Tucker Jones |
| 2004 | House (TV Series) · as Hospital Attorney |
| 2004 | Veronica Mars (TV Series) · as Nathan Woods |
| 2004 | Little Black Book · as Phil |
| 2003 | Cold Case (TV Series) · as Jimmy Clarke |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den (TV Series) · as Eddie |
| 2002 | Presidio Med (TV Series) · as Richard Clayton |
| 2002 | Watching Ellie (TV Series) · as Dexter |
| 2001 | Philly (TV Series) · as Calvin Burney |
| 2001 | Pursuit of Happiness · as Ace |
| 2000 | Masquerade · as Marcus |
| 2000 | The District (TV Series) · as Dr. Carson |
| 1999 | The West Wing (TV Series) · as Lester |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Sam Dufoy |
| 1999 | Good vs Evil (TV Series) · as Virgil Grissom |
| 1999 | The Dogwalker · as K.c. |
| 1999 | Never Been Kissed · as George |
| 1999 | Providence (TV Series) · as Dr. Sam Magala |
| 1998 | Becker (TV Series) · as Chris Davis |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro (TV Series) · as Jaleel Jermaine |
| 1998 | Sports Night (TV Series) · as Steve Sarris |
| 1998 | Peter Benchley's Creature (TV Series) · as Tall Man |
| 1998 | Fallen · as Detective Joe |
| 1997 | Michael Hayes (TV Series) · as Gun Seller |
| 1997 | L.A. Johns · as Bill Allen |
| 1997 | Leaving L.A. (TV Series) · as Dudley Adams |
| 1997 | Home Invasion · as Freemont |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault · as Kimbrough |
| 1996 | Rolling Thunder · as 'grey' Toussaint |
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley · as Golfer |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges (TV Series) · as Antwon Babcock |
| 1995 | The Doom Generation · as Peanut |
| 1995 | JAG (TV Series) · as Captain Overton |
| 1995 | The Watcher (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Riley |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Officer Reggie Moore |
| 1994 | Hardball (TV Series) · as 'spotlight' Davis |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) · as Silky |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) · as Baron Sunday |
| 1993 | Living Single (TV Series) · as Terrence |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) · as Talak'talan |
| 1990 | Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV Series) · as D'shawn Hardell |
| 2020 | DC Fandome · as Self |
| 2017 | Steve (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | The Real Daytime (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Last Call with Carson Daly (TV Series) · as Self |