Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is an American actor, known for his roles in Prison Break and Close to Home. His most recent roles include Mayor Lavon Hayes on The CW series Hart of Dixie and the title character on The CW's Black Lightning. Williams is also best known for his recurring role as Terrence "Scooter" Williams on Fox's Living Single.
Williams was born in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany, to American parents. He attended Fullerton College and UCLA. On October 14, 2000, Williams married actress Simbi Khali in Malibu, California. The couple have two children together and divorced in 2011. Williams married girlfriend Kristen Torrianni in June 2013.
Williams acted in a 1990 Fullerton College production of William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, which was directed by Tom Blank. He also acted in another production in the same year at Fullerton College called Red Noses, a black comedy produced by Peter Barnes and directed by Michael Fields.