Gary Dourdan

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Gary Dourdan
Born Gary Robert Dourdan
December 11, 1966 (1966-12-11) (age 42)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Spouse(s) Roshumba Williams (1994–1996)

Gary Dourdan (born Gary Robert Durdin; December 11, 1966) is an American actor, widely known for portraying Warrick Brown on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

Dourdan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Sandy, a teacher and fashion designer, and Robert Durdin, an entrepreneur and agent for jazz musicians.[1] Dourdan has African American, Native American, Scots-Irish, French and Jewish ancestry.[2] Dourdan is the second youngest of 5 children, and when he was 6, his older brother Darryl was murdered while on vacation in Haiti; the case is still unsolved.[2] He moved with his family to Willingboro, New Jersey when he was in his youth. At this time his interests included acting, music and martial arts. Later Dourdan moved to New York City and worked as a doorman at a rehearsal studio where he met some of Manhattan's promising young artists.

[edit] Career

[edit] Early on

Dourdan got his first break when Debbie Allen cast him as Shazza Zulu on A Different World based on a tape of him in an avant-garde play. He had a recurring role on the Showtime series Soul Food until he nabbed the part of Warrick Brown on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Also starred in the 1997 film Alien Resurrection as (Christie) alongside Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder and Ron Perlman.

[edit] CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Dourdan's most popular role began as a cast member of the original CSI series which aired on October 6, 2000. He played analyst Warrick Brown who, viewers find out, has a dark past checkered with gambling and addictions. By working in Las Vegas, the character is able to use his personal experiences with gambling to help him throughout his career. Ultimately, he ends up battling his demons throughout the show instead of overcoming them.

[edit] Negotiations

In 2008 there was media speculation surrounding Dourdan's contract negotiations with CBS. The parties could not reach a resolution and as a result his contract was not renewed. It was reported on April 14, 2008, that Dourdan was leaving the show.[3] In the Season 8 finale, Dourdan's character was shot and left for dead at the episode's end. The Season 9 premiere revealed Dourdan's character dying in the arms of his colleague and friend, Grissom.[4]

[edit] Music

He played Janet Jackson's love interest in the video for her 1993 hit "Again".

He joined hip hop artist DMC on stage at the Live 8 concert held in Barrie, Ontario, and also co-sang the lyrics to the theme song of the TV sitcom The Jeffersons at the 2005 Emmy Awards.

He is currently set to play Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott in a biographical film about Lynott's life.[5]

Dourdan is also a samboalternative musician and a record producer.

[edit] Other appearances

Dourdan played the character Christie, the first mate and second in command of the Betty, in the 1997 film, Alien Resurrection.

TV Guide voted him the Sexiest CSI actor on TV in its 2008 "Sexiest" issue.[6]

He was also the host of a BET spoken word show entitled Lyric Cafe.

In 2007, he played the character Cameron. Rowena Price's (played by Halle Berry) boyfriend in the film Perfect Stranger.

In 2008 he voiced the character Crispus Allen in three of the six short films for Batman: Gotham Knight. The animated short films were released straight to DVD and chronicled the time in between the films Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008).

[edit] Personal life

He married model Roshumba Williams in 1992; the couple divorced two years later.[7] He has two children, a son, Lyric and a daughter, Nyla. Lyric's mother is Cynthia Hadden and Nyla's mother is Jennifer Sutton, whom Dourdan dated from 1995 to 2000).[8]

[edit] Legal troubles

In 2005, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery after his ex-girlfriend Anne Greene accused him of rape and battery. He was sentenced to stay away from Greene and attend domestic violence counseling. In 2006, Dourdan sued Greene for $4 million, alleging slander and negligent infliction of emotional distress.[9]

On April 28, 2008, Dourdan was arrested in Palm Springs, California on suspicion of possessing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and prescription drugs.[10][11] An officer saw Dourdan's car parked on the wrong side of the street with the interior light on and someone sleeping in the driver's seat at approximately 5:12 a.m. Monday, according to Palm Springs police Sgt. Mitch Spike.[12] Dourdan was taken to the Palm Springs jail and was released on $5000 bail.[13] In an email quoted on Access Hollywood, he claims that the drugs belonged to people whom he took to a Coachella Music Festival VIP after-party.[14][15] However, friends and castmates of Dourdan said that they were not at all surprised by his arrest.[16] "One of the CSI Staffers even told the Chicago Sun Times, "After this, I think there will be a concerted effort to convince Gary to get help—before he kills himself."" [16] He pleaded guilty to two counts of cocaine and ecstasy possession during his arraignment on May 28, 2008. Dourdan will complete a 16-class drug program instead of the three years and eight months that he could have been sentenced to, based upon his charges.[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gary Dourdan Biography (1966-)
  2. ^ a b Sara Faillaci (2008). "Gary Dourdan Experiences". Vanity Fair. http://thegarydourdanexperience.net/vanityfairmag.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-10. 
  3. ^ Exclusive: Gary Dourdan Leaving CSI! TV Guide.com. April 14, 2008.
  4. ^ Episode Recap: "For Warrick", CBS.com, http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/recaps/?season=9
  5. ^ Rolling Stone: Lizzy's Lynott Lives On
  6. ^ Sexiest stars winners & nominees TV Guide.com. May 5, 2008.
  7. ^ Gary Dourdan facts Nndb.com. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  8. ^ Gary Dourdan biography Television Aol.com. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  9. ^ Gary Dourdan Sues Ex-Girlfriend for $4 Million - BlackAmericaWeb.com
  10. ^ 'CSI's' Gary Dourdan faces drug charges CNN.com. May 5, 2008.
  11. ^ Gary Dourdan arrested for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs Msnbc.com. April 29, 2008.
  12. ^ 'CSI' co-star Gary Dourdan arrested for drugs USA Today.com. May 5, 2008.
  13. ^ CSI’s Gary Dourdan embarrassed over arrest Fametastic.co.uk. May 5, 2008.
  14. ^ Lang, Derrick J. (April 28, 2008). "'CSI' co-star Gary Dourdan arrested for drugs", Associated Press. Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
  15. ^ Gary Dourdan is speaking out about his recent arrest People.com. May 3, 2008.
  16. ^ a b [1]
  17. ^ People

[edit] External links

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