Cynda Williams

Cynthia Ann Williams[1] (born May 17, 1966)[2], known professionally as Cynda Williams is an American actress, singer–songwriter, playwright, author, artistic mentor and activist.

Cynda Williams
Born
Cynthia Ann Williams[1]

(1966-05-17) May 17, 1966
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names
  • Cynda Will
  • Cindy Williams
EducationNorthside High School
Alma materBall State University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • playwright
  • author
  • artistic mentor
  • activist
Years active1989–present
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1990; div. 1992)

Arthur Louis Fuller
​
(
m. 1993; div. 1998)

Roderick Plummer
(
m. 2001)
Children1

Early life and education

Williams was born Cynthia Ann Williams in Chicago, Illinois to Charles, a Chicago police officer[3] and Beverly, a medical lab technician.[3] Williams was raised in the Pullman neighborhood on the city's south side. Williams spent parts of her early childhood in Indiana, where she sang in her grandfather's church.[3] For school, Williams attended Bennett Elementary School[4] and Dunbar Vocational High School before she moved with her mother to Muncie, Indiana when she was a teenager. While in Indiana, Williams attended Northside High School; graduating in 1984.[1] After high school, Williams attended Ball State University, studying theater. While in college, She was crowned Ms. Ball State in 1987 and later graduated in 1989.[3]

Career

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. She was also in One False Move (1992) as well as the Tales of the City Channel 4/PBS miniseries. While most well known for her involvement in the movie industry, 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 #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

Williams has been married three times and has one child. Her first marriage was to actor Billy Bob Thornton[5] from 1990 until 1992. A year after divorcing Thornton, Williams married actor Arthur Louis Fuller in 1993 before divorcing in 1998. Williams has been married to former college football star and television producer, Roderick Plummer since July 2001.[2] Together, Williams and Plummer have a daughter Sophia Plummer.

Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes
1990 Mo' Better Blues Clarke Bentancourt
1992 One False Move Lila "Fantasia" Walker
1993 Ghost Brigade Rebecca Alternative titles: Grey Knight and The Killing Box
1995 Wet Davida Urked
Condition Red Gidell Ryan
The Tie That Binds Lisa-Marie Chandler
1996 Spirit Lost Arabella
Black Rose of Harlem Georgia Alternative title: Machine Gun Blues and Pistol Blues
The Sweeper Diane
Gang in Blue Anita Boyard
Tales of Erotica Davida Urked Segment: Wet
1998 Caught Up Vanessa Dietrich/Trish
Relax...It's Just Sex Sarina Classer
The Last Call Alternative title: Stingers
2001 March Angela Walsh
MacArthur Park Alicia
2003 With or Without You Cheri Fontenot
2004 Shooter Coach Mary
2005 When Do We Eat? Grace
2007 Frankie D Barbara
Divine Intervention Sister Grier
2008 Beautiful Loser Dennice (Adult)
Tru Loved Lisa
2012 Turning Point Dede Johnson
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Tales of the City D'orothea/Dorothy Wilson Miniseries
1995 Fallen Angels Deletha Episode: "Fearless"
1997 New York Undercover Erica Rockler 1 episode
1998 The Wedding Liz Odis Miniseries
1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Vivian Dandridge Television movie
2000 The Courage to Love Cecelia Delille Television movie
Hidden Blessings Brandy Taylor Television movie
2003 Violation Rita Washington Television movie
2006 Our House Nurse Television movie

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

References
  1. Northside High School (Muncie, Indiana) 1984 yearbook
  2. "Cynda Williams Biography (1966-)". filmreference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  3. Entertainment Weekly - Cynda Williams: Breakout star -- The actress stars in Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues - August 24, 1990
  4. Press Reader - Chicago Actress Defines Perseverance - February 24, 2010
  5. "Billy Bob: Angelina Jolie Still 'One of My Best Friends'". US Magazine. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
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