Cress Williams
Known for
Cress Williams is a durable German actor who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. The trail of credits goes back as far as 1995. There are 43 entries on the filmography, most of them supporting work in other people's stories. 'Grey's Anatomy' is the longest-standing point of contact with the audience. 'Black Lightning' rounds out the better-known part of the filmography.
Cress Williams
16 Movies
27 Series
Cress Williams is a durable German actor who has been at it long enough for audiences to grow up watching him. The trail of credits goes back as far as 1995. There are 43 entries on the filmography, most of them supporting work in other people's stories. 'Grey's Anatomy' is the longest-standing point of contact with the audience. 'Black Lightning' rounds out the better-known part of the filmography.
Movies
Plays Detective Joe
Fallen
1998
Plays John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
The Death and Return of Superman
2019
Plays John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Reign of the Supermen
2019
Plays George
Never Been Kissed
1999
Plays John Henry Irons (voice)
The Death of Superman
2019
Plays Peanut
The Doom Generation
1995
Plays Golfer
2 Days in the Valley
1996
Plays Phil
Little Black Book
2004
Plays Williams
Lowriders
2017
Plays Jake
In Your Eyes
2014
Plays Lee
The Violent Heart
2020
Plays Ace
Pursuit of Happiness
2001
Plays Jimmy
Crime Story
2021
Plays Paul Drake
Dead Wrong
2024
Plays Marshall
What Remains
2022
Plays K.C.
The Dogwalker
2002
TV Shows
Plays Lavon Hayes
Hart of Dixie
2011
Plays Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
Black Lightning
2018
Plays Antwon Babcock
Nash Bridges
1996
Plays Ed Williams
Close to Home
2005
Plays D'Shawn Hardell
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990
Plays Officer Reggie Moore
ER
1994
Plays Tucker Jones
Grey's Anatomy
2005
Plays Dudley Adams
Leaving L.A.
1997
Plays Nathan Woods
Veronica Mars
2004
Plays Terrence
Living Single
1993
Plays Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
The Flash
2014
Plays Lester
The West Wing
1999
Plays Tall Man
Creature
1998
Plays Hospital Attorney
House
2004
Plays Jimmy Clarke
Cold Case
2003
Plays Silky
NYPD Blue
1993
Plays Talak'talan
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
Plays Baron Sunday
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
Plays Captain Overton
JAG
1995
Plays Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
2016
Plays Riley
Touched by an Angel
1994
Plays Cole Guthrie
Code Black
2015
Plays Eddie
The Lyon's Den
2003
Plays The Lion (voice)
Eyes of Wakanda
2025
Plays Dexter
Watching Ellie
2002
Plays Davonte Faust
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Steve Sarris
Sports Night
1998
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Dead Wrong
Full Filmography
Eyes of Wakanda
The Lion (voice) · 1 episode
2025–
TV
Dead Wrong
Paul Drake
2024
Film
What Remains
Marshall
2022
Film
The Flash
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning · 3 episodes
2019–2021
TV
Crime Story
Jimmy
2021
Film
The Violent Heart
Lee
2020
Film
The Death and Return of Superman
John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
2019
Film
The Death of Superman
John Henry Irons (voice)
2019
Film
Reign of the Supermen
John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
2019
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Cress Williams and where are they from?
Cress Williams is 56 years old, born on July 26, 1970 in Heidelberg, Germany.
What are the most famous roles of Cress Williams?
Cress Williams is best known for roles in Fallen, Never Been Kissed, The Death and Return of Superman.
How many movies has Cress Williams been in?
Over a 31-year career (since 1995), Cress Williams has appeared in 16 movies and 27 TV shows.
What was Cress Williams's first movie?
The career of Cress Williams began with The Doom Generation (1995).
What is Cress Williams's most recent movie or series?
Cress Williams's most recent release is Eyes of Wakanda, which premiered on August 1, 2025.
What TV shows has Cress Williams appeared in?
On television, Cress Williams has appeared in The Flash, Grey's Anatomy, House, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Cress Williams
1970-07-26 · Heidelberg, Germany
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