James Pickens, Jr.
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James Pickens, Jr. | |
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![]() James Pickens, Jr. (with Dawnn Lewis) at a charity golf tournament, 2008
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Born | James Pickens, Jr. October 26, 1954 Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Spouse(s) | Gina Pickens |
Children | 2 |
James Pickens, Jr. (born October 26, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, and for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series The X-Files.
Contents
Early life
Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He began acting while a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of Matters of Choice by Chuck Gordone.[1] Pickens earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from BGSU in 1976.[1]
Career
Pickens started his professional acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City playing Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun.[1] In 1981, Pickens performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of A Soldier's Play, starring alongside Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.[1]
In 1990, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on "X-Files" as Deputy Director Kersh, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under.
In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film Red Dragon.
In the February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution,[2] 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget.[3]
In 2005, Pickens was chosen to play Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
Personal life
Pickens is married to Gina Taylor, a former member of Musique, and has two children. In his spare time Pickens can be found riding horseback and roping cattle. He is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in roping events across the country. He owns an American Quarter Horse named Smokey.
James's two children, Carl Tharps and Gavyn Pickens, are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is working on a Hip-Hop career and can be seen in various television appearances, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper where he appeared alongside his long-time friend Omar Gooding. His father James Pickens Sr. worked for the City of Cleveland.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | F/X | Ambulance Driver | |
1987 | Hotshot | N/A | |
1992 | Trespass | Police Officer Reese | |
1992 | Exclusive | Jonathan Heglin | Television film |
1993 | Boiling Point | Prison Officer | |
1993 | Menace II Society | Man | |
1994 | Hostile Intentions | Capt. Connor | |
1994 | Jimmy Hollywood | Cook | |
1994 | Sodbusters | Isaac | Television film |
1994 | A Child's Cry for Help | Brad Currie | Television film |
1994 | Lily in Winter | Chick | Television film |
1995 | Trail by Fire | Television film | |
1995 | Sharon's Secret | Ashmore | Television film |
1995 | Dead Presidents | Mr. Curtis | |
1995 | Nixon | Black Orator | |
1996 | Power 98 | Det. Wilkinson | |
1996 | Sleepers | Marlboro | |
1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Medgar Evers | |
1996 | Bloodhounds | Agent John DeGraf | Television film |
1997 | Gridlock'd | Supervisor | |
1997 | RocketMan | Ben Stevens | |
1998 | Seinfeld | Det Hudson | |
1998 | Sphere | O.S.S.A. Instructor | |
1998 | Bulworth | Uncle David | |
1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Walter Payne | |
1998 | Little Girl Fly Away | Detective Walter Engelhart | Television film |
1999 | Liberty Heights | Sylvia's Father | |
1999 | A Slight Case of Murder | Det. Larry Gray | Television film |
2000 | Traffic | Ben Williams | |
2001 | Semper Fi | Mr. Maddox | Television film |
2002 | Home Room | Principal Robbins | |
2003 | White Rush | Denny | |
2005 | Venom | Sheriff | |
2008 | Ball Don't Lie | Roberto | |
2010 | Just Wright | Lloyd Wright | |
2013 | 42 | Mr. Brock |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986–1990 | Another World | Zack Edwards | Unknown episodes |
1992 | Blossom | Vinnie | Episode: "The Letter" |
1992 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Fred | Episode: "Hungry Heart" |
1992 | L.A. Law | Joseph Russell | Episode: "Zo Long" |
1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Bert | Episode: "Roommate with a View" |
1991–1992 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Henry Thomas | 10 episodes |
1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Sonny Greene | Episode: "The Survivor" |
1994 | Renegade | Lieutenant Pete Calloway | Episode: "Hostage" |
1994 | Coach | Rick Williams | Episode: "Blue Chip Blues" |
1994 | Me and the Boys | Coach | Episode: "Black Dads Can't Jump" |
1995 | Touched by an Angel | George | Episode: "The Driver" |
1996 | In the House | Russell | Episode: "My Crazy Valentine" |
1996 | The Lazarus Man | N/A | Episode: "The Conspirator" |
1996 | One West Waikiki | N/A | Episode: "Allergic to Golf" |
1996 | Dangerous Minds | Coach Butch Kelly | Episode: "Moonstruck" |
1990–1996 | Roseanne | Chuck Mitchell | 19 episodes |
1997 | Pacific Palisades | Josh Smith | Episode: "Past & Present Danger" |
1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Staff Sergeant Luther Parrish | Episode: "The Fighting McLains" |
1996–1997 | Something So Right | Jim | 5 episodes |
1998 | The Pretender | Clark Thomas | Episode: "Crash" |
1998 | Seinfeld | Detective Hudson | Episode: "The Finale" |
1997–1998 | Brooklyn South | Detective | 4 episodes |
1999 | Vengeance Unlimited | Mr. Hobbs | Episode: "Friends" |
1999 | JAG | Commander Wallace Burke | 2 episodes |
2000 | City of Angels | Wilson Patterson | 3 episodes |
2000 | Daddio | Doug Grayson | Episode: "The Premium Also Rises" |
2000 | The District | Mr. Lane | Episode: "The Real Terrorist" |
2000 | Family Law | N/A | Episode: "Family Values" |
2000 | NYPD Blue | Lt. Joe Abner | 3 episodes |
1997–2000 | The Practice | Detective Mike McKrew | 15 episodes |
1998–2000 | Any Day Now | Judge Lucius Pearl | 3 episodes |
2002 | Strong Medicine | Dr. Everett Sloane | Episode: "Outcomes" |
2002 | Crossing Jordan | Agent Hawkins | Episode: "Bombs Away" |
2002 | MDs | Mr. Farrell | Episode: "Cruel and Unusual" |
1998–2002 | The X-Files | FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh | 19 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
2001–2002 | Philly | Clyde Coleman | 7 episodes |
2003 | CSI: Miami | Prison Warden | Episode: "Body Count" |
2003 | The Lyon's Den | Terrance Christianson | 3 episodes |
2002–2003 | Six Feet Under | Roderick Charles | 2 episodes |
2002–2003 | Becker | Cliff Bennett | 2 episodes |
2004 | Line of Fire | Kenneth Stevens | Episode: "The Senator" |
2004 | The West Wing | Mayor | Episode: "Full Disclosure" |
2004 | Jack & Bobby | Marcus Ride | Episode: "Pilot" |
2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Doctor | 2 episodes |
2005–present | Grey's Anatomy | Richard Webber | Main Cast (Season 1–present) NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2006–11) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006, 2008) |
2007–2009 | Private Practice | Richard Webber | 2 episodes |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Anatomy of an Actor, BGSU Magazine , 8(Summer 2007):12-13.
- ↑ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00808: 808
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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- 1954 births
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- American male film actors
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- Bowling Green State University alumni
- Living people
- Rodeo performers
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors