Actors who could play Aaron Cash (Batman Character) (UPDATED)
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Academy Award, Emmy and Tony Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry is a versatile actor whose career spans film, television and theater. Earlier this year, Henry starred opposite Jennifer Lawrence in A24's "Causeway," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is streaming globally on Apple TV+. For his role, Henry earned an Academy Award nomination and was included in Time Magazine's list of 10 best movie performances of the year. He also received the AAFCA Award and Black Reel Award for best supporting actor, a Critics' Choice Award nomination, Film Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Gotham Award nomination.
Henry is most widely known for his starring role in the Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody Award winning FX series "Atlanta." For four seasons, Henry portrayed Alfred Miles, Atlanta's hot of the moment rapper who has been forced to navigate fame while remaining loyal to family, friends and himself. He received Emmy, SAG, Critics' Choice and MTV Movie & TV Award nominations for his work.
Henry is currently in production on the Apple TV+ series "Sinking Spring," which will be directed by Ridley Scott, and he will also reprise his role in Sony's animated feature "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, releasing this June. He recently completed production on several projects, including Warner Brother's "Godzilla vs. Kong" sequel, MGM's feature film "Flint Strong" and the FX original limited series "Class Of '09," where he will portray the character of Tayo Michaels, a brilliant and unorthodox FBI agent. The series, releasing this May, examines the nature of justice, humanity and the choices people make that ultimately define their lives and legacy.
In 2022, Henry starred as "Lemon" in Sony's hit feature film "Bullet Train" alongside Brad Pitt and directed by David Leitch. In 2021, Henry starred in four feature films, including Marvel's "Eternals," directed by Chloe Zhao. Henry starred as "Phastos," the intelligent weapons and technology inventor. He also starred in Warner Brothers' blockbuster "Godzilla vs. Kong," in which he portrayed the character of Bernie, a truth seeking podcast host and conspiracy theorist, the indie drama "The Outside Story," in which he received rave reviews for his leading role, and in Netflix's "The Woman in the Window" opposite Amy Adams and Gary Oldman.
In 2018, Henry had a prolific year on the silver screen, starring in a diverse array of feature films. He co-starred in the action thriller "Hotel Artemis" alongside Jodie Foster and Sterling K. Brown, Sony's drama "White Boy Rick" with Matthew McConaughey, director Steve McQueen's thriller "Widows" opposite Viola Davis, Sony's Oscar-winning animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and Barry Jenkins' "If Beale Street Could Talk," for which he received critical acclaim (NAACP nomination) for his performance as the character "Daniel Carty." In 2019, Henry starred in MGM's "Child's Play," Blumhouse's "Don't Let Go," which premiered at Sundance, and the indie comedy "Fam-i-ly."
Henry's additional film credits include his NAACP nominated role in Netflix's "Vivo," "Superintelligence" with Melissa McCarthy and the indie films "Irreplaceable You," "Puerto Ricans in Paris" and "Crown Heights." On television, he has appeared in numerous shows, including "HouseBroken," Room 104," "Drunk History," "BoJack Horseman," "How To Get Away With Murder," "Vice Principals," "Boardwalk Empire," "The Knick," "The Good Wife" and "Law & Order." In 2017, he guest-starred as "Ricky" on NBC's "This Is Us," for which he earned an Emmy nomination.
Henry originated the role of "The General" in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, for which he received high praise. In Spring 2018, Henry returned to Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan's Tony nominated play Lobby Hero. For his role, he received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations. Henry's wide-range of theater credits include The Fortress of Solitude and The Brother/Sister Plays/The Brothers Size (Helen Hayes Best Actor Nomination) at The Public Theatre, as well as Romeo and Juliet and Talk About Race at New York Stage and Film and The Public.
A graduate of Atlanta's Morehouse College, Henry received his MFA from Yale's School of Drama.- Writer
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Bashir Salahuddin is an American actor, writer, and comedian. Salahuddin was born and raised in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. His father is originally from Panama and had moved to Chicago with his family when he was a child. His mother grew up on the West Side of Chicago. They met when they both were students at Southern Illinois University and converted to Islam in the early 1970s. His parents divorced in the early 2000s. Salahuddin grew up with three brothers and two sisters and has two younger siblings from his father's second marriage. Salahuddin's father worked as an airplane mechanic for Midway Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport. As family members of an airline employee, the family was able to fly on many stand-by trips across the U.S. He credits his father with instilling in him what he refers to as the "immigrant work ethic".- Actor
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Thom Barry was born on 6 December 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Fast and the Furious (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Independence Day (1996).- Actor
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Robert Wisdom graces each of his diverse screen roles with a powerful, profound and cool presence-- from his commercial hits to his bold and proactive performances in a variety of new features. He starred on HBO's The Wire, generating wide critical praise. Wisdom appeared in The Hawk is Dying at the Sundance Film Festival, starring Paul Giamatti, Michelle Williams and Michael Pitt. In addition, Wisdom had a pivotal role in the Oscar-Award winning film Ray starring Jamie Foxx. Wisdom's versatility can be seen in films such as Storytelling opposite Selma Blair, Duplex opposite Drew Barrymore and Ben Stiller, Barbershop 2: Back in Business with Cedric the Entertainer and The Forgotten starring Julianne Moore. Wisdom has also appeared in the independent feature, Coastlines, directed by Victor Nunez. He also spent five months doing improvisation work to shape his character for director Michael Radford's Dancing at the Blue Iguana co-starring Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Tilly. Wisdom's success can also be seen on the television, including the critically acclaimed series Cracker, opposite Robert Pastorelli. His other credits include If These Walls Could Talk with Demi Moore and Sahara. His guest appearances include ER, NYPD Blue, Dharma and Greg, Judging Amy, and Boomtown.
Wisdom was raised in Washington, D.C., the middle of three children of Jamaican parents. He attended St. Alban's School in D.C., then graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in history and economics. Wisdom's passion is world music and he plays several percussion instruments, including Cuban drums, and has traveled the world following his passion.- Actor
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Isiah Whitlock Jr. was born on 13 September 1954 in South Bend, Indiana, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Da 5 Bloods (2020), Cedar Rapids (2011) and BlacKkKlansman (2018).- Actor
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Alvin Sanders was born March 16, 1952, in Oakland, California. He was a performer from an early age (church choirs, talent shows, school plays) and in 1968 became a devotee of The Seattle Repertory Theater. "Devotee" was a fancy name the Seattle Rep (and the Actors' Equity Association) created for unpaid actors. They worked out a deal with the public school system that allowed students to perform in their shows in return for high school credits. For every 200 hours the student was involved in rehearsal and performance at the theater, he received 1/2 a credit toward graduation. The student also got a chance to work with professionals, to see and discuss with them the theater lifestyle.
Alvin earned 1-1/2 credits over two years performing with the Seattle Rep. In 1969 (while still in high school and working at the Rep) he was a founding member of Black Arts/West Theater. By 1973 this theater (it disbanded in 1980) had become one of the largest black theaters in the US, second only to The Negro Ensemble Company in New York. The Black Arts/West company performed year-round in their theater, as well as touring all over the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho). Alvin was involved in all aspects of the theater--directing, designing, administration. But his number-one job was acting. In 1970 he left Seattle to go to Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the longest-running collegiate, professional actor training program in North America. He left Carnegie to work the 1972-73 season of Chicago's Free Street Theater, but returned to graduate in 1975 with a BFA (drama/acting).
Alvin did his first SAG gig in 1973 (Cinderella Liberty (1973)) and joined Actor's Equity in 1975 with a gig at Actor's Theater of Louisville (he played Petruchio in a school tour of "Taming of the Shrew"). In the summer of 1984 he went to Barkerville, British Columbia, Canada to portray Wellingon Delaney Moses (a black barber in 1860s Barkerville) in a musical at The Theatre Royale. He also fell in love, and his entire life changed. In the fall of 1984 Alvin married the stage manager of the show in Barkerville and moved to Vancouver.
Alvin is now a dual U.S./Canadian citizen and since arriving in Vancouver has done several Vancouver theater-award-winning roles, lots of TV and film, an abundance of animation voice work, and many Canadian and US national commercials.- Actor
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Richard Timothy Jones is a American actor. He has worked extensively in both film and television productions since the early 1990s. His television roles include Ally McBeal (1997), Judging Amy (1998-2005), CSI: Miami (2006), Girlfriends (2007), Grey's Anatomy (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2011-2014), Narcos (2015), and Criminal Minds (2017). Since 2018, he has played Sergeant Wade Grey on the ABC police drama The Rookie. His film roles include portrayals of Lamont Carr in Disney's Full Court Miracle (2003), Laveinio "Slim" Hightower in Rick Famuyiwa's coming-of-age film The Wood (1999), Mike in Tyler Perry's dramatic films Why Did I Get Married? (2007) and Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), and Captain Russell Hampton in the Hollywood blockbuster Godzilla (2014).- Everick Golding is known for Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story (2020), The Flash (2014) and Every Day Is Christmas (2018).
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Charles S. Dutton was born on 30 January 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Gothika (2003), Alien 3 (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). He was previously married to Debbi Morgan.- Actor
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Chi McBride was born on 23 September 1961 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), I, Robot (2004) and The Terminal (2004). He is married to Julissa Marquez. They have one child.- Music Artist
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Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. He first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. His compositions with that group included many of the classic cuts from their debut LP "Straight Outta Compton" (Ruthless/Priority, 1989), including the title track, "Gangsta Gangsta" and "Express Yourself". He quit the band over business differences in 1990 and began a still-growing series of commercially and critically acclaimed solo albums, starting with "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" (Priority, 1990). His second solo album, "Death Certificate" (Priority, 1991), a concept album about the fall and rise of the Black man, sold two million copies, and his subsequent solo output (six albums to date total) has sold over ten million copies. He has also discovered Yoyo, Del the Funky Homosapien, K-Dee and Mack 10. He has also produced, written, toured and recorded with Public Enemy, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Clinton, The D.O.C., Michel'e, Big Daddy Kane, WC & The Madd Circle (which spawned the solo career of Coolio), former N.W.A. bandmate Dr. Dre and Cypress Hill. He has also recorded with two post-N.W.A. side-project bands, Da Lench Mob ("Guerillas In Tha Mist", Street Knowledge/East-West, 1991) and Westside Connection ("Bow Down", Priority, 1996). His movie career has been no less stellar. Ice Cube's debut in Boyz n the Hood (1991) led to more roles in such films as Trespass (1992), Dangerous Ground (1997) and Anaconda (1997). He also appeared as himself in the comedy CB4 (1993). He is also no stranger to the other side of the camera, directing videos for himself as well as Prince and Color Me Badd, as well as co-writing his screenwriting debut, Friday (1995).- Actor
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Omar Sy was born on 20 January 1978 in Trappes, Yvelines, France. He is an actor and producer, known for The Intouchables (2011), Jurassic World (2015) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). He has been married to Hélène Sy since 6 July 2007. They have four children.- Actor
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Sam Richardson is an American actor, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known for playing Richard Splett in the HBO political comedy series Veep (2012-2019), co-creating and co-starring in the Comedy Central comedy series Detroiters (2017-2018) alongside Tim Robinson, and playing various characters in the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019-present), and co-starring in The Afterparty (2022).- Actor
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Michael Jai White is an American actor and martial artist who has appeared in numerous films and television series. He is the first African American to portray a major comic book superhero in a major motion picture, having starred as Al Simmons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Spawn. White portrayed Jax Briggs in Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2011). White also portrayed boxer Mike Tyson in the 1995 HBO television movie Tyson.- Actor
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Morehouse alumni and Indianapolis native, Dohn Norwood is making a name for himself in the Hollywood scene. His film and television credits include: Bruce Almighty (starring Jim Carrey), Mini's First Time (starring Alec Baldwin and Carrie-Anne Moss), Castle, Entourage, Without a Trace, ER, Bones, and The Closer. Dohn's background is highlighted by both his well-traveled and well-trained skills. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Dohn went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego (one of the three most prominent schools for performing arts training in the United States). While at U.C.S.D., Dohn traveled to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa where he performed a one-man show centered on his childhood while growing up on Indianapolis' Westside. The show received rave reviews from a variety of foreign critics including those from Spain, Germany, Portugal, Argentina, and several West African countries.
At the conclusion of Norwood's stay at U.C.S.D., he moved on to Los Angeles, California where he currently resides. His first introduction to LA's performing arts world was as the role of Romeo in the Ahmanson Theatre's production of Romeo & Juliet directed by Sir Peter Hall of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001. Dohn has been involved in theatre and performance since the fourth grade when he took part in an after school drama club program while attending Indianapolis Public School No. 2 in downtown Indianapolis. He went on to be part of the performing arts magnet at both Shortridge Junior High School and Broad Ripple High School.
Acting is not the only career Dohn is establishing in Los Angeles. As a product of not only acting programs but many after school outreach organizations such as Indiana University's Upward Bound program (as a student) and later as a Tutor/Counselor and Drama instructor for Morehouse College's Upward Bound Program as well, it is no surprise Dohn's life has expanded to include philanthropy. Dohn not only serves as Vice President but as an instructor for The T.Y.M.E. Foundation/Boys to Men Enrichment Program centered in South Los Angeles. The T.Y.M.E. Foundation is a non-profit organization based on the principle of teaching young men excellence. "Boys to Men" is The T.Y.M.E. Foundation's youth outreach program which focuses on principles of scholastic achievement, leadership, and community service.
Having established a diverse resume which includes stage, television, film, and commercials, Dohn now faces a strong future in the film and television world. Upcoming projects to watch for include Castle, Doing the L.A. Thing, and 15 Minutes of Fame.- Actor
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Christopher Michael Holley was born on 23 November 1971 in Minot, North Dakota, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Smokin' Aces (2006), 21 (2008) and Pride and Glory (2008).- Actor
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Charles Everett is known for Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022), Only Murders in the Building (2021) and The Equalizer (2021).- Actor
- Producer
Nonso Anozie was born on 17 November 1978 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Cinderella (2015), Conan the Barbarian (2011) and Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).- Actor
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Eamonn Walker was born on 12 June 1962 in London, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Oz (1997), Unbreakable (2000) and Lord of War (2005). He is married to Sandra Walker. They have three children.- Actor
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Born and raised in Roxbury, a Boston neighborhood, by a single mom with four children, Beach was an athlete who never expected to be an actor. After performing in a few plays at Noble and Greenough School, he auditioned for, got accepted to and later graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School Of Drama in NYC. For the past forty years, Beach has worked with many acclaimed actors, producers and directors on over 70 feature films and hundreds of hours of television. He continues to love his job and is grateful to still be doing it after all these years.- Actor
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L.L. Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr.
Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. After they recovered from their injuries, his mother began to date a young physical therapist she met while in the hospital. The therapist treated Ondrea kindly, but for years he abused Todd physically and verbally, which resulted in Todd becoming a bully himself. It was during this period that he started wearing hats all the time (one of L.L. Cool J's trademarks is the fact that people never see him without a hat on--until recently). Fortunately, Ondrea finally discovered what this man was doing to her son and left him.
As he grew older, Todd found a way to escape the effects of his abuse and his bullying attitude: hip-hop music. He fell in love with it at the age of nine, and by 11 he was writing lyrics and making his own songs with some DJ equipment his grandfather gave him. At 15, he and one of his best friends came up with his present stage name, L.L. Cool J, which means "Ladies Love Cool James."
In 1984, when L.L. was 16, he met Rick Rubin, a student at NYU, who gave him his big break in music. Rick really liked L.L.'s music and decided to try to get him a record deal. Together, they made the single "I Need a Beat" and sent it to an artist manager named Russell Simmons. Simmons loved the single, and, in the same year, Rick and Russell co-founded the famous Def Jam Recordings; L.L.'s debut album, "Radio," released in 1985, after securing a distribution deal for Def Jam with Columbia/CBS Records, was the label's first long-playing release. Even today, L.L. is considered one of Def Jam's most prized possessions.
1985 was also the year L.L. started his acting career. He first appeared in Krush Groove (1985), which is a semi-biographical account of the early days of Def Jam Recordings. L.L. had a cameo appearance in the film. In 1986, L.L. also had a cameo appearance in the movie Wildcats (1986) and also wrote that movie's theme song. After that, L.L. took a break from film and concentrated more on his first love: music. His career took off, and after every one of his albums hit platinum-selling status, he was (and still is) regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.
After a few years, he had small roles in a few other films, but was still better known for his music. All this changed in 1995. By this time he was a happily married 27-year-old with three children. His first starring film, Out-of-Sync (1995), had also been released. It didn't do very well at the box office, but it got him noticed by executives at NBC-TV, who wanted to give him a part in a sitcom they were going to air. This sitcom was In the House (1995), which showed L.L.'s acting ability; the show stayed on the air until 1999.
He had been offered several films roles during the run of the show and decided to accept a part in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). Its success resulted in L.L. being cast in bigger and better film roles, and he has acted alongside such stars as Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Woods, Al Pacino, Omar Epps, Pam Grier, Stanley Tucci, and Dennis Quaid, to name a few.
In 2000, he was finally rewarded for his acting talent. That year he won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for the best supporting actor in the action film Deep Blue Sea (1999). Even though his film career has taken off, he hasn't forgotten his love of hip-hop music. In 1998, he was planning to retire from hip-hop and just concentrate on his film career, but he later decided to keep dividing his time between both fields. L.L. is not only known as one of the greatest MCs of all time, but he is also known as a great actor.- Actor
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David Bryan Woodside (born July 25, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as the bass singer Melvin Franklin in The Temptations, Robin Wood in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm Franks in Single Ladies, Dr. Joseph Prestridge in Parenthood, the angel Amenadiel in Lucifer, as well as Wayne Palmer in the thriller series 24.- Actor
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Shamier Anderson was born in Toronto, Canada. He has two younger brothers, one, Stephan James, who is also an established actor and the other in the military. Shamier attended Wexford School for the Arts where he majored in Musical Theatre & the Drama Intensive Program where he graduated with honors. He resides in Los Angeles, California. Aside from acting Shamier is an avid Wing Chun Kung Fu practitioner.- Actor
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The legendary gangsta hip-hop emcee Ice-T was born Tracy Marrow on February 16, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to Los Angeles, California, to live with his paternal aunt after the death of his father while he was in the sixth grade; his mother had died earlier when he was in the third grade. His aunt lived in the South Los Angeles district of Crenshaw, colloquially referred to as South Central. He became immersed in the street life of the inner-city and eventually became a member of the West Side Rollin 30s Original Harlem Crips.
In 1979, Marrow joined the Army after leaving Crenshaw High School, but his 4-year hitch was enough for him, as he was a leader, not a follower. "I didn't like total submission to a leader other than myself," he said. After ETSing from the Army in 1983, he returned to South Central with the intention of becoming a hip-hop musician. More than music, his life got caught up in street life as as a jewel thief and as a pimp. (His nomme de guerre, Ice T, is an homage to the fabled pimp and raconteur Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck). He committed himself totally to his music after a 1985 car crash.
As a musician, Ice-T played a major role in the creation of the gangsta incarnation of hip-hop music and was a colossus of the West Coast hip-hop scene, despite his East Coast, greater New York, origins. Though his music displays a political consciousness, like the indictments of racism that were a hallmark of seminal hip-hop group Public Enemy, it also is nihilistic as befits a chronicler of street life. His most infamous song, the heavy metal "Cop Killer," was one of the major battle in the cultural wars of the 1990s, in which cultural conservatives enlisted the Moses of the right wing, Charlton Heston, to get Ice-T dropped from his then-label, Sire/Warner Bros.
The charismatic Ice-T has also achieved success as an actor in movies and on TV. He plays Detective Odafin Tutuola on the TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), which is ironic for someone famous for "Cop Killer" and his feud with the L.A.P.D. Ice-T currently resides in North Bergen, New Jersey, with his wife, Coco Austin.- Actor
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Rockmond Dunbar was born on 11 January 1973 in Berkeley, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Sons of Anarchy (2008) and The Family That Preys (2008). He has been married to Maya Dunbar since 8 June 2013. They have two children. He was previously married to Ivy Holmes.- Actor
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Jacky Ido was born on 14 May 1977 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He is an actor and director, known for Inglourious Basterds (2009), Lockout (2012) and The Catch (2016).- Actor
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Chris Jackson was born on 30 September 1975 in Cairo, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Hamilton (2020), In the Heights (2021) and Sesame Street (1969). He has been married to Veronica Vazquez since 13 September 2004. They have two children.- Actor
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Reginald VelJohnson was born on 16 August 1952 in Queens, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Die Hard (1988), Ghostbusters (1984) and Die Hard 2 (1990).- Actor
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Alimi ("Ali - Me") dazzles as the enigmatic and debonair Marcel Dumas on the Netflix and USA Network smash hit, Queen of The South. Ballard was last seen as Dr. Robert Dubois on the acclaimed original drama series Queen Sugar from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker creator/executive producer Ava DuVernay and executive producer Oprah Winfrey on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
Alimi lit up the screen as Reginald Lennox III, on the ABC and Shondaland drama, THE CATCH. For three seasons Alimi portrayed Detective Kevin Crawford on CBS's Global Sensation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Ballard may best be known for his portrayal of Special Agent David Sinclair, for six seasons as a series regular, on Tony and Ridley Scott's highly successful CBS crime drama NUMB3RS. The 2011 movie season kicked off with Alimi as Fusco in UNIVERSAL'S summer Blockbuster FAST FIVE. His tenure in Hollywood began as a series regular on the ABC sitcom SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH as The Quizmaster. Ballard had a blast recurring as Agent Gayne Levin on CBS's and TV's #1 Hit-Drama NCIS. Other series regular roles have Herbal Thought in James Cameron's cult favorite DARK ANGEL and as Matthew on the ABC sitcom ARSENIO.
An avid comic collector, Ballard was thrilled to lend his voice as Falcon for the Marvel Animated Series & Video Game SUPER HERO SQUAD. Some of his notable guest-starring roles include CRIMINAL MINDS, LUCIFER, ELEMENTARY, CASTLE, SCORPION, IN PLAIN SIGHT, HELLO LADIES, and many more. In other feature work, Ballard has graced the screen with such talent as Cuba Gooding Jr. in 20th Century Fox's MEN OF HONOR and Morgan Freeman in DreamWorks' DEEP IMPACT.
Of all the roles Alimi portrays, two reward him daily, that of Husband and Father. Ballard resides HAPPILY in Los Angeles with his Wife and two wonderful Children.- Steve Toussaint was born on March 22, 1965 in Birmingham, England and is of Barbadian descent. Growing up in South London, his mother worked as a nurse while his father worked for the London public transit system. Toussaint was always interested in theater and acted in a few of his school's productions throughout his childhood. During his time working towards a bachelor's degree in politics at Sussex University, Toussaint was scouted for a role in a play and therefore persuaded to join the drama society. While working his jobs in hospital administration and merchant banking, he began taking drama classes at night.
Toussaint made his acting debut in 1990 as Genie in Aladdin at the renowned Churchill Theatre in London. As a member of the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company, he played roles in Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice. He also played Osembenga in Ruined at the Almeida Theatre in London.
Toussaint made his television debut in 1994 in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes as Steve Dixie, where his career quickly took off. The following year, he was cast as a series regular in The Knock, a widely known British television crime drama. As his name grew in the entertainment world, Toussaint made his film debut as Shadwell Fan in the 1995 British-German film I.D. and later starred in Mutant Chronicles, Point Break, and Judge Dredd alongside the powerful Rwandan genocide drama Shooting Dogs. In 2010, Steve starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Alfred Molina in the blockbuster film Prince of Persia. He was also in A Doll's House at the Young Vic which transferred to London's West End. Further television credits include Waking the Dead, Silent Witness, Line of Duty, England Expects, Spooks, Casualty, The Bill,and the eminent US crime drama CSI: Miami.
Toussaint is an accomplished writer with numerous scripts either completed or in development such as A Viable Candidate, a short film that he wrote and starred in. The film is about a man who is on the verge of becoming leader of a major political party in the UK (and possibly the first Black Prime Minister).
He later played Kenneth Logan in Steve McQueen's BAFTA award-winning BBC series Small Axe. He was also in HBO Max's miniseries It's A Sin as Jill Baxter's father Alan Baxter. Starting in 2021, he went on to play the recurring role of Kane in Before We Die. Toussaint was cast in 2021 as Lord Corlys 'The Sea Snake' Velaryon in Game of Thrones prequel on HBO House of the Dragon, one of the highest-rated and most watched shows. He's opposite a distinguished cast including Paddy Considine, Eve Best, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Emily Carey, and Matt Smith. - Actor
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Since graduating from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), Shaun Parkes has been a constant on our screens with television credits including Netflix's Lost in Space, Da Vinci's Demons (STARZ), Line of Duty (BBC), The River (ABC), Doctor Who (BBC), and as the titular lead in Joe Penhall's Moses Jones (BBC).
It was the quintessential nineties film Human Traffic, directed by Justin Kerrigan, that launched Shaun onto the big screen, becoming a firm fan favorite. He went on to star as 'Izzy' in The Mummy Returns, alongside Rachel Weisz, Dwayne Johnson and John Hannah, and opposite Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett in Richard Eyre's critically acclaimed Notes on a Scandal.
His rich stage career has seen him performing in numerous West End productions such as Blue/Orange and Elmina's Kitchen, both at The Nation Theatre, and as 'Aaron the Moor' from Titus Andronicus, at the world-renowned Shakespeare's Globe.
Shaun has most recently starred as 'Frank Critchlow' in Mangrove, the first chapter in Steve McQueen's film anthology, Small Axe. Mangrove tells the true story of The Mangrove Nine and a trial which stood as the first judicial acknowledgment of behavior motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.- Actor
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Perhaps best known for his chilling performance as "Candyman", the charismatic 6' 5" actor Tony Todd has consistently turned in compelling performances since his debut in the fantasy film Sleepwalk (1986). Born in Washington, D.C., Todd spent two years on a scholarship at the University of Connecticut, which, in turn, led to a scholarship from the renowned Eugene O'Neill National Theatre Institute. It proved to be the foundation for intense stints at the Hartman Conservatory in Stamford, Connecticut and the Trinity Square Repertory Theatre Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. Todd appeared in dozens of classical and many experimental plays, yet still managed to find time to teach playwriting to high school students in the Hartford public school system.
Todd's extensive credits exemplify his versatility. They include such film classics as The Rock (1996), The Crow (1994), Lean on Me (1989), Bird (1988), Night of the Living Dead (1990), Final Destination (2000), the multiple Academy Award winning Oliver Stone film Platoon (1986) and The Secret (2000), which was nominated and screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Todd's recent films include the independent film Silence (2002) and Final Destination 2 (2003). He has had prominent guest starring roles in numerous critically-acclaimed television series, including recurring on Boston Public (2000), For the People (2002) and The District (2000), as well as NYPD Blue (1993), Smallville (2001), Law & Order (1990), Crossing Jordan (2001), Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) and The X-Files (1993). Todd recurred on three incarnations of "Star Trek" and guest starred on Xena: Warrior Princess (1995) and episodes of CSI: Miami (2002) and Andromeda (2000). His television movies include starring roles in True Women (1997), Black Fox (1995), Butter (1998), Ivory Hunters (1990), Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999) and Control Factor (2003).
Todd's considerable theatre credits include the world premiere of award-winning playwright August Wilson's "King Hedley II", where he originated the title role in Pittsburgh, Seattle and Boston. Variety commented: "Todd's King Hedley dominates the stage. A sour-faced mix of rage and resolve, anger and vulnerability. Todd's Hedley was a memorable tour-de-force even on opening." He also received a coveted Helen Hayes nomination for his performance in Athol Fugard's "The Captain's Tiger at La Jolla, the Manhattan Theatre Club and the Kennedy Center. Other theatre credits include "Les Blancs", "Playboy of the West Indies", "Othello", "Zooman and the Sign", award-winning playwright Keith Glover's "Dark Paradise", "Aida" (on Broadway), and most recently, "Levee James" for the prestigious Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference and The New Dramatist Guild.- Actor
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Patrick Robinson was born in November 1963 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for The Bill (1984), Hypo (2019) and Hollyoaks (1995). He was previously married to Janis.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Strikingly featured and muscular American actor Ving Rhames was born Irving Rameses Rhames in Harlem, New York, to Reather, a homemaker, and Ernest Rhames, an auto mechanic. A good student, Ving entered the New York High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. He studied at the Juilliard School of Drama, and began his career in New York theater and in Shakespeare in the Park productions. He first appeared on Broadway in the play "The Winter Boys", in 1984. Also that year, he appeared in front of the cameras for the first time in the TV movie Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985), and was then quickly cast in minor roles in several popular TV shows, including Miami Vice (1984), Tour of Duty (1987) and Crime Story (1986). Ving continued his rise to fame through his work in soap operas.
His big break came in 1994 when Quentin Tarantino cast him as the merciless drug dealer Marsellus Wallace in the mega hit Pulp Fiction (1994). Not long after, director Brian De Palma cast Rhames alongside Tom Cruise as the ace computer hacker Luther Stickell in Mission: Impossible (1996). With solid performances in both these highly popular productions, his face was now well known to moviegoers and the work offers began rolling in more frequently. His next career highlight was playing the lead role in the HBO production of Don King: Only in America (1997). Rhames' performance as the world's most infamous boxing promoter was nothing short of brilliant, and at the 1998 Golden Globe Awards he picked up the award for Best Actor in a Miniseries. However, in an incredible display of compassion, he handed over the award to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon, as he felt Lemmon was a more deserving winner. Rhames then made an attention-grabbing performance in Bringing Out the Dead (1999), reprised his role as Luther Stickell in Mission: Impossible II (2000), contributed his deep bass voice for the character of Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch (2002), and played a burly cop fighting cannibal zombie hordes in Dawn of the Dead (2004). A keen fitness and weightlifting enthusiast, Rhames is also well known for his strong spiritual beliefs and benevolent attitude towards other people.
In a remarkable turn of events whilst filming The Saint of Fort Washington (1993) in New York, he was introduced to a homeless man who turned out to be his long-lost older brother, Junior, who had lost contact with the family after serving in Vietnam. The thrilled Rhames immediately assisted his disheveled brother in getting proper food and clothing and moved him into his own apartment.- Actor
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
From bringing dynamic characters to life on screen to producing and writing films, award winning actor Mehcad Brooks has become known in the entertainment industry for his raw and refined talent, charisma, and moving presence. This year, Mehcad can be seen starring as Jackson 'Jax' Briggs, a cybernetically-enhanced super soldier and leader of Earthrealm in Warner Bros' highly anticipated action adventure feature film "Mortal Kombat." Directed by Simon McQuaid and produced by James Wan ("Aquaman"), the film is based on the iconic video game series that centers on an extensive roster of character fighters from a variety of realms in a fictional universe battling for supremacy; the series has sold over 49 million copies, spanning over a dozen canon games and expansions, making it one of the most profitable video game franchises of all time. "Mortal Kombat" was released simultaneously in theaters worldwide, and on HBO Max on April 16, 2021.
In film, Mehcad starred in Netflix's most watched thriller of 2020, Tyler Perry's "A Fall From Grace," which in its first four months following its debut remained one of the Top 10 Most Watched titles. He also recently starred in "Nobody's Fool" (Paramount Pictures) opposite Tika Sumpter, Tiffany Haddish and Whoopi Goldberg. Additional film credits include "In the Valley of Elah" opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron, Disney's "Glory Road" produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, "Just Wright" opposite Queen Latifah, Common, and Paula Patton for Fox Searchlight Pictures and "About Last Night" opposite Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, and Regina Hall for Screen Gems.
On the television front, Mehcad most recently starred in the DC Comic superhero action-adventure series "Supergirl" (The CW) opposite Melissa Benoist. The series debuted in 2015 to critical acclaim, being called "a damn good time" by The New York Observer, "bright, fun, exciting" by Forbes and "just great television" by The Los Angeles Times. For five seasons, Mehcad was a fan favorite as friend, mentor, and object of affection to Supergirl (Benoist), James "The Guardian" Olsen.
Mehcad landed his first big break in television in 2005, securing the role of Matthew Applewhite (Alfre Woodward's son) on the award-winning series "Desperate Housewives" for ABC. During his time on the show he won a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, and also secured a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Mehcad went on to co-star on the critically acclaimed Alan Ball HBO series "True Blood" as Benedict 'Eggs' Talley opposite Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer from 2008-2010. When his time on "True Blood" came to an end, he quickly booked a lead role on USA's drama series "Necessary Roughness," which was based on the true story of a female psychologist who worked for the New York Jets. Mehcad was a scene stealer as football player Terrence 'TK' King, a star wide receiver who becomes notorious for his frequent fumbles and regular run-ins with the law. The series ran for three seasons, from 2011-13. In between "True Blood" and "Necessary Roughness," Mehcad landed a celebrity endorsement deal with Calvin Klein, in one of the most notorious global campaigns to date, making international headlines as one of the four faces of their CK X underwear line two years in a row.
Born and raised in Austin, Texas Mehcad grew up excelling at academics while being immersed in sports, becoming an all-state basketball player. While he loved spending time on the court and in the classroom (being recognized nationally in academics), he had a deep-rooted passion for the arts, whether it was acting, playing music, producing, or writing. Upon graduating high school, he decided to forgo 26 basketball scholarships and a full academic scholarship to Yale. He decided to attend the prestigious University of Southern California to study at their School of Cinematic Arts, to further hone his craft. Early credits for Mehcad include: "Malcolm in the Middle," "Boston Public," "One on One," "Cold Case," "The Game," "Dollhouse," and "Ghost Whisperer."
While bringing characters to life remains one of Mehcad's biggest passions, his love for telling stories through music is equally important. Mehcad recently released his debut, full length album "May 20th" which was inspired by multiple near-death experiences, all taking place on May 20th and forever changing his life. "May 20th" is available on all digital platforms.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Jesse Martin was born Jesse Lamont Watkins in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountain range. His mother, Virginia Price, was a college career counselor. His father, Jesse Reed Watkins, was a truck driver. His parents divorced when he was very young. His mother then moved his family to Buffalo, New York. He and his four brothers took the surname of his mother's second husband. His family calls him by his middle name, Lamont. As a fourth-grader, a teacher cast him in a play and he found his passion. After graduating from high school, he worked in restaurants to afford the tuition at New York University. He then got work on soaps and did commercials. His breakthrough came in a role in Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Rent (1996). That was followed up with TV exposure in his first starring role in the series 413 Hope St. (1997), which aired on Fox.- Actor
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Multi-talented actor Ryan Sands was most recently seen in the popular Hulu/Disney+ show, "Marvel's Runaways". Executive produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("Gossip Girl", "The O.C."), "Marvel's Runaways" is the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe - their parents. Sands played Geoffrey Wilder, a man defined by the grueling path he's taken to achieve his self-made success. A hulking presence, Geoffrey can effortlessly shift from approachable father to his son, Alex (Rhenzy Feliz), to intimidating strategist. He, along with the other parents, make up the dark and mysterious organization known as The Pride. Critics have applauded the series and have praised the decision by the show creators to focus on the roles of the parents in the series: "The amount of development given to the parents allows them to come across in more than one note, which will only serve to heighten the drama when the inevitable showdown between the Pride and the Runaways occurs" - ComicBook.com.
Although a love for acting and film was apparent at an early age, much of Ryan's time was devoted to a couple of other interests, art and basketball. It wasn't until he saw the film Love Jones while in college, that the acting bug proved too strong to resist.
Ryan began his acting career in his native Washington, DC and soon amassed several television, film and commercial credits. His first big break came with a recurring role on HBO's Emmy Award-winning series "The Wire" as narcotics officer Lloyd 'Truck' Garrick in Sergeant Ellis Carver's (Seth Gilliam) squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department. That role was soon followed by a series regular role as criminal defense attorney, Leroy Barnes on the SpikeTV mini-series "The Kill Point" starring John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg. Sands also had roles in Lee Daniels' directorial debut Shadowboxer and Step Up starring Channing Tatum. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2008, Sands went on to land guest and recurring roles in hit shows such as "ER," "Grimm," "Castle," "Murder in the First," "Scorpion," "Prison Break," and "Free Rein."
Ryan is also an accomplished illustrator and graphic designer. He is skilled at transforming his drawings into unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that often reflect his love for superheroes and sneakers.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Frankie Faison was born on 10 June 1949 in Newport News, Virginia, USA. He is an actor, known for Coming to America (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989) and White Chicks (2004). He is married to Samantha Jupiter Faison. He was previously married to Jane Mandel.- Actor
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- Writer
Demetrius Grosse is an award-winning American actor and producer. Demetrius recently starred in the upcoming feature POSSUM TROT for Angel Studios. He recently shot the ABC pilot AVALON executive produced by David E. Kelley, and he recently shot the ABC Pilot INSIGHT executive produced by Kay Oyegun. He also previously shot Guillermo Del Toro's Netflix anthology series CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, and the feature BOON. He was recurring in AMC's FEAR THE WALKING DEAD.
He also had a featured role in the Paramount's BODYCAM, and was recurring on LOVECRAFT COUNTRY for HBO, executive produced by Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams, as well as SWAGGER for Apple+, executive produced by Reggie Bythewood and Kevin Durant. Previously he was a series regular on NBC's THE BRAVE.
He also had a recurring role on Netflix's FRONTIER. Other feature credits include: starring opposite Dwayne Johnson in the blockbuster RAMPAGE for Warner Bros, F. Gary Gray's STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, and 13 HOURS for Michael Bay and Paramount. He was also a series regular on NBC's GAME OF SILENCE. Prior to that, Demetrius had a 13-episode arc on FX's JUSTIFIED and was a series regular on Cinemax's BANSHEE. Demetrius starred in the Hallmark romantic comedy Spring Breakthrough. The film was wide-released as a flagship production under Hallmark's Mahogany banner. Grosse is currently shooting Marvel's upcomming WONDERMAN for Disney+.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Omar Epps is an American actor, starring on the ABC drama Resurrection (2013).
Epps was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised by his mother, Bonnie Maria Epps, an elementary school principal. No stranger to the big screen, Epps has appeared in lead roles in feature films, including Paramount's Against the Ropes (2004), in which he starred opposite Meg Ryan, Paramount's Alfie (2004), opposite Jude Law and Susan Sarandon, Paramount/MTV's The Wood (1999), Miramax's In Too Deep (1999), John Singleton's Higher Learning (1995) and Juice (1992). His supporting roles include Breakfast of Champions (1999), opposite Bruce Willis and Nick Nolte, Major League II (1994), opposite Charlie Sheen, and The Program (1993) with Halle Berry. Omar was also seen in Hollywood's best-kept secret, Scream 2 (1997), MGM's remake of The Mod Squad (1999), with Claire Danes, and Love & Basketball (2000). He also starred in Takeshi Kitano's Brother (2000) for Sony Classics.
He co-starred on the critically-acclaimed FOX medical drama, House (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" in 2007. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" in 2005, as well, as "Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series" in 2006. Epps was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Actor for his performance in the December 2002 Showtime Original movie, Conviction (2002), in which he portrayed "Carl Upchurch", a hardened criminal from South Philadelphia, who spent most of his adult life in prison. It is the story of one man's journey from prisoner to peacemaker. Omar has starred in three HBO Original movies, First Time Felon (1997), directed by Charles S. Dutton (Roc), Deadly Voyage (1996), produced by Danny Glover, and Daybreak (1993), co-starring Cuba Gooding Jr.. "First Time Felon" and "Deadly Voyage" are based on true stories. Epps also portrayed "Dr. Dennis Gant" on the Emmy Award-winning NBC drama, ER (1994). As a surgical resident, he teamed up with "Dr. Carter" (Noah Wyle) and "Dr. Benton" (Eriq La Salle). In one of the most talked about departures, Omar left audiences wondering if his character committed suicide or not.- Actor
- Producer
LaRoyce Hawkins was born and raised in the south Chicago suburb, Harvey, Illinois. He is an actor and creative best known for his longtime role as Officer Kevin Atwater on the NBC hit drama Chicago P.D. He also has a recurring role on the HBO Max comedy series South Side and featured in the BET+ film North of the 10.- Actor
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A tall, handsome, and versatile American actor, Morris Chestnut was born in Cerritos, California, to Shirley (Wynn) and Morris Chestnut, Sr. He first came to be recognized by moviegoers starring as Ricky in Boyz n the Hood (1991), a role where he played a high school running back using his football skills to escape the violent surroundings of his South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. His half brother was played by Ice Cube who in the movie did not have the same motivation. Two years later, he landed a lead role in Civil Rights Drama The Ernest Green Story (1993), showing courage and perseverance as one of the Arkansas Nine high school students. He later starred in action films like Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), G.I. Jane (1997) and Half Past Dead (2002) as well as the romantic comedies The Best Man (1999), The Brothers (2001), Two Can Play That Game (2001), and Breakin' All the Rules (2004). In 2004, he appeared in Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004) and Ladder 49 (2004).- Actor
- Producer
Henry Simmons was born in Stamford, Connecticut, one of three children to Aurelia, a school teacher, and Henry Simmons, Sr., an IRS agent. One of his sisters is his twin. Simmons earned a basketball scholarship at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. He graduated with a business degree and went to work for a Stamford financial firm. He quickly realized that was not his calling and left to pursue acting.
He moved to New York City to study and pursue a career in acting. His first acting job was the movie Above the Rim (1994), starring Tupac Shakur. He made his TV debut in a 1994 Saturday Night Live (1975) skit, that infamously starred Martin Lawrence. He then got numerous guest star roles on television, roles in film, as well as making his New York theater debut in William Inge's "Boy In The Basement". After working six years in New York, he then moved to Los Angeles to pursue more opportunities. He went on to star on "NYPD Blue" for six seasons, CBS drama "Shark", and has been featured in The Cleaner (2008), Raising the Bar (2008), Bones (2005) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013). He most recently was the lead for the Ava DuVernay series, "Cherish The Day".- Actor
- Director
Kevin Hanchard is a veteran actor who, in recent years has become one of the nation's most sought after performers. Although no stranger to film and television, this dynamic and versatile actor has made his name in the world of theatre. His knack for bringing a degree of humanity to flawed characters has become the hallmark of his career to date. He has played leading roles in theatres across the nation, including several seasons at both The Shaw and Stratford Festivals and his critically acclaimed 2011 portrayal of Booth in TopDog/Underdog, garnered him one of his two Dora Mavor Moore nominations for outstanding performance by a male. Kevin portrays Art Bell on the BBC America series Orphan Black.- Actor
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- Additional Crew
Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Samuel Leroy Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth (Montgomery) and Roy Henry Jackson. He was raised by his mother, a factory worker, and his grandparents. At Morehouse College, Jackson was active in the black student movement. In the seventies, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company (together with Morgan Freeman). In the eighties, he became well-known after three movies made by Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990) and Jungle Fever (1991). He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Patriot Games (1992), Amos & Andrew (1993), True Romance (1993), Jurassic Park (1993), and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino, including Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), and later Django Unchained (2012). Going from supporting player to leading man, his performance in Pulp Fiction (1994) gave him an Oscar nomination for his character Jules Winnfield, and he received a Silver Berlin Bear for his part as Ordell Robbi in Jackie Brown (1997). Jackson usually played bad guys and drug addicts before becoming an action hero, co-starring with Bruce Willis in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and Geena Davis in The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996).
With Jackson's permission, his likeness was used for the Ultimate version of the Marvel Comics character, Nick Fury. He later did a cameo as the character in a post-credits scene from Iron Man (2008), and went on to sign a nine-film commitment to reprise this role in future films, including major roles in Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and minor roles in Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). He has also portrayed the character in the second and final episodes of the first season of the TV show, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013). He has provided his voice to several animated films, television series and video games, including the roles of Lucius Best / Frozone in Pixar's film The Incredibles (2004), Mace Windu in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), Afro Samurai in the anime television series Afro Samurai (2007), and Frank Tenpenny in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).- Actor
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Michael Dorn is an American actor from Texas. He is best known for playing Worf in the "Star Trek" franchise, the first Klingon character to be part of a television series' main cast. Dorn played the character regularly from 1987 to 2002, appearing in four films and 272 television episodes. Dorn has had more episode appearances than any other actor in the franchise's main cast.
In 1952, Dorn was born in Luling, Texas. Luling was a small city, established as a railroad town in 1874. It used to be visited by cattle drivers on the Chisholm Trail. In the 1950 census, the city had a population of about 4,300 people. Dorn's parents were Fentress Dorn, Jr. and his wife Allie Lee Nauls. Relatively little is known about his family background.
The Dorn family eventually moved to California. Dorn was primarily raised in Pasadena, a city located 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. He eventually attended Pasadena City College, a community college located in Pasadena. He studied radio and television production, though he had not planned on becoming an actor.
Following his graduation, Dorn initially pursued a career as a rock musician. He served as a member of several California-based music bands, though fame eluded him. In 1976, Dorn made his film debut in the sports film "Rocky". He had an uncredited role as the bodyguard of boxer Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers).
Dorn had his next film role in the science fiction-horror film "Demon Seed" (1977), which depicted the forced impregnation of a woman by a sentient computer. He had a small television role in the short-lived soap opera "W.E.B. " (1978), which depicted the behind-the-scenes activities of the personnel of a television network.
Dorn came to the attention of a television producer, who learned that the novice actor had no formal training. The producer helped introduce Dorn to a talent agent, who arranged for some acting lessons for Dorn. Dorn was trained for six months by the acting coach Charles Erich Conrad (1925 - 2009).
Dorn received his first regular television role when cast as officer Jebediah Turner in the crime drama series "CHiPs". The series depicted the activities of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). He was a series regular from 1979 to 1982. For most of the 1980s, Dorn played bit parts and one-shot characters in various television series.
In 1985, Dorn had a small part in the neo-noir thriller "Jagged Edge". The film depicts an affair between defense lawyer Teddy Barnes (played by Glenn Close) and a client who is accused of murdering his wife. Barnes is increasingly convinced that her lover is manipulating her. The film was a modest box office hit, and received decent reviews.
Dorn received his big break as an actor when cast as Worf in the science fiction television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994). It was the third television series in the "Star Trek" franchise and featured an entirely new cast of characters. Klingons had traditionally been portrayed as a warrior race with an antagonistic relationship with the United Federation of Planets. Worf was depicted as an orphaned Klingon who was raised by human adoptive parents. He had chosen to follow a career in the Federation's Starfeet, and his upbringing resulted in him having unique cultural traits. Worf turned out to be one of the series' most popular characters.
In 1991, Dorn appeared in the film "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" which depicted the cast of the original Star Trek series. Dorn played the role of a namesake ancestor of Worf, who was employed as a defense lawyer. He next played Worf himself in the film "Star Trek Generations" (1994), which featured the cast of the third series. The film was successful and was followed by three sequels. Dorn played Worf in three subsequent films: "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996), "Star Trek: Insurrection" (1998), and "Star Trek: Nemesis" (2002).
In 1995, Dorn (as Worf) was added to the main cast of the television series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993-1999), the fourth "Star Trek" television series. The addition to the cast was part of an effort to boost the series' ratings. The series introduced a romantic relationship between Worf and chief science officer Jadzia Dax (played by Terry Farrell). The two characters were married in the series' 6th season, though the marriage ended with Jadzia's death in the season finale. The series was canceled in 1999, ending Dorn's regular appearances in "Star Trek" television series.
During the 1990s, Dorn started regularly working as a voice actor in animated television series. Among his notable voice roles in this period were the cyborg gargoyle Coldstone in the urban fantasy series "Gargoyles" (1994-1997), Gorgon the Inhuman in the superhero series "Fantastic Four" (1994-1996), and both the villainous god Kalibak and the superhero Steel/John Henry Irons in the superhero series "Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000). He also received the eponymous role of I.M. Weasel in the comedy series "I Am Weasel" (1997-2000). The series focused on a rivalry between the successful and popular character Weaser and his envious frenemy I.R. Baboon (played by Charlie Adler), who constantly tries to upstage him.
In the 2000s, Dorm continued working regularly as a voice actor, though he often played one-shot characters. Among his prominent roles in superhero series of this period were the super-villain Kraven the Hunter/Sergei Kravinoff in "Spider-Man: The New Animated Series" (2003) and villainous ghost Fright Knight in "Danny Phantom" (2004-2007). and the super-villain Bane in "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" (2008-2011).
In a 2010 interview, Dorn mentioned that he had been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. While receiving treatment, he decided to switch to a vegan diet.
In 2011, Dorn was cast as the villainous god Lord Darkar in Nickelodeon's dub of the popular Italian animation series "Winx Club". Darkar was a major villain in the series 2nd season but was eventually killed. Whether his death was permanent is questionable because he had the form of a phoenix.
From 2011 to 2015, Dorn had the regular role of Dr. Carver Burke in the police procedural series "Castle (2009-2016). Burke is depicted as the psychiatrist treating female lead Kate Beckett (played by Stana Katic) for post-traumatic stress disorder. She eventually confides in him about other psychological problems which she is facing.
In 2011, Dorn had another prominent role in a superhero series when he voiced Ronan, the Accuser, in the final season of "The Super Hero Squad Show" (2009-2011). Ronan is a prominent Marvel character, typically serving as an officer of the Kree Empire, a militaristic space empire. His role as a hero or a villain depends on the Empire's plan in any given story-line.
From 2015 to 2016, Dorn played the alien Captain Mozar in the superhero series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles " (2012-2017). Mozar is a humanoid Triceratops leading an alien invasion fleet to Earth. The character was a regular antagonist of the Turtles, portrayed as a brutal military commander.
From 2016 to 2017, Dorn voiced the super-villain Prometheus/Adrian Chase in the live-action series "Arrow" (2012-2020). The series portrayed the adventures of the superhero Green Arrow/Oliver Queen, and Prometheus holds Queen responsible for his father's death and seeks revenge.
In 2017, Dorn voiced Fortress Maximus, an Autobot Titan, in the animated web series "Transformers: Titans Return". The series featured characters from the "Generation 1" version of the "Transformers" franchise. Fortress Maximus was introduced in the 1980s. Dorn replaced the three previous voice actors of the character, Stephen Keener, Kunihiko Yasui, and Ikuya Sawaki.
From 2017 to 2018, Dorn voiced Atrocitus in the superhero series "Justice League Action" (2016-2018). Atrocitus is a prominent DC super-villain, typically depicted as the leader of the Red Lantern Corps. In the original comics, Atrocitus is a character mainly motivated by revenge. His wife and daughters were murdered before his eyes, and since then, Atrocitus has sought revenge against those responsible for the tragedy.
From 2017 to 2019, Dorn voiced the recurring character Bupu, the sable antelope, in the coming-of-age series "The Lion Guard" (2016-2019). The series was a spin-off of the film "The Lion King" (1994) and featured the adventures of Simba's son Kion. Bupu is depicted as the leader of a herd of antelopes and too proud and stubborn to follow orders from others.
By 2021, Dorn is 68-years-old and continues to add new roles to his resume.- Actor
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Russell Hornsby was born on 15 May 1974 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is an actor and director, known for The Hate U Give (2018), Fences (2016) and Meet the Parents (2000). He has been married to Denise Walker since 1 August 2008.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Rob Brown was born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn, New York. A natural who never studied acting and who had no professional acting experience, made his acting and motion picture debut in Finding Forrester (2000). Rob celebrated his 16th birthday just before the start of production. He is a talented athlete in high school playing both basketball and football.- Actor
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Well-known, king-sized actor and voice artist Kevin Michael Richardson was born in Bronx, New York. He is, perhaps, mostly recognizable for his deep voice, which he uses in many of his works.
Richardson is a classically trained actor. He first gained recognition as one of only eight U.S. high school students selected for the National Foundation for the Arts' "Arts '82" program, later he earned a scholarship to Syracuse University.
Kevin is well-known by various voice works, mostly villainous. He lent his voice to based-upon video game film Mortal Kombat (1995) as Goro, he was also in Matrix Revolutions (2003) as Deus Ex Machina, and made a brief appearance in Clerks II (2006) as a police officer. To mention that he did a brief additional voices for mega hit Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).
He did voice in many animated films and TV series, such as "The Mask - The Animated Series" (1995), "The New Batman Adventures" (1997), "Pokemon" (1998), "Powerpuff Girls" (1998), "Voltron: The Third Dimension" (1998), "Family Guy", Lilo & Stitch (2002), as well as "Lilo & Stitch" TV series, "Codename Kids Next Door" (2002), Batman VS Dracula (2005) (V), where he voiced Joker, "Mummy The Animated Series" (2003), TMNT (2007) as General Aguila, "Transformers Animated" (2007) as Omega Supreme and Batman: Gotham Knight (2008), as Lucius Fox.
He also did voices in such video games as Halo 2 (Tartarus), Kingdom Hearts (Sebastian) and others. He lives in Los Angeles and likes to work in Manhattan.- Actor
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Kadeem Hardison was born on 24 July 1965 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and director, known for A Different World (1987), White Men Can't Jump (1992) and Drive (1997). He was previously married to Chanté Moore.- Music Department
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As Co-Founder of The Roots, a critically acclaimed solo artist, actor, writer, activist, producer, and creator, Tariq Trotter-aka Black Thought-has quietly affirmed himself as one of the most prolific, prescient, and powerful voices in hip-hop.
Over the course of his career, he has won three GRAMMY® Awards and three NAACP Image Awards. Not only did he deliver eleven applauded albums with The Roots, but the group also joined The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as the house band and beloved mainstay of late-night television for over a decade.
Black Thought's solo music career has accelerated at full speed with his Streams of Thought series. Pairing him with a legendary producer for each release, the Streams of Thought series has generated millions of streams as Pitchfork proclaimed Trotter "is somehow still improving decades after his peers' primes, which in hip-hop sounds almost as crazy as a professional athlete doing the same." The Guardian awarded the series "4-out-of-5 stars," and meanwhile, HYPEBEAST crowned him "one of the best lyricists in hip-hop history." In 2022, Black Thought teamed up with Danger Mouse for their acclaimed collaborative album, Cheat Codes. The acclaimed release topped many year end "best of" lists in 2022.
Maintaining this momentum, he continued his creative renaissance as the main composer and lyrist of the 2022 Off-Broadway production Black No More. In addition, he also made his Off-Broadway debut starring in the production, stretching the boundaries of his creativity once more. Black No More earned a nomination for "Best Musical" at the 2022 Lucile Lortell Awards. His presence has also seamlessly translated into roles in film and television such as HBO's The Deuce amongst other productions. He most recently appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda's feature directorial debut, Tick, Tick... Boom!.
Beyond collaborations with everyone from Eminem, John Legend, J Dilla, and Big Pun to Linkin Park, Logic, and Fall Out Boy, Trotter co-produced the multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton.
Alongside fellow The Roots co-founder Questlove, he launched the production company Two One Five Entertainment, executive producing the AMC documentary series, Hip-Hop: The Songs That Shook America. Together, in 2020, the pair announced a first-look deal with Universal Television to develop scripted and non-scripted programming. Questlove and Black Thought, under Two One Five, executive produced "Rise Up, Sing Out," a collection of animated musical shorts for Disney Junior, which earned a nomination for "Outstanding Short Form Series" for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards. Most recently, the company executive produced Descendant, a feature documentary on the historic discovery of The Clotilda-the last known slave ship to arrive in America illegally transporting enslaved Africans. The documentary, which made its world premiere at Sundance in 2022, was acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground-President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company. The film earned an impressive three nominations for "Best Documentary Feature," "Best Director" and "Best Historical Documentary" and took home the award for "Best Historical Documentary" at the 2022 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Descendant received a nomination for "Outstanding Documentary" for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards and was also named one of the "Top 5 Documentaries" of 2022 by the National Board of Review. Moveover, it received positive reviews from the New York Times, the LA Times, The Guardian, Variety and more. Next up, Two One Five Entertainment is set to executive produce Sam Pollard's The League, a documentary centered on the tumultuous journey of Negro league baseball and also produce an upcoming documentary on the legendary Sly Stone as well as various projects with partners such as Disney Jr.
Lyrically dexterous, politically provocative, and consciously incisive, Black Thought continually encourages the game to move forward with him again and again.- Bruce Blackshear is an American Film and Television actor who is known for his extreme passion, and tremendous desire to succeed and helping those around him do the same. He made his feature film debut as the character Taylor, in the box office hit "Rampage" 2018, starring Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson, followed by the feature film, "The Darkest Minds ", starring Amandla Steinberg. Bruce is quickly gaining notoriety and earning a name for himself as an up and coming actor committed to being passionate and bringing each character he portrays to life. He can also be seen in television shows such as, "Valor", "Underground", "Sleepy Hollow " and the hit show "Greenleaf".
Originally from Jacksonville Fl, he joined the military, which allowed him to travel and see vast places around the world. He experienced many different cultures and walks of life which helped him to broaden his vision of himself and life as he sees it. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, he then began to pursue his burning desire for acting, which had been a passion of his since grade school. It was in middle school, where he first began doing stage plays and taking drama classes. After struggling for a while to find his way, he moved to Atlanta, Ga in 2010. Once settled in Atlanta, Bruce discovered a vastly growing acting community and knew immediately he found his niche. He then began training relentlessly and devoting a 110% to his craft and passion for the arts.
In his spare time, he loves being with family and also devoting time to work with at-risk youth. He is committed to their success and them understanding that anything is possible. His aspirations are to continue to grow professionally and to one day reach a status in Hollywood that will enable him to reach millions and have a positive impact on the world. - Actor
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Eke was born and raised in south-east London. He was awarded a scholarship to study at London's Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts where, after 3 years Stage and Screen training, he received a Baccalaureate Degree in Performance. He graduated Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in July 2003. Work soon followed with WestEnd Stage productions for Talawa Theatre Company, The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Royal National Theatre.- Actor
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Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe, better known as Boris Kodjoe, is a German actor known for his roles as Jason in the 2000 film Love & Basketball (2000) and sports-courier agent Damon Carter on the Showtime drama series Soul Food (2000).
Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria to of Ursula, a German psychologist of partially-Jewish descent, and Eric Kodjoe, a Ghanaian physician who is of the Nzema people. He was named after Russian poet and writer Boris Pasternak. Kodjoe's great-grandmother was Jewish and died in the Holocaust; his maternal grandmother survived the war in hiding. Kodjoe's parents divorced when he was six years old. Kodjoe is fluent in German, English, and French, and speaks some Spanish. He has a brother named Patrick and two sisters named Nadja and Lara.- Actor
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Chidi Ajufo was born in England. He is an actor, known for The Gentlemen (2019), The Widow (2019) and Training Day (2017).- Actor
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T.C. Carson was born and raised in Chicago. He was always encouraged by his family to pursue his dream of becoming a professional performer. He started by performing in many plays and musicals such as "The Wiz", "Dreamgirls" and "Ain't Misbehavin". His stage work earned him awards and credit.- Actor
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Perhaps best remembered for his touching performance as "Bubba" opposite Tom Hanks in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump (1994), Mykelti Williamson is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, who has been steadily honing his craft since he first began acting professionally at the age of 18.
In 2000 Williamson starred as Lt. Philip Gerard, the hardnosed detective determined to recapture escaped convict Dr. Richard Kimble (Tim Daly) in CBS' update of the classic 1960's action series The Fugitive (2000).
The son of an Air Force Staff Sergeant (father) and certified public accountant (mother), Williamson was born in St. Louis, MO, and began performing on the stage at the age of 9. Like many youngsters, he was enamored with the concept of television, and thought that the images he was seeing on the small screen were reality. It wasn't until his mother put him in a church play that he realized that what the people on the small screen were doing was performing. He was instantly hooked. At the age of 15, Williamson and his family settled in Los Angeles. A superb athlete, he excelled at both football and basketball, but the acting bug led him to quit sports and dance with the cheerleading squad, much to the chagrin of his coaches.
Following graduation, Williamson began acting professionally, making appearances on television shows such as Starsky and Hutch (1975), Hill Street Blues (1981) and China Beach (1988), among others. He made his film debut in the Walter Hill-directed feature Streets of Fire (1984), opposite Diane Lane, Michael Paré and Willem Dafoe.
He would subsequently appear in the feature The First Power (1990) with Lou Diamond Phillips, Miracle Mile (1988) with Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham, Number One with a Bullet (1987), Wildcats (1986) and Free Willy (1993).
Following his critically acclaimed performance in Forrest Gump (1994), Williamson starred in Forest Whitaker's Waiting to Exhale (1995); partnered with Al Pacino in Michael Mann's Heat (1995); Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995), and starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Con Air (1997).
Williamson was also seen in Mike Nichols' political drama Primary Colors (1998) (a cameo appearance which he did as a personal favor to Nichols and John Travolta) and Three Kings (1999), opposite George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube.
In 1996 Williamson returned to television when he starred opposite Delroy Lindo and Blair Underwood in the critically acclaimed HBO telefilm Soul of the Game (1996) and received rave reviews for his stirring portrayal of legendary Negro League baseball legend Josh Gibson. Williamson also starred in Buffalo Soldiers (1997) for TNT and 12 Angry Men (1997) for Showtime, as well as starring in the cable network's series The Hoop Life (1999).
On stage Williamson starred with Samuel L. Jackson, D.B. Sweeney, Ellis Williams, Matt McGrath and Richard Reilly in Clark Gregg's ("What Lies Beneath") 1995's ensemble drama "Distant Fires", which earned the cast a prestigious L.A. Theatre Award.
An avid sports fan and devoted family man, Williamson enjoys restoring classic cars and rodeoing in his free time. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two of his three daughters.
Named by his grandfather for 'Spirit' or 'Silent Friend' in the language of Blackfeet Indians, Mykelti Williamson has quietly built a reputation in Hollywood as one of the most consistently proven actors in the business, delivering stirring and honest performances that always capture audiences.- Actor
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With over 100 film and television credits to his name, award-winning actor, Adrian Holmes, has become one to watch in the entertainment industry. He is best known for playing the patriarch of the Banks family, Philip Banks/Uncle Phil, in the acclaimed drama series, "BEL-AIR". The reimagining of the iconic 90s series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Admiral Robert April in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds". He is also known for his work on the Bravo television series "19-2", for which he won a Canadian Screen Award in 2017, in the Netflix vampire-drama series, "V Wars" and Captain Pike on the long running CW series, "Arrow."
On the film front, Holmes can be seen in the Universal Pictures' action-thriller "Skyscraper" alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and "Elysium" alongside Matt Damon.
In addition to working in front of the camera, Holmes received a producer credit, for co-producing, alongside Step by Step Productions, the docudrama "Barrow: Freedom Fighter", where he played the title role of Errol Barrow, Barbados' first Prime Minister. The film was very special to him, as it was shot in his homeland of Barbados.
Born in Wrexham, North Wales, with family from Barbados, Holmes grew up in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. The eldest of three boys, Holmes was a natural entertainer as a child. In junior high school, his drama class wrote a play for a local drama festival called, "The Challenge: An Environmental Happening" which was awarded Outstanding Junior Play, and Holmes awarded Outstanding Junior Actor. A defining moment for him which inspired him to pursue a career in acting.
He continued to perform in many stage productions throughout high school and college and studied his craft with many coaches including world-renowned coach Larry Moss.
When he isn't working, Holmes enjoys traveling with his wife actress Caroline Chikezie, and tries to get back to see his family in England and Barbados as much as possible. He is also always up for a good round of golf. Holmes splits his time between Vancouver and LA.- Terence Maynard was born in Liverpool and brought up in Nantwich, Cheshire. At the age of eight he showed a natural gift for dancing and, encouraged by his family, went to dance classes three times a week. As a result he became interested in performance in general and studied drama at the Guildford School of Acting, Guildford, where it became apparent to him that his main interest was in acting. On graduation in June 1991 he became a jobbing actor, his first big break being in 1998 in 'Roger, Roger', a comedy-drama series set in a taxi office. From this he graduated to a leading role in Sky One's football soap 'Dream Team' and has since appeared in a recurring role in 'Holby City' and the children's comedy series 'Young Dracula' as a descendant of Van Helsing, and, on the West End stage in 'Chicago.' In 2014 he joined the cast of 'Coronation Street'.
- Cress Williams 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 and as Inspector Atwon Babcock on Nash Bridges.
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Jason Moore comes from beautiful Kingston Jamaica and studied acting at SUNY Purchase College Acting Conservatory in New York. After getting his start in theater, Jason moved from New York to Los Angeles to pursue more film and TV. Jason is best known for his role as Curtis Hoyle in the hit series Marvel's The Punisher.- Actor
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As a child growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Ernie Hudson wrote short stories, poems and songs, always thinking that his words might one day come to life on stage. After a short stint in the Marine Corps, he moved to Detroit where he became the resident playwright at Concept East, the oldest black theatre in the country. In addition, he enrolled at Wayne State University to further develop his writing and acting skills and found time to establish the Actors' Emsemble Theatre, where he and other talented young black writers directed and appeared in their own works. After graduating with a B.A. from Wayne State, he was rewarded a full scholarship to the M.F.A. program at the prestigious Yale School of Drama. While performing with the school's repertory company, he was asked to appear in the Los Angeles production of Lonne Elder III's musical "Daddy Goodness," which led to his meeting Gordon Parks, who gave Hudson the costarring role in his first feature film, Leadbelly (1976). Unfortunately, all that followed "Leadbelly" was a year of "bit parts and some harsh lessons about Hollywood," which led Hudson to enroll in another academic doctorate program at the University of Minnesota. He did not complete the program. Through his experience, he learned another vital lesson: "There are those who spend their lives studying it and those who spend their lives doing it." Hudson definitely wanted to be in the second group. Keeping in mind this self-revelation, Hudson accepted the starring role of Jack Jefferson in the Minneapolis Theatre In The Round's production of "The Great White Hope," a role that he put "everything he had into," including shaving his head. A series of starring and guest roles followed on such television shows as Fantasy Island (1977), The Incredible Hulk (1978), Little House on the Prairie (1974), Diff'rent Strokes (1978), Taxi (1978), One Day at a Time (1975), Gimme a Break! (1981), The A-Team (1983) and Webster (1983), as well as costarring roles in the TV movies White Mama (1980) with Bette Davis, Roots: The Next Generations (1979), Women of San Quentin (1983), California Girls (1985), Mad Bull (1977) and Love on the Run (1985). Other feature film credits include The Jazz Singer (1980), The Main Event (1979), Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983), Penitentiary II (1982), Going Berserk (1983), Joy of Sex (1984) and, of course, the mega-hit Ghostbusters (1984).- Actor
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Billy Dee Williams was born William December Williams on April 6, 1937 in New York City. Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. He is easily best known to international film audiences as the roguish Lando Calrissian in the last two episodes of the original Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Williams can also be seen on screen in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Nighthawks (1981), Batman (1989), Moving Target (1996) and Undercover Brother (2002). A regular performer also in many fine quality television movies and television series.- Actor
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Abraham Popoola was born on 9 June 1991 in Hackney, London, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for The Great (2020), Andor (2022) and Cruella (2021).- Actor
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Daniel Sunjata (born Daniel Sunjata Condon on December 30, 1971) is an American actor who performs in film, television and theater. He is best known for his role as "Franco Rivera" in the FX television series, Rescue Me (2004). Sunjata also starred as "Paul Briggs" in USA Network's series, Graceland (2013). Sunjata was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He is the adopted son of Bill and Catherine Condon, a police dispatcher and a civil rights worker. He is of mixed African American, Irish, and German ancestry.- Actor
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Mike was born to Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Lee Colter Sr. He attended Benedict College where he was mentored and groomed his drama professor Scott Blanks. After transferring to the University of South Carolina where he attained a B.A. degree in theater, Mike went on to study at Mason Gross School of the Arts under renowned acting teachers William Esper and Maggie Flanigan. Upon receiving his MFA degree, Mike moved to L.A. where parts did not come easy, but after a few months he was able to grab a co-star on Spin City with Charlie Sheen followed by guest stars on E.R. and The Parkers with Mo'Nique. Mike then moved back to NYC to allow for the possibility of working in the theater as well, but as luck would have it Hollywood came calling again. He landed a role in 2005 Best Picture winner Million Dollar Baby opposite Clint Eastwood, Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman. He got the role without ever meeting Clint in person prior to the first day of shooting. The following year he received exceptional reviews for his turn as CJ Memphis a guitar-playing blues singer in The 2005 revival of the Pulitzer prize winning "A Soldier's Play." The play had been a big off-Broadway success and was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington and many of Hollywood's up-and-coming African-American actors in 1984. Mike kept his nose to the grindstone with a role in Adam Bock's new play "Drunken City" that world premiered at Playwrights Horizon in 2008. Mike splits his time between New York and L.A. working in film and television.- Actor
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Xzibit was born in Detroit, where he lived until his mother passed away when he was only nine years old. At the age of ten, he began to rap, very personally because of the loss of his mother. At the age of 14, he got into trouble and was removed from his home for two years after his father refused to have him there. Xzibit was released from the state on his own recognizance as an adult at 17. He did a little slangin' to get some money together and jumped into his jeep and headed toward LA, California. In 1992, Xzibit met with producer Broadway, through the group, Madcap. His first songs were "Freestyle Ghetto" on "King Tee IV Life", and after that he got on the Liks' "Coast ][ Coast" on the joints, "Hit and Run". He points to his mother, who was a writer, as his source of creativity. Xzibit's rhymes resonate because he speaks from the heart as an individual, rather than trying to portray a phony hip hop persona. He has lived through many dramatic times in his life, so he raps primarily about his own life experiences, and is not afraid to reveal himself on a track. Xzibit eventually found himself working with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, and helped on Dre's 2001. Through that work he became good friends with Dre, Snoop, Eminem, and others on the Aftermath staff. He is now a father, too.- Actor
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In 2023, Mr. Domingo was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play as a producer for the Pulitzer Prize winning play Fat Ham. Colman won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor Drama for his role as Ali in the HBO series Euphoria. Domingo has been honored with the inaugural Denver Film CinemaQ-LaBahn Ikon Film Award, the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award, the Creative Coalition Television Humanitarian Award and the Atlanta's Out On Film Icon Award. Colman Domingo stars in the Netflix, Higher Ground film Rustin as Bayard Rustin slated for the fall of 2023. He also stars as Mister in the Warner Brothers, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg produced The Color Purple musical motion picture. A two time Film Independent Spirit, Gotham, SAG, Critics Choice and NAACP award nominee, he won a Hollywood Critics Association Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series/Anthology and an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his work in Euphoria. Domingo is a Tony®, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Drama Desk, Drama League and NAACP Theatre Award nominated, OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award winning actor, playwright, director and producer. Colman received his Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Ursinus College. He is on the faculty of University of Southern California, School of Dramatic Arts as a Professor of acting, after having served as a Juilliard School Creative Associate and a faculty member of the Yale School of Drama. Colman has starred in some of the most profound films in recent years such as Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk, Steven Spielbergs' Lincoln, Lee Daniel's The Butler, Ava DuVernay's Selma, Nia DaCosta's Candyman and Janicza Bravo's Zola.- Actor
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Winston Duke was born on 15 November 1986 in Trinidad and Tobago. He is an actor and producer, known for Black Panther (2018), Us (2019) and Nine Days (2020).- Actor
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Rob Morgan was born on 24 February 1973 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor, known for Mudbound (2017), Don't Look Up (2021) and Bull (2019).- Actor
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Carl Weathers was born on January 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. A famous and successful football star at San Diego State, he played with the Oakland Raiders and retired from the sport in 1974, in order to give full attention to his goal: to be a real actor.
Weathers first played small parts in two blaxploitation flicks, Friday Foster (1975) (in which he played "Yarbro") and Bucktown (1975) (playing "Hambone"), both made in 1975 and directed by Arthur Marks. However, his big break came the following year when producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff chose him to play "Apollo Creed" in the blockbuster "sleeper" Rocky (1976) (real-life boxing legend Ken Norton was originally signed for the part, but it eventually went to Weathers). He went on to play "Creed" in three other "Rocky" movies, and the characters' adversarial relationship eventually evolved into a warm friendship. After Creed's death in Rocky IV (1985), Weathers met with producer Joel Silver and agreed to play an important supporting role in Predator (1987), an action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The following year, Silver produced Action Jackson (1988), a first starring role for Weathers, but it performed poorly at the box office and was panned by the critics.
During the 1990s, Weathers starred in four In the Heat of the Night (1988) two-hour TV specials that were much better received by critics and viewers alike. In 1996, he played the part of "Chubbs Peterson" in the blockbuster Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore (1996). He returned to his "action roots" in two TV-movies with Hulk Hogan: Assault on Devil's Island (1997) and Assault on Death Mountain (1999).
In addition to his acting career, Weathers is also a member of the Big Brothers Association and the U.S. Olympic Committee, handling the career of athletes of various sports such as gymnastics, wrestling, swimming and judo.- Actor
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Lennie James was born in Nottingham to Trinidadian parents, and grew up in South London. His mother, Phyllis Mary James, died when he was 12. Lennie and his older brother went into a council children's home. When he was 16 he was fostered with a social worker who had two older children, and they remain very close. Within a year Lennie began writing plays (Storm Damage was broadcast by the BBC in 2000 and won a Royal Television Society (RTS) award in 2001). Lennie received his training at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama from which he graduated in 1988.- Actor
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Frank Harts was born in Sterling, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Rustin (2023), Master of None (2015) and Paterson (2016). He has been married to Shelley Thomas-Harts since 4 August 2011.- Actor
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Chosen as one of Variety's "Top Ten Actors to Watch" and part of the new breed of leading men in Hollywood, Laz Alonso is starring in Amazon Prime's series THE BOYS. He can also be seen playing opposite Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba in their new series LA'S FINEST. He previously starred opposite Debra Messing and Josh Lucas in NBC's THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA. Laz's extensive television credits also include leading roles in NBC's DECEPTION and A&E's BREAKOUT KINGS.
Theatrically, Laz recently played Carlos Jones in Guy Ritche's CASH TRUCK, opposite Jason Statham, Josh Hartnett and Holt McCallany. Previously he portrayed Congressman John Conyers, in the Annapurna critically acclaimed film DETROIT, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. He also starred opposite Paula Patton and Omar Epps in the independent Thriller TRAFFIK. Alonso previously starred opposite Patton in the hit romantic comedy JUMPING THE BROOM for Columbia Pictures, for which he received a NAACP IMAGE AWARD for Outstanding Actor In A Motion Picture . He has also been nominated for a BET Best Actor Award. Prior to that, he played the heroic role of "Tsu'Tey" in the highest grossing film of all time, James Cameron's AVATAR. Laz played the lead villain role of "Fenix Calderon" in Universal's FAST AND FURIOUS, which reunited the original cast and relaunched the successful franchise. His past movie credits include lead roles in the Sony/Screen Gems' hits STOMP THE YARD and THIS CHRISTMAS, a co-starring role in Sam Mendes' hit JARHEAD, for Universal Pictures opposite Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, and a supporting role in Rod Lurie's remake of the Sam Peckinpah classic STRAW DOGS. Laz also starred in Spike Lee's MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, in which he played "Hector Negron", based on a true story of a black and Puerto Rican WWII Buffalo Soldier that witnessed something that he carried inside for over 30 years until his past meets him again.
Laz has also executive produced and starred opposite Danny Glover in Alan Jacobs' DOWN FOR LIFE, which ended up with a much-coveted position in the Toronto Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. He has directed a mini documentary that premiered at Art Basel titled I AM, which highlighted a Washington DC artist who paints homeless people in prestigious settings.
Born and raised in Washington DC, Laz always knew he wanted to be an actor. He graduated from the prestigious Howard University School of Business, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. After college, he worked on Wall Street as an investment banker at MERRILL LYNCH and began his acting career simultaneously, doing NY off-Broadway theater. He credits his ability to tackle so many different types of roles by his theater training. He now splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City.
WINNER BEST ACTOR NAACP IMAGE AWARDS- Actor
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Peter Jerrod Macon is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Lt. Commander Bortus in the Fox/Hulu television series The Orville (2017-present). Macon was raised in Minneapolis and attended North Community High School, where he acted in school plays. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a truck driver. Macon later attended the San Francisco Art Institute and the Yale School of Drama, where he earned a master's degree in acting. Macon married Lucia Brawley, an actress who also attended Yale, in 2005. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins officiated. He divorced Lucia several years later and in 2018 married Jacquelyn Woods.- Actor
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Avery Franklin Brooks was born on October 2, 1948 in Evansville, Indiana to a musically talented family. His maternal grandfather, Samuel Travis Crawford, was a tenor who graduated from Tougaloo College in Mississippi in 1901. Crawford toured the country singing with the Delta Rhythm Boys in the 1930s. Brooks also is musically inclined having played jazz piano, and has performed as the great baritone/actor/scholar Paul Robeson in the play entitled "Paul Robeson". He sang the lead in the A. Anthony Davis opera "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X", and performed as "Theseus" and "Oberon" in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Washington's Arena Stage. Long affiliated with Rutgers University, he was the institution's first Black MFA graduate. Additionally, he served as the National Black Arts Festival's (NBAF) Artistic Director throughout the 1990s in Atlanta, Georgia. An actor, activist, musician, director, and educator of epic proportions, Brooks was quoted in an interview about his work with NBAF and his performances: "If I were a carpenter, I'd find a way to empower using that skill. I'm using as much as God has given--my mind, my voice, my heart, my art forms. This is the highest form of expression on the planet from God, to me, to you".- Ricky was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His father was in the Royal Air Force which meant travelling the world to different bases. Ricky was scouted to play as a professional footballer for Arsenal and Celtic football clubs but this was thwarted by injury and instead he went to Southampton University to read Law. Whilst there he began modeling and became the Face of Reebok for 2000. He then moved into acting, with his first lead role in the football drama 'Dream Team'. In 2007 he left to play in another British soap, as P.C. Calvin Valentine in the award winning soap 'Hollyoaks'. In 2010, Ricky took his talents to Los Angeles immediately booking a lead in Sony romantic comedy Austenland before gaining several TV roles in mistresses, NCIS,single ladies amongst others. His versatility and nuance depicted as Lincoln in sci fi Netflix drama The100 before his breakout role and critically acclaimed portrayal as shadow Moon in the award winning American Gods ,streamed worldwide on Amazon
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Critically hailed for his forceful, militant, authoritative figures and one of Hollywood's most talented and versatile performers, Laurence (John) Fishburne III has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a number of NAACP Image honors.
Born in Augusta, Georgia on July 30, 1961, to Hattie Bell (Crawford), a teacher, and Laurence John Fishburne, Jr., a juvenile corrections officer. His mother transplanted her family to Brooklyn after his parents divorced. At the age of 10, the young boy appeared in his first play, "In My Many Names and Days," at a cramped little theater space in Manhattan. He continued on but managed to avoid the trappings of a child star per se, considering himself more a working child actor at the time. Billing himself as Larry Fishburne during this early phase, he never studied or was trained in the technique of acting.
In 1973, at the age of 12, young Laurence won a recurring role on the daytime soap One Life to Live (1968) that lasted three seasons. He subsequently made his film debut in the ghetto-themed Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975). At 14 Francis Ford Coppola cast him in Apocalypse Now (1979), which filmed for two years in the Philippines. Laurence didn't work for another year and a half after that long episode. A graduate of Lincoln Square Academy, Coppola was impressed enough with Laurence to hire him again down the line with featured roles in Rumble Fish (1983), The Cotton Club (1984) and Gardens of Stone (1987).
Throughout the 1980s, he continued to build up his film and TV credit list with featured roles despite little fanfare. A recurring role as Cowboy Curtis on the kiddie show Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986) helped him through whatever lean patches there were at the time. TV guest appearances at this time included "Trapper John," "M*A*S*H*," "Hill Street Blues," "Miami Vice," "Spenser: For Hire" and "The Equalizer."
With the new decade (1990s) came out-and-out stardom for Laurence. A choice lead in John Singleton's urban tale Boyz n the Hood (1991) catapulted him immediately into the front of the film ranks. Set in LA's turbulent South Central area, his potent role as a morally minded divorced father who strives to rise above the ignorance and violence of his surroundings, Laurence showed true command and the ability to hold up any film.
On stage, Laurence would become invariably linked to playwright August Wilson and his 20th Century epic African-American experience after starring for two years as the eruptive ex-con in "Two Training Running." For this powerful, mesmerizing performance, Laurence won nearly every prestigious theater award in the books (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Theatre World). It was around the time of this career hallmark that he began billing himself as "Laurence" instead of "Larry." More awards and accolades came his way. In addition to an Emmy for the pilot episode of the series "Tribeca," he was nominated for his fine work in the quality mini-movies The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) and Miss Evers' Boys (1997).
On the larger screen, both Laurence and Angela Bassett were given Oscar nominations for their raw, seething portrayals of rock stars Ike and Tina Turner in the film What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). To his credit, he managed to take an extremely repellent character and make it a sobering and captivating experience. A pulp box-office favorite as well, he originated the role of Morpheus, Keanu Reeves' mentor, in the exceedingly popular futuristic sci-fi The Matrix (1999), best known for its ground-breaking special effects. He wisely returned for its back-to-back sequels.
Into the millennium, Laurence extended his talents by making his screenwriting and directorial debut in Once in the Life (2000), in which he also starred. The film is based on his own critically acclaimed play "Riff Raff," which he staged five years earlier. In 1999, he scored a major theater triumph with a multi-racial version of "The Lion in Winter" as Henry II opposite Stockard Channing's Eleanor of Acquitaine. On film, Fishburne has appeared in a variety of interesting roles in not-always-successful films. Never less than compelling, a few of his more notable parts include an urban speed chess player in Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993); a military prisoner in Cadence (1990); a college professor in Singleton's Higher Learning (1995); a CIA operative in Bad Company (1995); the title role in Othello (1995) (he was the first black actor to play the part on film); a spaceship rescue team leader in the sci-fi horror Event Horizon (1997); a Depression-era gangster in Hoodlum (1997); a dogged police sergeant in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River (2003); a spelling bee coach in Akeelah and the Bee (2006); and prominent roles in the mainstream films Predators (2010) and Contagion (2011). He returned occasionally to the theatre. In April 2008, he played Thurgood Marshall in the one-man show "Thurgood" and won a Drama Desk Award. It was later transferred to the TV screen and earned an Emmy nomination.
In the fall of 2008, Fishburne replaced William Petersen as the male lead investigator on the popular CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), but left the show in 2011 to refocus on films and was in turn replaced by Ted Danson. Having since had a regular role as "Pops" in the comedy Black-ish (2014), he has also been seen on the bigger screen in the Superman movies Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as Daily Planet chief Perry White; played a hired assassin in the thriller Standoff (2016); portrayed a minister and former Vietnam War vet in Last Flag Flying (2017); and essayed the role of a revengeful prison warden in Imprisoned (2018).
Fishburne has two children, Langston and Montana, from his first marriage to actress Hajna O. Moss. In September 2002, Fishburne married Cuban-American actress Gina Torres.- Actor
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Barry Shabaka Henley was born on 15 September 1954 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Collateral (2004), The Terminal (2004) and Rush Hour (1998).- Actor
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Terry Crews was born in Flint, Michigan, to Patricia and Terry Crews Sr. He earned an art excellence scholarship to attend Western Michigan University and also earned a full-ride athletic scholarship to play football. Crews was an All-Conference defensive end, and was a major contributor on the 1988 MAC champion WMU Broncos. His college success was rewarded in 1991, when he was drafted by the NFL's Los Angeles Rams.
Crews played six years in the NFL, with stints at the L.A. Rams, San Diego Chargers , Rhein Fire (NFL Europe-Germany), Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles. While in the NFL, used his art talent by painting a line of NFL licensed lithographs for Sierra Sun Editions.
In 1996, Crews co-wrote and co-produced the independent feature film "Young Boys Incorporated" (1996).
Crews retired from the NFL in 1997 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Crews's first break came in 1999, when he auditioned for the extreme sports show called Battle Dome (1999), with other actor-athletes from around the country. Crews was chosen to be a series regular, known as the urban warrior T-Money.
In 2000, Crews made his big-screen debut in The 6th Day (2000). Since then, he has landed roles in Serving Sara (2002), Friday After Next (2002), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Malibu's Most Wanted (2003), Starsky & Hutch (2004), Soul Plane (2004), White Chicks (2004), and the Mike Judge film, Idiocracy (2006).- Actor
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Cedric Yarbrough is a multi-hyphenate performer who just wrapped production on the new AMC series, "Lucky Hank," starring opposite Bob Odenkirk and Mireille Enos. Cedric stars "Paul Rourke," a poetry professor at Railton College who self-identifies as the rival to Odenkirk's "Hank." He also shot several feature films including the indie comedy, "The Donor Party," starring opposite Malin Ackerman and Rob Corddry, the Netflix feature, "Unfrosted," directed by and starring opposite Jerry Seinfield, and the Universal Pictures/Apatow Productions feature comedy, "Please Don't Destroy," starring opposite Conan O'Brien and Bowen Yang.
Cedric was recently seen in the "Reno 911!" holiday special for Paramount+, "It's A Wonderful Heist," and continues to recur on the ABC series, "The Goldbergs." He starred on the CBS series, "Carol's Second Act," and spent three seasons starring on the ABC series, "Speechless."
A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cedric started his film and television career as a series regular on the Comedy Central series "Reno 911!". He also starred in the series revival "Reno 911! Defunded" for Roku, and the Paramount+ movie "Reno 911! The Hunt For QAnon," which was nominated for a 2022 Emmy regarding Outstanding TV Movie. Since then, Cedric has gone on to appear as a series regular, recurring character, or guest star in close to 100 numerous series over the course of his illustrious career.
Additionally, Cedric is a talented voice-over artist working on many hit animated shows such as "Bojack Horseman," "Paradise P.D.," "Mike Tyson Mysteries," "Bugs Bunny," "Family Guy," and "The Boondocks."
In the feature world, Cedric has worked with titans of comedy such as Steve Carrell in '"Get Smart" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler in "The House," and Melissa McCarthy in "The Boss."- Actor
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Robbie Gee is an English television, theatre, and film actor and has starred in both British and American production and is best known in the UK and well loved for his "Desmonds" character Lee and as a regular on the BBC's The Real McCoy. He has appeared numerous times at Theatre Royal Stratford East, the Royal Court and the National, as well as touring nationally with "The Posse".
Robbie starred in the film The Firm alongside Gary Oldman and he made an appearance in the horror/action film Underworld, alongside Kate Beckinsale and Bill Nighy, as "Khan". Credits also include Sky One's Dream Team, UK Gangster film Snatch and starred in UK Gangster movie Rollin' with the Nines. Co-starred as "Shrimper" in Pirates of the Caribbean and also supported Steven Seagal in action thriller Out of Reach.- Actor
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Dwayne Boyd is a Producer, Director and Actor as well as instructor at Premier Actors' Network (PAN) - which he founded in 2003. As an actor Dwayne Boyd believes in delivering his true self in every performance. His ability to engage and affect his audiences through acting proves the potential of this rising star. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Dwayne found his love for acting early in life. After completing high school, he served in the United States Army for seven years. Not long after leaving the Army, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue his acting career. Boyd's acting skills were first honed in Atlanta-area theater productions, including To Kill A Mockingbird and A Man's World. Boyd has since decided to train other aspiring actors to perfect their crafts by developing the Premier Actor's Network, a group that holds weekly acting classes in Decatur, Georgia. With over 110 students currently on his roster, Boyd managed to impress accomplished actor, writer and director Robert Townsend with his commitment to give back. Townsend has since allowed Boyd to use rehearsal space at the network offices of the Black Family Channel to accommodate his growing and successful classes. Boyd's commitment to the art of entertainment transcends his skills as just an actor. He has found himself writing, directing and producing short films as well through 34th and Askew Productions company. He has produced works such as Ruthless Company and Wanted: Video Girl. In 2004, he was tapped to produce several episodes of Gory Stories, a children's program on the Black Family Channel. Pursuing dreams as an actor has been a labor of love for Boyd, who works as a barber part-time to cover his living expenses. Still, his talent began to pay off with a starring role as Oscar in the 2005 Screen Gems production 'The Gospel', starring Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba and Omar Gooding. This film role follows Boyd's work in television, which included appearances in episodes of NBC's Surface, Lifetime's hit shows Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva, Black Family Channel's Playhouse 22 and Meet the Browns. He can be seen in the upcoming Disney film The Odd Life of Timothy Green starring opposite Jennifer Garner and Common and the highly anticipated film adaption of the enormously popular book series The Hunger Games starring Oscar Nominee Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harellson, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland. As a talented actor who respects and continually improves his craft, Dwayne has positioned himself for further success as the filmmaking industry takes notice. Beginning with his feature film, a romantic comedy titled 4 Minutes, which he wrote, produced, and directed, was not only accepted into the prestigious American Black Film Festival (ABFF), of 2008 in Miami, but it was ranked top four out of 600 entries, and additionally accepted into the International Black Film Festival (IBFF), in Nashville. He recently directed the SAG feature; The Ivy League set to be released later this year and is in development for his third feature, The Legacy of Frank Wallace, which he is slated to direct. Additionally, Boyd's success with Premier Actor's Network (PAN) continues to soar as his classes include on-camera work, monologues, improvisations, scene study, and character development, to prepare for roles in TV, film, commercials, and theatre. He then provide his students with an acting showcase at least twice a year, where they perform in front of hundreds of family, friends and industry personnel, such as; agents, casting directors, and producers. His recent showcase deemed to be the best showcase thus far in metro Atlanta; as exclaimed by very prominent talent agents and casting directors in attendance. In addition to the many accolades, eighty percent of the actors obtained opportunities for agent representation following the showcase. That being an accomplishment within itself, Boyd finds great joy in seeing his diligent work with his students pave the road for their success; and this is what continues to drive him to strive for perfection in the art, live his dream, and fulfill his destiny!- Billy Brown was born on 30 October 1971 in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Star Trek (2009) and Cloverfield (2008).
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Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an African-American comedian, producer, writer, director and actor. He is known for his roles in the Bad Boys trilogy, Martin, Def Comedy Jam, Big Momma's House, Open Season, House Party, Boomerang, Wild Hogs, What's Happening Now!!, Nothing to Lose, Life and Blue Streak. He has three daughters.- Actor
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Khary Payton (born May 16, 1972) is an American actor and voice actor best known for his voice role of the DC Comics character Cyborg across various films, cartoons and video games. He is also known for his live action performances on General Hospital and The Walking Dead.
In 1986, Payton was a winner in Showtime's 1st annual Kid Talent Quest, and a recording exists of him introducing the animated film Sherlock Holmes in the Baskerville Curse.
Payton appeared on a recurring basis as Dr. Terrell Jackson on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. He portrays King Ezekiel on AMC's The Walking Dead.
Payton has portrayed Cyborg in the Teen Titans animated series and Aqualad in Young Justice. In the cartoon series Justice League, Payton provided the voice of the villain Ten from the Royal Flush Gang. He also provided the voice of Drebin in the game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ripcord in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Blade in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Grimlock in Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Killer Croc in Batman: Arkham Underworld and is voicing Wasabi on the Disney XD original series Big Hero 6 based on the Marvel Comics by Man of Action and the film of the same name.- Actor
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Born and raised in London, England, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje began his career as a model in Milan. He graduated with a masters degree in Law from London's prestigious Kings College, before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. Fluent in several languages, including English, Italian, Yoruba and Swahili, he is best known for his roles in the movies Congo (1995) and The Mummy Returns (2001), and the HBO series Oz (1997).- Actor
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Stephen Hill is an award winning actor (Best Male Actor, ABFF Star Project 2010), known for solid work in a variety of roles in film, TV, theater, web series, etc. Recently cast in the lead role of York in the HBO mini-series, Lewis & Clark, he is also on HBO, in Pete Chatmon's BlackCard, and in the fifth season of Boardwalk Empire in the recurring role of Clarence, right hand man to Jeffrey Wright's, Dr. Narcisse. On Netflix, in Kiara Jones' Christmas Wedding Baby, Stephen gives a heartfelt and truthful performance in the lead role of Issac. Look out for him on Law & Order SVU, Blue Bloods, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Louie, Political Animals, and Unforgettable. Hill can also be seen embodying the role of Jackie Robinson in the award winning documentary, Jackie Robinson: My Story. Watch Stephen online in the soulful film Runaway, starring opposite Grammy nominated vocalist Carolyn Malachi, and in the hilarious series Fort Knox. Stephen considers it a privilege and and honor to play make believe for a living.- Actor
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Emmy-nominated actor and director Malcolm-Jamal Warner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was named after Malcolm X and legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.
Warner first rose to national prominence by starring on the celebrated and long-running classic television series "The Cosby Show." His work on the show garnered him a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
As a seasoned director, Warner has worked on a host of television series, including being a regular director [and producer] on the comedy series "Malcolm & Eddie," and also having directed several episodes of "The Cosby Show," "All That," "Keenan & Kel," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Sesame Street," and the AIDS awareness video "Timeout: The Truth about HIV, AIDS, and You' [which starred Magic Johnson and Arsenio Hall, and earned Warner the NAACP Key of Life Image Award. His short film, "This Old Man," received critical acclaim on the theater festival circuit.
In addition to his television credits, Warner made his feature film debut in Paramount Pictures' "Drop Zone," and was also seen in Warner Bros' Pictures "Fools Gold" opposite Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, and Donald Sutherland. He also co-starred in the independent films "Restaurant" with Adrien Brody, "A Fare to Remember," and "The List" with Wayne Brady.
On stage, Warner has starred in the off-Broadway plays "Three Ways Home," "Cryin' Shame," for which he received the NAACP Theater Award for Best Supporting Actor, "Freefall" at the Victory Garden Theatre in Chicago, and in "A Midsummer Nights' Dream," at the La Jolla Playhouse in California. Warner received critical acclaim for his West Coast debut of his one-man theatrical production of "Love and Other Social Issues." He will return to the stage in September 2014, reprising Sidney Poitier's role as Dr. John Prentice in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," opening in Boston at The Huntington Theatre. Warner has held this role before, previously performing in the play at Washington D.C.'s esteemed Arena Theater.
In 2014, Warner can be seen recurring on two hit series: TNT's "Major Crimes," and FX's "Sons of Anarchy." He was most recently seen on NBC's critically acclaimed series "Community," and recently guest starred on "The Michael J. Fox Show," TNT's "Hawthorne", AMC's "The Cleaner," and Showtime's "Dexter." In 2011, Warner produced, directed, and starred in the BET original series "Reed Between the Lines" opposite Tracee Ellis Ross.
Warner's voice may be as well known as his likeness, for four seasons he was heard as the voice of the "Producer" on PBS' "The Magic School Bus." Currently, he can be heard on the audio book version of "The Marvelous Effect" published by Berkley Trade, as well as in Simon & Schuster's "Fatherhood" by Bill Cosby. When not acting and directing, Warner is a poet and a bass player. His jazz-funk band Miles Long has performed in several major jazz festivals, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, and has opened for high profile artists including Earl Klugh and the late Luther Vandross, and he recently performed at the historic Apollo Theater. Both of Warner's independently distributed CD's, "The Miles Long Mix Tape" and "Love and Other Social Issues". Warner is set to release brand new music, fall 2014.
Warner currently lives in Los Angeles, California.- Actor
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Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. His mother, Shirley (Sullivan), was a backup singer for The Sweethearts. His father, Cuba Gooding, was the lead vocalist for the R&B group The Main Ingredient, which had a hit with the song "Everybody Plays The Fool". His paternal grandfather was from Barbados.
Cuba's father moved the family to Los Angeles in 1972, only to leave them a few years later. Despite this setback, Cuba was able to maintain a positive outlook and overachieved throughout school. He attended four different high schools and was elected class president in three of them. While at high school, Cuba met and fell in love with Sara Kapfer, whom he later lived with for seven years before tying the knot in March 1994.
Following high school, Cuba studied Japanese martial arts for three years before turning his focus toward acting. Early on, he landed guest starring roles on shows like Hill Street Blues (1981) and MacGyver (1985). His first major role was in the 1991 box office surprise Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed this success with supporting roles in major films like A Few Good Men (1992), Lightning Jack (1994) and Outbreak (1995).
In 1996, Cuba was cast as an arrogant but loyal football player in the Tom Cruise-Cameron Crowe film Jerry Maguire (1996). The film became a huge box office smash and earned Cuba an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His "Show Me The Money" line in the movie became a nationwide catchphrase. The role elevated him to superstar status, as many of Hollywood's top producers began to "show him the money" to appear in their films.
Since Jerry Maguire (1996), Cuba has managed to keep busy with a wide range of roles alongside many of Hollywood's biggest stars. Most recently, he won critical support for his portrayal of a mentally handicapped man in the heartwarming film Radio (2003), another movie about football. In 2002, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He resides in Studio City, California.- Actor
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Jerome Preston Bates was born on 20 July 1954 in Augusta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Peeples (2013), Tio Papi (2013) and Musical Chairs (2011).- Actor
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Anthony Chisholm was born on 9 April 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for Premium Rush (2012), Oz (1997) and Going in Style (2017). He was married to Gloria Nixon and Valerie Moore. He died on 16 October 2020 in Montclair, New Jersey, USA.- Actor
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Commanding performer Bill Nunn made his feature debut in fellow Morehouse College graduate Spike Lee's School Daze (1988), but really etched himself into moviegoers' minds as a formidable screen presence in his second film with Lee, Do the Right Thing (1989), playing Radio Raheem, whose ever-present boom box is at the center of a fight that leads to his death at the hands of an overzealous police officer, the prelude to the all-out riot that follows (Nunn also acted in Mo' Better Blues (1990) and He Got Game (1998) for Lee). Though he made his initial mark playing young street toughs on screen, this veteran of the Atlanta stage showed he could use his impressive size for something other than menace with a critically acclaimed performance as Harrison Ford's sympathetic, high-spirited physical therapist in Regarding Henry (1991). Nunn subsequently played pretty much every type there is, all the way up to nice, huggable teddy bear guys like Whoopi Goldberg's protector Eddie Souther in Sister Act (1992).
His professionalism made him a favorite of other directors besides Lee. He portrayed a Southern police chief in Bill Condon's White Lie (1991) (USA Network), later reteaming with Condon for Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995), and has also acted twice for Michael Apted (Extreme Measures (1996), HBO's Always Outnumbered (1998)) and Gary Fleder (Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), Kiss the Girls (1997)). Nunn also turned in a fine performance as Tim Roth's adoptive father in The Legend of 1900 (1998), Giuseppe Tornatore's first English-language feature, released initially in Italy and then in the United States in 1999. He can also be seen in Spider-Man (2002), People I Know (2002) with Al Pacino and the prison thriller Lockdown (2000).
Nunn has also found time to do numerous television pilots and three series. He was in the CBS series Traps (1994) with George C. Scott, sitcom Local Heroes (1995) for NBC and the critically acclaimed The Job (2001) with Denis Leary on ABC. He appeared on episodes of Chicago Hope (1994), Touched by an Angel (1994) (both CBS), New York Undercover (1994) and Millennium (1996) (both Fox), among others.
Nunn lived in Georgia with his wife Donna and daughters Jessica and Cydney.- Actor
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Joe Holt was born on 22 February 1970 in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor and producer, known for The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020), The Punisher (2017) and Delilah (2021).- Actor
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Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in west Africa to Albertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He moved to Lyon, France, when he was 13. Hounsou has graced the catwalks of Paris and London as a popular male model. He has since left his modeling career and has worked on Gladiator (2000) by Ridley Scott and Amistad (1997) by Steven Spielberg.