Cynda Williams

Cynda Williams
Born
Cindy Ann Williams

Other names
  • Cynda Will
  • Cindy Williams
Alma materBall State University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1989–present
Spouse
(m. 1990; div. 1992)
Children1

Cindy Ann Williams is an American actress. She is credited as Cynda Williams.

Early life and education

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Williams was born Cindy Ann Williams[1] in Chicago, Illinois to Charles, a police officer[2] and Beverly, a medical lab technician.[2] She was raised in the Pullman neighborhood on the city's south side. She spent parts of her early childhood in Indiana, where she sang in her grandfather's church.[2] Williams attended Bennett Elementary School[3] before she moved with her mother to Muncie, Indiana, as a teenager. While in Indiana, Williams attended Northside High School; graduating in 1984.[1] After high school, Williams attended Ball State University, studying theater and was crowned Ms. Ball State in 1987. She graduated in 1989.[2]

Career

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In 1989, Williams changed her first name to "Cynda" to avoid conflicts with Laverne & Shirley actress Cindy Williams, who was also listed by the same name with the Screen Actors Guild. Williams has acted in films on both television and in the cinema. Her first appearance in a feature film was in Spike Lee's 1990 Mo' Better Blues. "In the Midwest, I was told by casting directors that I wasn’t the right type because I didn’t look black enough, and I didn’t look white," says Williams. "But everything changed when I moved to New York, because my look could cross different lines."[4] She was also in One False Move (1992) as well as the Tales of the City Channel 4/PBS miniseries.

Williams had a brief stint in the music industry in 1990 with her appearance on the soundtrack to Mo' Better Blues, on the song "Harlem Blues". The single was popular, reaching No. 9 on the R&B charts on November 17, 1990. With the success of the single, Williams had been lined up with Sony to produce her own album. While she was trained in a variety of genres, jazz became pressed on her after the success of "Harlem Blues". The album was shelved following internal disagreements at Sony.

Personal life

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Williams was married to actor Billy Bob Thornton, from 1990 to 1992.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Mo' Better Blues Clarke Bentancourt
1992 One False Move Lila "Fantasia" Walker
1993 Ghost Brigade Rebecca
1995 Condition Red Gidell Ryan
The Tie That Binds Lisa-Marie Chandler
1996 Sweeper Diane Direct-to-video
Spirit Lost Arabella
Black Rose of Harlem Georgia
Tales of Erotica Davida Urked
1998 Caught Up Vanessa Dietrich/Trish
Relax...It's Just Sex Sarina Classer
The Last Call -
2001 MacArthur Park Alicia
March Angela Walsh
2003 With or Without You Cheri Fontenot
2004 Shooter Coach Mary Short film
2005 When Do We Eat? Grace
2007 Frankie D Barbara
Divine Intervention Sister Grier
2008 Tru Loved Lisa
Beautiful Loser Dennice (Adult)
2012 Turning Point Dede Johnson
2014 Gangland Tammy
2015 72 Hours Liyah
2017 The Hills Miss Lee
Ray Meets Helen Doctor Harris
A Chance in the World Ruby Dottin mis-credited as Lynda Williams
Wilted Rose Tanya Sanchez Short film
Pieces of David Detective Elaine
2018 Every 21 Seconds Administrative Nurse Malone
2019 A Sisterhood of Signatures Mrs. Owens Short film
Welfare Check Jo Short film
Everyday But Christmas Deanna's Mother
2020 Why Me Ms. Black
The Misadventures of Mistress Maneater Deb
2021 Mad As Hell Detective Briggs
Untold: The Back & Forth Story Chriss Murray
Finding Dawn Dawn Short film
Life Ain't Like the Movies Pat Mills

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Tales of the City D'orothea Wilson Recurring cast
1995 Marker Pamela Austin Episode: "Truth, Lies and Rock 'n' Roll"
Fallen Angels Deletha Episode: "Fearless"
1996 Gang in Blue Anita Boyard TV movie
1997 New York Undercover Erica Rockler Episode: "Hubris"
1998 The Wedding Liz Odis TV movie
1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Vivian Dandridge TV movie
2000 The Courage to Love Cecelia Delille TV movie
Hidden Blessings Brandy Taylor TV movie
2003 Violation Rita Washington TV movie
2006 Our House Nurse TV movie
2019 Black Privilege Alderwoman Tyrina TV movie

Award nominations

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Year Award Result Category Film or series
1993 Independent Spirit Award Nominated Best Female Lead One False Move

References

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  1. ^ a b Northside High School (Muncie, Indiana) 1984 yearbook
  2. ^ a b c d Entertainment Weekly – Cynda Williams: Breakout star -- The actress stars in Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues – August 24, 1990
  3. ^ Press Reader – Chicago Actress Defines Perseverance – February 24, 2010
  4. ^ IndieWire. "‘Mo’ Better Blues’ at 30: Spike Lee’s Fourth Joint, as Told by Female Leads Cynda Williams and Joie Lee" September 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Billy Bob: Angelina Jolie Still 'One of My Best Friends'". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
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