Cress Williams
(Known for His Roles in the TV Series: ‘Prison Break’, ‘Close to Home’ and ‘Hart of Dixie’)Born In: Heidelberg, Germany
Advanced Search Cress Williams is an American actor, best known for his roles in the series ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Black Lightning.’ Born in Heidelberg, West Germany, to American parents, Cress grew up in the US. He became interested in the prospect of becoming an actor while still in high school. He joined ‘Fullerton College’ of the ‘University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) and earned a degree in drama. He made his screen-acting debut in 1993, playing the supporting role of ‘Terrence Williams’ in the 1993 series ‘Living Single’ and then appeared in another supporting role, ‘D’Shawn Hardell,’ in the series ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’ He made his film debut in 1995, playing a supporting role in the black comedy ‘The Doom Generation.’ He has since appeared in films such as ‘Fallen,’ ‘Little Black Book,’ and ‘Ball Don’t Lie.’ He, however, had a better career on TV. After appearing in supporting roles in series such as ‘ER,’ ‘Nash Bridges,’ and ‘Close to Home,’ he played a key role in the series ‘Prison Break,’ which was a huge critical and commercial success. In the more recent years, he has been seen playing the superhero ‘Black Lightning’ in ‘The CW’ series of the same name. Quick FactsAge: 56 Years, 56 Year Old Males
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Kristen Torrianni, Simbi Khali (m. 2000–2011)
siblings: Kristen Torrianni
children: Amika Khali Williams
Born Country: Germany
Height: 6'5" (196 cm), 6'5" Males
Notable Alumni: Fullerton College
City: Heidelberg, Germany
More Factseducation: University Of California, Los Angeles, Fullerton College
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Jake GyllenhaalYou wanted to know
- 1
What role does Cress Williams play in "Black Lightning?"
Cress Williams plays the role of Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning in the TV series "Black Lightning."
- 2
Has Cress Williams appeared in any other TV shows or movies besides "Black Lightning?"
Yes, Cress Williams has appeared in various TV shows and movies, including roles in "Hart of Dixie," "Friday Night Lights," and "Code Black."
- 3
How did Cress Williams prepare for his role as Black Lightning?
Cress Williams prepared for his role as Black Lightning by undergoing physical training and studying the character's background and motivations. - 4
What are some of the key themes explored in "Black Lightning?"
Some key themes explored in "Black Lightning" include family dynamics, social justice, and the complexities of being a superhero in a modern society.
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American PeopleUniversity Of California, Los AngelesTall CelebritiesTall Male CelebritiesLeo Actors Childhood & Early LifeCress Williams was born on July 26, 1970, in Heidelberg, West Germany, to American parents. Soon after he was born, the family moved to Chicago. Cress spent the rest of his adolescence in Orange County.Although he had gained interest in acting at the age of 7, he had not really thought about making a career in acting until he was in high school. Although he wanted to participate in theater, he did not have a drama wing in his high school.One of his English teachers introduced him to William Shakespeare. With this, Cress became highly interested in pursuing acting. He joined the ‘UCLA’ and majored in drama.He had also begun doing plays. He played key parts in many classic plays, such as ‘Othello’ and ‘Oberon.’ He began working on TV when he was in his last year of college.Continue Reading Below Recommended Lists:American ActorsActors Who Are In Their 50sAmerican Film & Theater PersonalitiesCareerCress made his on-screen acting debut with the supporting role of ‘Terrence “Scooter” Williams’ in the sitcom ‘Living Single’ in 1993. He appeared in the series until 1998.He then appeared in another supporting role, in the teen drama series ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’ He appeared as ‘D’Shawn Hardell’ in 13 episodes of the series.He also played the guest role of ‘Spotlight Davis’ in the baseball-based sitcom ‘Hardball.’He made his film debut with the 1995 dark comedy ‘The Doom Generation.’ The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box-office failure.In the mid-1990s, he appeared in guest/small roles in many series, such as ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ and ‘If Not for You.’ He also played supporting roles in films such as ‘2 Days in the Valley’ and ‘Fallen.’In the mid-1990s, he ventured into TV films, too, such as ‘Rolling Thunder’ and ‘Rebound: The Legend of Earl “The Goat”Manigault.’In 1997, he appeared in a supporting role in the series ‘Leaving L.A.’ However, the series received abysmal ratings and reviews and was canceled after six episodes of the first season were aired.In 1998, he appeared in the miniseries ‘Creature,’ in which he played the ‘Tall Man.’ However, despite receiving appreciation for its special effects, the film was met with poor reviews.The same year, Cress received a huge break when he was signed to play ‘Officer Reggie Moore’ in the American medical drama ‘ER.’ He played a recurring role in the series.Continue Reading Below He then appeared in a string of guest roles, in series such as ‘Sports Night,’ ‘G vs E,’ and ‘Becker.’ He had another big break in 2000, when he began playing ‘Inspector Antwon Babcock’ in 22 episodes of the series ‘Nash Bridges.’He then played the supporting role of ‘Dr. Sam Magala’ in the series ‘Providence.’In the early 2000s, Cress mainly appeared in guest roles in series such as ‘The District,’ ‘Touched by an Angel,’ ‘Watching Ellie,’ and ‘The Lyon’s Den.’In 2004, he appeared in the supporting role of ‘Phil’ in the romantic comedy–drama film ‘Little Black Book.’ The film was a huge critical and commercial debacle.In 2006, he was chosen to play the role of ‘Detective Ed Williams’ in the crime drama ‘Close to Home.’ He appeared in the second season of the series and received critical acclaim for his portrayal.He started getting better roles by the end of the 2000s. He first appeared playing the supporting role of ‘Tucker Jones’ in the medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ In 2008, he earned the supporting role of ‘Wyatt Matthewson’ in the fourth season of the crime-drama series ‘Prison Break.’In 2008, he appeared in the supporting role of ‘Dante’ in the film ‘Ball Don’t Lie.’In 2010, he played ‘Ornette Howard’ in 10 episodes of the popular American drama ‘Friday Night Lights.’He earned the biggest break of his career in 2011, when he was cast as ‘Lavon Hayes,’ a key role in the comedy–drama series ‘Hart of Dixie.’ The hugely successful series ran for four seasons, spanning 76 episodes, with Cress appearing in all the episodes.Continue Reading Below In 2015, he appeared in a supporting role in the series ‘Code Black.’In 2018, he played the lead role of ‘Jefferson Pierce’/‘Black Lightning’ in the superhero TV series titled ‘Black Lightning.’ The series has received good reviews and has also been a commercial success.He has also voiced the character of ‘John Henry Irons’ in the direct-to-TV animated films ‘The Death of Superman’ and ‘Reign of the Supermen.’Family & Personal LifeCress Williams dated actor Simbi Khali on October 14, 2000. The couple stayed together for a long time but got divorced in 2011. They had two children.Cress dated actor Kristen Torrianni in the early 2010s and got married to her in 2013.He also teaches at a local acting school in Los Angeles since 2008.Facts About Cress WilliamsCress Williams is an accomplished martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.In addition to acting, Cress Williams is also a talented musician and plays the guitar.Cress Williams is a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his own experiences with anxiety and depression. He is a proud father and often shares heartwarming moments with his children on social media.Cress Williams is known for his love of cooking and often shares recipes and cooking tips with his fans.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEn5imp6Wovaa7z6WcZ5ufonyxvs6foKWdo2Sws7HSrGSwoZyhtqK50mZrbm5nbXuxtM9lYw%3D%3D