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Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 Early life and education  





2 Career  





3 Personal life  





4 Filmography  



4.1  Film  





4.2  Television  







5 Award nominations  





6 References  





7 External links  














Cynda Williams






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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[edit]

    Williams was born Cindy Ann Williams[1]inChicago, 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[edit]

    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[edit]

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

    Filmography[edit]

    Film[edit]

    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[edit]

    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[edit]

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

    References[edit]

  • ^ Press Reader – Chicago Actress Defines Perseverance – February 24, 2010
  • ^ IndieWire.『‘Mo’ Better Blues’ at 30: Spike Lee’s Fourth Joint, as Told by Female Leads Cynda Williams and Joie Lee』September 24, 2020.
  • ^ "Billy Bob: Angelina Jolie Still 'One of My Best Friends'". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  • External links[edit]


    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cynda_Williams&oldid=1210610534"

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    This page was last edited on 27 February 2024, at 13:15 (UTC).

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