Cress Williams

Cress Williams Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: July 26, 1970

Age: 53 years old

Birth Place: Heidelberg, Germany

Following his 1993 debut as beau to hip-hop artist Queen Latifah on the popular African-American sitcom "Living Single" (Fox, 1993-98), Cress Williams quickly became a regular fixture on some of television's most beloved programs including "Beverly Hills, 90210" (Fox, 1990-2000), "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) and "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1996-2001). Williams also had small roles in several feature films including "Fallen" (1998) and "Never Been Kissed" (1999). With a short-lived but memorable turn in "Prison Break" (Fox, 2005-2009) as a professional assassin, Williams was establishing himself as a versatile and memorable actor, and he went on to regular appearances in "Friday Night Lights" (NBC, 2006-11) before landing a starring role on "Hart of Dixie" (CW, 2011-15) as Mayor Lavon Hayes, the ex-NFL linebacker with his trusty pet alligator, Burt Reynolds.

Credits

What Remains

Actor
Marshall
Movie
2022

Crime Story

Actor
Jimmy
Movie
2021

The Violent Heart

Actor
Lee
Movie
2020

Reign of the Supermen

Voice
Steel / John Henry Irons
Movie
2019

Black LightningStream

Actor
Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning
Series
2018
92%

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

DoubtStream

Guest Star
ADA Gates
Series
2017
55%

Lowriders

Actor
Detective Stallworth
Movie
2016

Code BlackStream

Guest Star
Cole Guthrie
Series
2015

The FlashStream

Guest Star
Black Lightning
Series
2014
89%

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Close to Home

Actor
Show
2011

Hart of DixieStream

Actor
Lavon Hayes
Series
2011

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Friday Night LightsStream

Guest Star
Ornett Howard
Series
2006
97%

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Close to Home

Actor
Det. Ed Williams
Show
2005

Prison BreakStream

Guest Star
Wyatt
Series
2005
61%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

HouseStream

Guest Star
Hospital Attorney
Series
2004
90%

Veronica MarsStream

Guest Star
Series
2004
91%

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Philly

Guest Star
Show
2001

Pursuit of Happiness

Actor
Ace
Movie
2001

The District

Guest Star
Series
2000

Masquerade

Actor
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Sam Dufoy
Series
1999
78%

Good vs. Evil

Guest Star
Show
1999

Providence

Guest Star
Series
1999

BeckerStream

Guest Star
Series
1998

Buddy Faro

Guest Star
Show
1998

Sports NightStream

Guest Star
Series
1998
90%

CreatureStream

Actor
Miniseries
1998

Michael Hayes

Guest Star
Show
1997

Leaving L.A.

Actor
Show
1997

Home Invasion

Actor
Freemont
Movie
1997

L.A. Johns

Actor
Bill Allen
Movie
1997

Nash Bridges

Actor
Series
1996

Nash Bridges

Guest Star
Series
1996

2 Days in the ValleyStream

Actor
Golfer
Movie
1996
62%

Rolling Thunder

Actor
`'Grey'` Toussaint
Movie
1996

JAGStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

If Not for You

Guest Star
Show
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

ERStream

Guest Star
Officer Reggie Moore
Series
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Silky
Series
1993
83%

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanStream

Guest Star
Series
1993
86%

Living SingleStream

Guest Star
Series
1993

Star Trek: Deep Space NineStream

Guest Star
Talak'talan
Series
1993
91%

News aboutCress Williams

The Flash Armageddon Poster

‘The Flash’: Fates Collide & Arrowverse Heroes Unite in ‘Armageddon’ Poster (PHOTO)

Grant Gustin as Barry Allen in The Flash

‘The Flash’ Trailer: Arrowverse Heroes Return to Help Barry in ‘Armageddon’ (VIDEO)

Ryan Wilder in Batwoman, Grant Gustin in The Flash, Brandon Routh in Legends of Tomorrow

‘The Flash’ to Kick Off Season 8 With 5-Part Event: Which Arrowverse Stars Will Appear?

Don Johnson in the original Nash Bridges

‘Nash Bridges’ Turns 25: See Where the Cast Is Now, From Don Johnson to Cheech Marin

black lightning
Preview

‘Black Lightning’ EP Previews the Final Season’s Premiere, ‘Getting Back to Family’

Cress Williams Jefferson Pierce Black Lightning Season 2

‘Black Lightning’ Is ‘Dead’ & Freeland Is Lost in Season 4 Trailer (VIDEO)

Cress Williams Black Lightning Jefferson Pierce

‘Black Lightning’ to Come to an End With Season 4 on the CW

Black Lightning -Black Lightning --
Preview

‘Black Lightning’ Cast Shares Their Theories for What’s in That Mysterious Briefcase

Black Lightning cast
Comic-Con

‘Black Lightning’ Cast Gives the Scoop on Season 2 & the Future of Freeland (VIDEO)

black-lightning-lego-comic-con
Exclusive

How to Win LEGO’s ‘Black Lightning’ Minifigure Exclusive at Comic-Con 2018

BLK110b_0462bb
Exclusive

‘Black Lightning’ Season 1 DVD Includes Tons of Bonus Material (VIDEO)

Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce, and China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce in Black Lightning

‘Black Lightning’ May Have Confirmed an ‘Arrow’-verse Connection

Black Lightning - Cress Williams

Roush Review: ‘Black Lightning’ Separates Itself From Other Comic-Book Shows

Black Lightning S1

Warner Bros. Sets ‘DC in D.C.’ Event With ‘Flash,’ ‘Gotham,’ ‘Black Lightning’ and More

Black Lightning Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams)- Comicon 2017 SIP

The CW’s ‘Black Lightning’ to Strike on January 16

Tobias Whale

Tobias Whale to Challenge ‘Black Lightning’ as New Villain