Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cheadle shooting for UNEP as an ambassador, Feb 2011 | |
| Born | Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. November 29, 1964 |
| Education | Bachelor of Fine Arts |
| Alma mater | California Institute of the Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, filmmaker, author |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Partner | Bridgid Coulter (1992–present) |
| Children | 2 |
Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle Jr. (/ˈtʃiːdəl/; born November 29, 1964)[1] is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. He had an early role in Hamburger Hill (1987), before building his career in the 1990s with performances in Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Rosewood (1997) and Boogie Nights (1997). He started a collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh that resulted in the films Out of Sight (1998), Traffic (2000) and Ocean's Eleven (2001). Other films include The Rat Pack (1998), Things Behind the Sun (2001), Swordfish (2001), Crash (2004), Ocean's Twelve (2004), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), Reign Over Me (2007), Talk to Me (2007), Traitor (2008) and The Guard. Cheadle co-wrote, directed and starred in Miles Ahead, based on the life of jazz musician Miles Davis (2015). He plays the superhero Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has appeared in Iron Man 2 (2010), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
In 2004, Cheadle earned critical acclaim for his lead role as Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the genocide drama film Hotel Rwanda, which was set during the Rwandan Genocide, and which earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He stars as Marty Kaan on the Showtime sitcom House of Lies, for which he most recently won a Golden Globe Award in 2013.[2]
Cheadle has campaigned to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and co-authored, with John Prendergast, a book about this issue, Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond. With George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, David Pressman, and Jerry Weintraub, Cheadle co-founded the Not On Our Watch Project, an organization focusing global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities. In 2010, Cheadle was named U.N. Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador.
Early life
Cheadle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Bettye (née North), a teacher, and Donald Frank Cheadle, Sr., a clinical psychologist.[1] He has a sister, Cindy, and a brother, Colin. His family moved from city to city throughout his childhood. Cheadle graduated in 1982 from East High School in Denver, Colorado, where he played saxophone in the jazz band, sang in the choirs and was active in the theatre department, performing in musicals, plays, and several mime shows all under the direction of Catherine Davis. After he graduated from East, Cheadle went on to California Institute of the Arts, graduating with a BFA in Acting.[1][3]
Career
Cheadle first became eligible for his Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card when he appeared as a burger joint employee in the 1985 comedy Moving Violations.[4] He then appeared in Hamburger Hill in 1987, and played the role of Jack in the April 1, 1988 "Jung and the Restless" episode of Night Court. Although his character was supposed to be 16 years old, Cheadle was 23 at the time.
Cheadle then played the role of Rocket in the 1988 movie Colors. In 1989, he appeared in a video for Angela Winbush's No. 2 hit single "It's the Real Thing", performing dance moves in an orange jump suit, working at a car wash.[5] In 1990, he appeared in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air titled "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy", playing Will Smith's friend and Hilary's first love interest, Ice Tray.[6] In 1992, he played a supporting role in The Golden Girls spin-off The Golden Palace. Cheadle subsequently played district attorney John Littleton on three seasons of Picket Fences.
Cheadle first received widespread notice for his portrayal of Mouse Alexander in the film Devil in a Blue Dress, for which he won Best Supporting Actor awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics and was nominated for similar awards from the Screen Actors Guild and the NAACP Image Awards. Following soon thereafter was his performance in the title role of the 1996 HBO TV movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault. He also starred in the 1997 film Volcano, directed by Mick Jackson.[citation needed]
Cheadle's television credits include Emmy-nominated performances in the movies The Rat Pack, A Lesson Before Dying, Things Behind the Sun and in a guest appearance on ER. The last of these spanned four episodes during the show's ninth season, in which he portrayed Paul Nathan, a medical student struggling to cope with Parkinson's disease. He has made appearances in films including Rosewood, The Family Man, Boogie Nights, a cameo appearance in the film Abby Singer, Out of Sight, Traffic, and Ocean's Eleven. These last three were directed by Steven Soderbergh. In 2005, Cheadle was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Paul Rusesabagina in the film Hotel Rwanda. He also starred in and co-produced Crash, which won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture. For his performance in Crash, Cheadle was nominated for the BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Supporting Actor. He played the main character in the movie Traitor. In March 2007, Cheadle starred with comedian Adam Sandler in Mike Binder's Reign Over Me, a comedy-drama about a man who has slipped away from reality after his wife and three daughters died. After playing for 38 days, the film became a box office flop earning a domestic gross of only 22.2 million. Cheadle later starred in the 2009 DreamWorks Pictures film Hotel for Dogs.[7][8]
In 2007, Cheadle published a book, Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond, co-authored with John Prendergast. Cheadle was to make his directorial debut with the adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Tishomingo Blues. In a July 2007 interview he stated, "'Tishomingo' is dead..."[9]
Cheadle appeared in NFL commercials promoting the Super Bowl from 2002 to 2005. He so regularly appeared for the NFL in its Super Bowl advertising that in 2006, in a drive to get fans to submit their own advertising ideas, the NFL sought his permission to reference his previous commercials to portray themselves as having no new ideas: "he quickly signed off on the idea and found it funny." Abe Sutton (along with Etan Bednarsh), one of the finalists in this NFL contest, played on this commercial by proposing an ad where an entire team of football players are Don Cheadle.[10]
Cheadle and Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder are working together to launch a comedy show on NBC.[11] The "project revolves around mismatched brothers who reunite to open a private security company."[11] Cheadle will serve as an executive producer, along with McGruder, who will write the script.[12]
In 2009, Cheadle performed in The People Speak, a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.[13]
In 2010, Cheadle assumed the role of James Rhodes in the film Iron Man 2 and as well for its sequel Iron Man 3, replacing Terrence Howard. In 2010, Cheadle was appointed "U.N. Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador." He and Prendergast published their second book, The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa's Worst Human Rights Crimes, in 2010. He also appeared in one of Derek Waters' Drunk History videos as Frederick Douglass. Since January 8, 2012, he has starred in the Showtime TV series House of Lies. In 2013, he won the Golden Globe as Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on the show.[2]
Cheadle had a role in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron and in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War, reprising his character Col. James Rhodes.[14]
Cheadle spent ten years, writing and producing the film Miles Ahead, based on the life of jazz musician Miles Davis, which Cheadle also directed and starred in.[15] Locations for the movie were found in Cincinnati.[16] The film was released in 2016.
In September 2015, Cheadle appeared (also as a red bird version of himself) in the promo ad for the Champions for Earth tournament in Angry Birds Friends.
Personal life
At the 2007 World Series of Poker, Cheadle and poker player Annie Duke organized an annual charity poker tournament, Ante Up for Africa.[17][18]
In 2007, Cheadle was awarded the BET Humanitarian award of the year for his numerous humanitarian services he rendered for the cause of the people of Darfur and Rwanda.[19]
On December 13, 2007, Cheadle and fellow actor George Clooney were presented with the Summit Peace Award by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome for their work to stop the genocide and relieve the suffering of the people of Darfur. In 2008, Cheadle's family history was profiled on the PBS series African American Lives 2. A DNA test revealed that Cheadle is of Cameroonian descent.[20]
Cheadle has two children with his longterm partner, actress and Rosewood co-star, Bridgid Coulter.
Cheadle works with the United Nations on climate change concerns. He and Harrison Ford worked together on a documentary event series Years of Living Dangerously, which provides first-hand reports on those affected by, and seeking solutions to climate change.[21] He is also on the Advisory Board of Citizens Climate Lobby.[22]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3 Days | Angel | |
| 1985 | Moving Violations | Juicy Burgers Worker | |
| 1986 | Punk | ||
| 1987 | Hamburger Hill | Pvt. Washburn | |
| 1988 | Colors | Rocket | |
| 1992 | Roadside Prophets | Happy Days Manager | |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man | Goldilocks | |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Rooster | |
| 1995 | Devil in a Blue Dress | Mouse Alexander | |
| 1997 | Volcano | Emmit Reese | |
| 1997 | Rosewood | Sylvester Carrier | |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Buck Swope | |
| 1998 | Out of Sight | Maurice Miller | |
| 1998 | The Rat Pack | Sammy Davis Jr. | |
| 1998 | Bulworth | L.D. | |
| 2000 | Traffic | Montel Gordon | |
| 2000 | Mission to Mars | Luke Graham | |
| 2000 | The Family Man | Cash | |
| 2001 | Rush Hour 2 | Kenny | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun | Chuck | |
| 2001 | Manic | Dr. David Monroe | |
| 2001 | Swordfish | Agent J.T. Roberts | |
| 2001 | Ticker | Passenger | |
| 2001 | Ocean's Eleven | Basher Tarr | Uncredited |
| 2003 | Abby Singer | Himself | |
| 2003 | The United States of Leland | Pearl Madison | |
| 2004 | Ocean's Twelve | Basher Tarr | |
| 2004 | After the Sunset | Henri Mooré | |
| 2004 | The Assassination of Richard Nixon | Bonny Simmons | |
| 2004 | Unchained Memories: Readings From The Slave Narratives[citation needed] | ||
| 2004 | Hotel Rwanda | Paul Rusesabagina | |
| 2005 | Crash | Det. Graham Waters | |
| 2006 | The Dog Problem | Dr. Nourmand | |
| 2006 | King Leopold's Ghost | Narrator | |
| 2007 | Reign Over Me | Alan Johnson | |
| 2007 | Talk to Me | Petey Greene | |
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | Basher Tarr | |
| 2007 | Darfur Now | Himself | |
| 2008 | Traitor | Samir Horn | |
| 2009 | Hotel for Dogs | Bernie | |
| 2009 | The People Speak | Himself | Documentary |
| 2010 | Brooklyn's Finest | Clarence 'Tango' Butler | |
| 2010 | Iron Man 2 | Lt Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine | Replacing Terrence Howard |
| 2011 | The Guard | FBI Agent Wendell Everett | |
| 2012 | Flight | Hugh Lang | |
| 2013 | Iron Man 3 | Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes / Iron Patriot | |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine | |
| 2015 | Miles Ahead | Miles Davis | Also director, writer and producer |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine | |
| 2016 | Kevin Hart: What Now? | Himself |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Fame | Henry Lee | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Julian Tatoon | Episode: "Gibbon Take" |
| 1986 | Sidekicks | Gang Leader | Episode: "The Last Electric Knight" |
| 1987 | Hill Street Blues | Darius Milton | Episode: "Days of Swine and Roses" |
| 1987 | The Bronx Zoo | Carver | Episode: "Small Victories" |
| 1988 | Night Court | Jack | Episode: "Jung and the Restless" |
| 1988 | Hooperman | Himself | Episode: "High Noon" |
| 1989 | Booker | Himself | Episode: "The Pump" |
| 1990 | China Beach | Angel | Episode: "Warriors" |
| 1990 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ice Tray | Episode: "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy" |
| 1992–1993 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Bennie | 2 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | The Golden Palace | Roland Wilson | 24 episodes |
| 1993 | Lush Life | Jack | TV movie |
| 1993–1995 | Picket Fences | D.A. John Littleton | 38 episodes |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Earl "The Goat" Manigault | TV movie |
| 1999 | A Lesson Before Dying | Grant Wiggins | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Simpsons | Brother Faith | Episode: "Faith Off" |
| 2000 | Fail Safe | Lt. Jimmy Pierce | TV movie |
| 2002 | The Bernie Mac Show | Cousin D | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | ER | Paul Nathan | 4 episodes |
| 2003 | MADtv | Perry | |
| 2011–2016 | House of Lies | Marty Kaan | Lead role |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | Himself | Episode: "Unwindulax" |
| 2014, 2016 | Years of Living Dangerously | Himself | Episode: "Dry Season" |
| 2014–present | Thursday Night Football | Narrator | Intro only |
As producer
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Crash | Producer | |
| 2007 | Talk to Me | Executive producer | |
| 2007 | Darfur Now | Producer | |
| 2008 | Traitor | Producer | |
| 2007 | Crash | Producer | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | St. Vincent | Executive Producer | |
| 2015 | Miles Ahead | Producer |
- Video games
- Iron Man 2[23] video game (2010), Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine
- Lego Marvel's Avengers Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine (audio archive footage)
- Theatre
- Topdog/Underdog off-Broadway performances (2001)
- Internet
- Drunk History Volume 5, Frederick Douglass
- Don Cheadle is Captain Planet[24]
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ a b c Williams, Kam (January 12, 2009). "Don Cheadle: The Hotel for Dogs Interview". The Sly Fox. KamWilliams.com. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
- ^ a b "Don Cheadle Wins Golden Globe For Best Comedy Actor". Huffington Post. January 13, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Gates, Jr., Henry Louis. In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past (Biography). Crown. p. 353. ISBN 978-0-307-38240-5. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "How Did You Get Your SAG-AFTRA Card?" TV Guide, January 13, 2014. p. 10.
- ^ Johnson, Kevin C. "Angela Winbush tells of career struggles, cancer battle in 'Unsung'". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^ "It's Evening in America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. p. 155.
- ^ "Don Cheadle joins 'Iron Man 2'". Azcentral.com. October 14, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "Don Cheadle Joins Hotel for Dogs". Movieweb.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "Don Cheadle Talks to Us". Comingsoon.net. July 6, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Thomaselli, Rich (November 2, 2006). "Advertising Age". Adage.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ a b "Cheadle, McGruder Team For New Series". Blogs.bet.com. October 28, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Getty Images (October 26, 2009). "Don Cheadle, 'Boondocks' creator Aaron McGruder team on NBC comedy; Brad Pitt takes a tumble; and more: The Morning After". Cleveland.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "Credits". The People Speak. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Thompson, Arienne (December 12, 2013). "Don Cheadle mellow, 'barely awake' after Globes news". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Schilling, Dave (April 2, 2016). "'It has to be hot. It has to be creative': Don Cheadle on his 10-year quest to play Miles Davis". theguardian.com. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ "Don Cheadle starts filming 'Miles Ahead' Monday". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "2nd ANNUAL ANTE UP FOR AFRICA POKER TOURNAMENT AT THE WSOP RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO HELP END THE CRISIS IN DARFUR". Ante Up for Africa. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ "2010 WSOP Schedule". Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- ^ "BET AWARDS '07: HUMANITARIAN AWARD". Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ "African American Lives 2 Profiles: Don Cheadle". PBS. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ Don Cheadle and Harrison Ford explore climate change in Years of Living Life Dangerously, dailynews.com; accessed June 22, 2015.
- ^ "About CCL – Citizens' Climate Lobby". Citizens' Climate Lobby. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Iron Man 2: The Video Game Gets Talented". Sega.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ "Don Cheadle Is CAPTAIN PLANET in New Funny or Die Spoof | Collider | Page 112368". Collider. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
External links
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Male actors from Kansas City, Missouri
- California Institute of the Arts alumni
- American male film actors
- Male actors from Denver
- Male actors from Missouri
- American film directors
- American television producers
- Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- American poker players
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Film directors from Missouri
- Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
- American film producers
- African-American male actors
- American male television actors