Cress Williams
Cress Williams | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1990—present |
Spouse | Kristen Torrianni (2013- present) |
Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is a German-born American film and television actor, best known for playing the hitman Wyatt in Prison Break and detective Ed Williams in Close to Home. He is also known for his role as Inspector Antwon Babcock in the final season of Nash Bridges, and as D’Shawn Hardell in seasons 4 and 5 of Beverly Hills, 90210. He also had a notable role of portraying music promoter Terrence "Scooter" Williams (the love interest of Khadijah) in the Fox television sitcom Living Single. He most recently played Mayor Lavon Hayes on The CW series Hart of Dixie.
Personal life
Williams was born in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to African American parents. He attended Fullerton College and UCLA.[1]
Career
Williams acted in a 1990 Fullerton College production of William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, which was directed by Tom Blank. A Los Angeles Times review criticized Williams acting and said that he "gets wild-eyed as Othello, especially when jealousy begins to reign in his house. But the portrayal doesn't go beyond the obvious, and Williams tends to overact. All his emotions are on the outside; it's difficult to connect with Othello's internal struggle."[2] He also acted in another production in the same year by Fullerton College called Red Noses, a black comedy produced by Peter Barnes and directed by Michael Fields.[3]
Williams has appeared on many TV series since 1994, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Beverly Hills, 90210, NYPD Blue, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, JAG, Living Single, Nash Bridges, Providence, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Veronica Mars, The West Wing, Close to Home, ER, and Grey's Anatomy. He portrayed Talak'talan, a Jem'Hadar leader in the Star Trek series, in a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Jem'Hadar".[4] Williams joined the Prison Break cast by playing The Company's assassin, Wyatt Mathewson.[5] He appeared in the final season of Friday Night Lights as Ornette Howard, father of East Dillon's star quarterback Vince Howard. He also starred alongside Rachel Bilson on The CW series Hart of Dixie as former football star turned mayor Lavon Hayes.
Filmography
Film and Television | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1993-1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | D'Shawn Hardell | 13 episodes |
1993-1998 | Living Single | Terrence 'Scooter' Williams | 10 episodes |
1994 | Hardball | 'Spotlight' Davis | Episode: See Spot Rum |
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Talak'talan | Episode: The Jem'Hadar | |
1995 | The Watcher | Episode: Resurrection/Niles and Bob/Harry Stenz | |
If Not for You | Ahmed | Episode: Snap! | |
The Doom Generation | Peanut | ||
NYPD Blue | Silky | Episode: A Murder with Teeth in It Episode: One Big Happy Family | |
1996 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Baron Sunday | Episode: Never on Sunday |
JAG | Captain Overton | Episode: The Brotherhood | |
2 Days in the Valley | Golfer | ||
Rolling Thunder | 'Grey' Toussaint | TV movie | |
Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Kimbrough | TV movie | |
1997 | Home Invasion | Freemont | TV movie |
L.A. Johns | Bill Allen | TV movie | |
Leaving L.A. | Dudley Adams | 6 episodes | |
Pants on Fire | Dream Guy | Short | |
1998 | Fallen | Detective Joe | |
Creature | Tall Man | TV movie | |
Buddy Faro | Jaleel Jermaine | Episode: Ain't That a Kick in the Head | |
1998-2008 | ER | Officer Reggie Moore | 14 episodes |
1999 | Never Been Kissed | George | |
The Dogwalker | K.C. | ||
Becker | Chris Davis | Episode: Blind Curve | |
2000 | Sports Night | Steve Sarris | Episode: Dana Get Your Gun |
G vs E | Virgil Grissom | Episode: Underworld | |
Masquerade | TV movie | ||
2000-2001 | Nash Bridges | Inspector Antwon Babcock | 22 episodes |
2001 | Pursuit of Happyness | Ace | |
Philly | Calvin Burney | Episode: Loving Sons | |
2001-2002 | Providence | Dr. Sam Magala | 8 episodes |
2002 | Couples | Marcus | TV movie |
Presidio Med | Richard Clayton | Episode: This Baby's Gonna Fly | |
The District | Dr. Carson | Episode: Drug Money | |
2003 | Touched by an Angel | Riley | Episode: And a Nightingale Sang |
Watching Ellie | Dexter | Episode: Buskers | |
The Lyon's Den | Eddie | Episode: Beach House | |
2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sam Dufoy | Episode: Careless |
Little Black Book | Phil | ||
House | Hospital Attorney | Episode: Maternity | |
2005-2006 | Veronica Mars | Nathan Woods | 4 episodes |
The West Wing | Lester | Episode: Undecideds Episode: Election Day | |
2006 | Haskett's Chance | Hudson Chanticleer | |
2006-2007 | Close to Home | Ed Williams | 20 episodes |
2006-2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Tucker Jones | 7 episodes |
2008 | Ball Don't Lie | Dante | |
Prison Break | Wyatt Matthewson | 9 episodes | |
2009 | Cold Case | Jimmy Clarke | Episode: Jurisprudence |
2010-2011 | Friday Night Lights | Ornette Howard | 10 episodes |
2011 | Hawthorne | Episode: Price of Admission Episode: A Shot in the Dark | |
2011–2015 | Hart of Dixie | Lavon Hayes | 44 episodes |
2015 | Code Black | Cole Guthrie | Episode: "You Are the Heart" |
2016 | Low Riders | Filming |
References
- ^ "All About Cress". Cress Williams Online. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ^ Smith, Mark Chalon (1990-10-18). "Mideast Setting Obscures `Othello'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Smith, Mark Chalon (1990-06-19). "Fullerton College Lacks Breadth for Black Comedy `Red Noses'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "The Jem'Hadar". Star Trek. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ^ "Cress Williams to Join Prison Break Season 4 as Assassin". Prison Break Buff. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
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