Christopher Williams

Christopher Lawrence Williams (born August 22, 1967) is an American singer and actor. Emerging in the late 1980s as a recording artist with Geffen Records, Williams became a notable figure in the new jack swing era with a series of R&B chart hits, including “Talk to Myself”, “I'm Dreamin'” (1991), and “Every Little Thing U Do” (1993). He is also known for his work in film and theater, most notably for his role as Kareem Akbar in the 1991 crime drama New Jack City.

Career Music Williams’ single "I'm Dreamin'", from the New Jack City, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. After a six-year hiatus from recording, he released Real Men Do on the independent label Renegade in 2001. The album received a highly favorable review in Ebony magazine that summer.

Between solo projects, Williams contributed to several recordings, including Alex Bugnon’s As Promised, performing a smooth-jazz version of Mary J. Blige’s “All That I Can Say,” Twista & the Speedknot Mobstaz track “In Your World,” an upbeat song featured on the Doctor Dolittle soundtrack, and the Café Soul All-Stars album, appearing on the single “Used to Be.”

His additional soundtrack contributions include “Tha 2 of Us” from Bulletproof; “Superhero” from Butter; “Boom and the Bang” (featuring R&B singer Nikki Ross-Turnley) and “ I’m Yours”

Other collaborations throughout his career comprise “Round and Round” and “No Sunshine” (with Chantay Savage) from Phuture Flava; “Love You More Than Words Can Say” from Soul Blitz Allstars; “I Hope That We Can Be Together Soon,” a duet with Miki Howard; “You Are So Fine,” a duet with Shae; “Can’t Wait to Be with You” from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s Code Red; “I Wanna B Ure Lover” from F.S. Effect’s So Deep It’s Bottomless; and “Sexual Healing,” a duet with reggae dancehall artist Patra.

At the end of 1994, Williams joined the R&B collective Black Men United for the hit single “U Will Know,” recorded for the film Jason’s Lyric and its accompanying soundtrack. The group featured artists such as El DeBarge, Al B. Sure!, Gerald Levert, and others.

Acting Williams appeared in the 1991 film New Jack City as Kareem Akbar, one of Nino Brown’s assistants. He also had a cameo appearance in the 1990s police drama New York Undercover as “the singer,” performing “Stranger in My Life” in the episode titled “The Shooter.” He made another cameo in the film Gunmen, starring Christopher Lambert and Mario Van Peebles, performing the song “Stranger in My Life.” He is the nephew of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and cousin of singer Al B. Sure!. With Maya Hylton, son Justin (born 1988) With Stacey Dash, son Austin (born 1991) With Heather Barnes, daughter Cierra (born 1993)

From 1991 until mid–1992, Williams dated actress Halle Berry. After Halle Berry told interviewers that an abusive ex-boyfriend struck her so hard that she lost most of the hearing in her right ear, many people assumed that Williams was the unnamed ex-boyfriend. Williams defended himself to Eurweb, the entertainment news website, denying that he ever harmed Berry, and suggesting that Berry had been referring to actor Wesley Snipes.

Legal issues In October 2017, Williams was arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft, accused of stealing a $99 pair of JBL headphones from a Kohl's department store in McDonough, Georgia.

Health issues Williams made public in October 2022 that he had been struggling with health issues related to kidney failure and was in a coma November 5, 2021. He openly talked about his illness causing him to lose weight drastically down to 129 pounds and admitted that it was hard to pick up a fork to feed himself.

Discography Studio albums Year Album details Peak positions US USR&B 1989 Adventures in Paradise Released: July 25, 1989 Label: Geffen — 23 1992 Changes Released: December 29, 1992 Label: Uptown, MCA 63 12 1995 Not a Perfect Man Released: February 28, 1995 Label: Giant 104 13 2001 Real Men Do Released: September 25, 2001 Label: Renegade — —

Singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US USR&B USDan 1989 "Talk to Myself" 49 4 18 Adventures in Paradise "Promises, Promises" — 7 — 1990 "One Girl" — 31 — 1991 "I'm Dreamin'" 89 1 — New Jack City "I Wanna B Ure Lover" (with F.S. Effect) — 52 — So Deep It's Bottomless 1992 "All I See" 104 19 — Changes 1993 "Every Little Thing U Do" 75 7 — "Come Go with Me" — 74 — 1995 "Dance 4 Me" — 25 — Not a Perfect Man "If You Say" — 91 — 1997 "Round and Round" — — — Phuture Flava Vol. 1

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 New Jack City Kareem AkbarThe Educated Brother from the Bank 1994 Gunmen Himself 2002 Revenge of the Unhappy Campers Ned 2003 Men Cry in the Dark Pretty Tony Video 2009 The Man of Her Dreams Jamal Thor's Hammer Grande Short 2010 The Clean Up Woman Stewart Adams 2011 The Love You Save Billy TV movie 2015 Angry Insecure Men 2 Marcus 2019 Love Dot Com: The Social Experiment Joe Jeffries

Television Year Legacy Role Notes 1989–92 Soul Train Himself Guest Cast: Season 19–20 & 22 1990 Showtime at the Apollo Himself Episode: "Episode #3.14" 1992 The Uptown Comedy Club Himself Episode: "Episode #1.3" 1993 MTV Unplugged Himself Episode: "Uptown Unplugged" 1995 New York Undercover Himself Episode: "The Shooter" 2009 Hawthorne Detective Episode: "Mother's Day" 2011 Life After Himself Episode: "Christopher Williams" 2014 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Himself Recurring Cast: Season 6 2016 Inside the Label Himself Episode: "Uptown Records, Part II" 2020 Unsung Himself Episode: "Christopher Williams" 2020–21 The Family Business Richard Guest Cast: Season 2–3