Wendell Pierce

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Wendell Pierce
Pierce in 2022
Born
Wendell Edward Pierce

(1963-12-08) December 8, 1963 (age 60)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, businessman
Years active1985–present

Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1963) is an American actor and businessman. Having trained at Juilliard School, Pierce rose to prominence as a character actor portraying roles on both stage and screen. He first gained recognition portraying the role of Detective Bunk Moreland in the acclaimed HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2008.

His other notable television roles includes the

James Greer in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018–2023), the attorney Robert Zane in Suits (2013–2019), and Clarence Thomas in Confirmation (2016). He earned Independent Spirit Awards nominations for his film roles in Four (2012) and Burning Cane (2019), which he also served as a producer. Other notable film roles include Malcolm X (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), Ray (2004), Selma (2014), The Gift (2015) and Clemency
(2019).

Pierce made his

Tony Award
nominations.

Early life

Pierce was born in

Pontchartrain Park, the first African-American post-war suburb. His father, along with many other black veterans, moved into the neighborhood after returning home from the war. The neighborhood was wiped out during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, including Pierce's family home which was flooded by 14 feet (4.3 m) of water.[3][4]

Pierce graduated in 1981

Benjamin Franklin High School[6] and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (most NOCCA students attend traditional secondary school in the mornings and the arts school in the afternoons). In 1981, Pierce was named a Presidential Scholar of the Arts.[7] As a young actor, he appeared in The Winter's Tale at the Tulane Shakespeare Festival. He produced and hosted Think About It, a youth-themed talk show, for the local NBC affiliate station, and also hosted a weekly jazz show on WYLD-FM Radio called Extensions from Congo Square.[8]

Pierce then attended the

honorary doctorate from the Juilliard School,[10] during the 118th commencement at the Alice Tully Hall
.

Career

Pierce has been in over 30 films, appeared in nearly 50 television shows, and has performed in dozens of stage productions. He worked on the

The Wire and Treme. When first cast in The Wire, Pierce and his castmates doubted the show would be a hit: "I remember the first time we all sat around and watched the pilot. We all turned to each other and said, 'Man, I don't think this shit is going anywhere.'"[11] In 2012, he played J. Jenks in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.[12]

For his role in Treme, Pierce learned to play the trombone, though he relied on "sound double" Stafford Agee of the Rebirth Brass Band.[3] Agee played off-camera for Pierce, syncing his trombone with Pierce's motions for authenticity.[13]

Pierce was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his portrayal of Joe, a married and closeted gay man who steps out on his family with a young white man he met online, in Four. The film was released on September 13, 2013, around the same time that The Michael J. Fox Show debuted on NBC, in which Pierce played Michael J. Fox's character's boss until the show's cancellation some five months later.[14][15]

From 2015 to 2017, Pierce starred, alongside Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, in a revival of the sitcom The Odd Couple on CBS playing the role of Teddy.

When Mike Henry stepped down as the voice of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy in June 2020, in light of the George Floyd protests, Pierce launched a campaign to become Henry's replacement.[16] He lost the role to YouTube personality Arif Zahir.[17]

Stage

Pierce has been in numerous stage productions. He was lauded for his performance as Holt Fay in Queenie at the

Tis Pity She's a Whore, and Ms. Ever's Boys performed at the ACT Theatre
.

Pierce is also a theater producer and produced the Broadway show,

Tony Awards; and won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2012.[19] In 2015, Pierce returned to the stage to star in the Billie Holiday Theatre production of Jackie Alexander's Brothers from the Bottom in New York.[20]

In 2019, Pierce starred in the acclaimed

Tony Award
nomination for the production.

Radio

In 2009, Pierce became the host of the nationally syndicated,

Peabody Award-winning radio program, Jazz at Lincoln Center, which featured live recordings from Jazz at Lincoln Center's House of Swing. That show was replaced by Jazz Night in America from NPR, hosted by jazz bassist Christian McBride
.

Music

In 2016, Pierce started appearing on several albums recorded in New Orleans. He recorded the song "Make America Great Again" with Delfeayo Marsalis in 2016, one song with Kermit Ruffins on Irvin Mayfield's 2017 album, A Beautiful World, and one with Stanton Moore on his 2017 album, With You In Mind. In 2020, Pierce recorded "The Ever Fonky Lowdown" with Wynton Marsalis.

Business and philanthropy

Pierce considers himself a "true capitalist" and a "classic entrepreneur".[3][4]

In 2013,

Fast Company named Pierce one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business".[26]

Non-profit work

Pierce started the non-profit, Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp. to build new affordable solar and geothermal homes in the area for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.[27]

Sterling Farms

Inspired in part by

Ninth Ward of New Orleans in 2012.[11] The chain however closed thirteen months later.[28] Sterling Farms also had a convenience store division called Sterling Express. The stores were named after Sterling Henry, his business partner's father who ran a pharmacy for about 40 years in the Lower Ninth Ward.[29]

Personal life

Pierce describes himself as "tri-coastal", splitting his time among

St. Patrick's Athletic FC.[31]

He is Catholic.[32]

Pierce was a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton and was on the board of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a campaign created by the Clinton Foundation.[33] Pierce attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention, was one of President Barack Obama's top campaign fundraisers in 2012, and once escorted Gwen Ifill to a White House State Dinner.[4][34][35]

2016 arrest

On Sunday, May 15, 2016, Pierce was arrested and charged with simple battery for an alleged attack against a female Bernie Sanders supporter outside Atlanta Loews Hotel. He was booked and released on $1,000 bond from Fulton County Jail.[36][37] Pierce subsequently completed a pre-trial diversion program, including counseling and community service resulting in dismissal of the charge.[38]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Money Pit Paramedic
1989 Casualties of War MacIntire
Family Business Prosecutor
1990 A Matter of Degrees Wells Dennard
1991 A Rage in Harlem Louis
1992 Malcolm X Ben Thomas
1993 Manhattan Murder Mystery Policeman
1994 It Could Happen to You Bo Williams
1995 Bye Bye Love Hector
Hackers Agent Dick Gill
Waiting to Exhale Michael Davenport
1996 Sleepers Eddie 'Little Caesar' Robinson
Get on the Bus Wendell
1998 Bulworth Fred
1999 The 24 Hour Woman Roy LaBelle
Abilene Reverend Tillis
2001 The Gilded Six Bits Otis D. Slimmons Short
2002 The Date Naive Man Short
Brown Sugar Simon
2003 The Fighting Temptations Reverend Lewis
2004 A Hole in One Dan
Land of Plenty Henry
Ray Wilbur Brassfield
2006 Stay Alive Detective Thibodeaux
2007 I Think I Love My Wife Sean
Pariah Arthur Short
2009 Beyond All Boundaries Sgt. Thomas McPhatter (voice) Short
The Storm Inside Narrator Documentary
2010 Night Catches Us David Gordon
Love Ranch Naasih Mohammed
The Big Uneasy Himself (narration) Documentary
2011 The Mortician Wendell Simms
Horrible Bosses Detective Hagan
2012 Lay the Favorite Dave 'The Rave'
Four Joe
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 J. Jenks
2013 Parker Carlson
Möbius Bob
2014 Foreclosure Virgil
Elsa & Fred Armande
Selma Hosea Williams
2015 Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band Andy Kirk (voice) Documentary
Runaway Hearts Paul
The Gift Detective Mills
The Runner Frank Legrand
2016 Bad Moms Principal Daryl Burr
2017 The Forever Tree Dr. Willow Short
Rodents of Unusual Size Narrator Documentary
2018 Piercing Doctor
One Last Thing Dylan Derringer
2019 Clemency Jonathan Williams
Burning Cane Reverend Tillman
2022 Don't Hang Up Chris Daniels
2025 King of the South † Percy Miller Sr
Superman † Perry White
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Vietnam War Story French Episode: "The Pass"
1988–89 The Equalizer Dr. Wolff Episode: "The Last Campaign" & "Starfire"
1989 A Man Called Hawk Derrick West Episode: "Never My Love"
1990 Capital News Conrad White Main cast
1991 I'll Fly Away Charles Episode: "Coming Home"
The 10 Million Dollar Getaway Parnell 'Stacks' Edwards TV movie
1992 General Motors Playwrights Theater Sergeant Kelly Episode: "Avenue Z Afternoon"
Law & Order Chief Ola-Gimju Nwaka Episode: "Consultation"
Unnatural Pursuits Cabbie Episode: "I Don't Do Cuddles"
1993 Strapped District Attorney TV movie
1994 Last Days of Russell Walter TV movie
1995 Law & Order Jerome Bryant Episode: "Rage"
New York News Jesus Episode: "The Using Game"
1996 New York Undercover Dr. Anthony Fisher Episode: "Bad Blood"
Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story John Saunders TV movie
1997 The Advocate's Devil Justin TV movie
1996–97 Moloney District Attorney Calvin Patterson Recurring cast
1997
413 Hope
 		Taffy Episode: "Pilot" & "Fatherhood"
1997–99 The Gregory Hines Show Carl Stevenson Main cast
1998 Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal Assistant coach Episode: "Scrubs"
1998–2000 The Brian Benben Show Kevin La Rue Main cast
1999 The Expert Dr. Worseley Episode: "Pilot"
Law & Order Mr. Wade Episode: "Disciple"
2000 God, the Devil and Bob Mike (voice) Episodes: "In the Beginning" & "Date from Hell"
Third Watch Officer Conrad 'Candyman' Jones Recurring cast (season 1)
City of Angels Norbert Grimly Episode: "Straight Flush"
2001 My Wife and Kids Dr. Boucher Episode: "Pilot"
2000–01
The Weber Show
 		Wendell Simms Main cast
2002 Girlfriends Anthony Jackson Episode: "Childs in Charge"
2002–08 The Wire Det. William 'Bunk' Moreland Main cast
2004 Judging Amy Harry Benton Episode: "Sins of the Father"
Law & Order Roger Porter Episode: "Gunplay"
Mitchellville – TV movie
2005–06 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Dr. Richard Link Episodes: "The Line" & "Eros in the Upper Eighties"
2006 Close to Home Sam Carter Episode: "Prodigal Son"
2007 The Wire: The Chronicles Detective William 'Bunk' Moreland Episode: "2000: Bunk and McNulty"
Life Support Slick TV movie
2007–08 Numb3rs William Bradford Recurring cast (
season 5
)
2008 Women's Murder Club Bill Schroeder Episode: "Father's Day"
In Plain Sight Dr. Warren McBride/Warren Morris Episode: "It Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
House of Payne
 		Jeffrey Lucas Recurring cast (season 4)
2009 Fear Itself Wiilbur Orwell Episode: "Something with Bite"
Hawthorne Michael Schilling Episode: "Trust Me"
Drop Dead Diva Neal David Episode: "Grayson's Anatomy"
2010 Tim & Eric Awesome Show Detective Episode: "Re-Animated"
2010–13 Treme Antoine Batiste Main cast
2013–14 The Michael J. Fox Show Harris Green Main cast
2013–19 Suits Robert Zane Recurring cast (seasons 2–9)
2014–15 Ray Donovan Ronald Keith Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3)
2015 The Night Shift Walt Episode: "Moving On"
2015–17 The Odd Couple Teddy Main cast
2016 Grease Live! Coach Calhoun TV movie
Confirmation Clarence Thomas TV movie
Pickle and Peanut Dr. Craig (voice) Episode: "Night Shift/Scalped"
2017 Archer Verl (voice) Episode: "Archer Dreamland: Jane Doe"
2017–20 Chicago P.D. Alderman Ray Price Recurring cast (
season 7
)
2018 Unsolved Detective Lee Tucker Recurring cast
2018–23 Jack Ryan
James Greer
 Main cast
2021 The Watch Death (voice) Main cast
2022–23 Eureka! Sandy (voice) Recurring cast
2023 Accused Detective Trent Douglas Episode: "Kendall's Story"
2023–present Power Book III: Raising Kanan Ishmael 'Snaps' Henry Recurring cast (season 3)
2024–present Elsbeth C.W. Wagner Lead role

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Boys of Winter Radio Voice / Flight Captain Biltmore Theatre, Broadway
1987 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Outlaw 2
Delacorte Theatre
, Off-Broadway
1987 The Witch of Edmonton performer Shakespeare Theatre Company[39]
1988 Serious Money Merrison / Nigel / T.K.
Royale Theatre
, Broadway
1991 The Good Times Are Killing Me Mr. Willis Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway[40]
1992 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Friar Bonaventura
The Public Theatre
, Off-Broadway
1995 A Midsummer Night's Dream Nick Bottom La Jolla Playhouse[41]
1999 Tartuffe Cleante Delacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway
2006 Fences Jim Bono Pasadena Playhouse
2006 Waiting for Godot Vladimir Classical Theatre of Harlem[42]
2007 Radio Golf Producer only
Cort Theatre
, Broadway
2009 Broke-ology William King
Mitzi Newhouse Theater, Off-Broadway[43]
2012 Clybourne Park Producer only Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
2016 Cost of Living Eddie Williamstown Theatre Festival
2018 Some Old Black Man Calvin Jones 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway[44][45]
2019 Death of a Salesman Willy Loman Piccadilly Theatre, West End
2022 Hudson Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2004 NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series The Wire Nominated
2007 Tony Award Tony Award for Best Play Radio Golf Nominated [46]
2012 Tony Award Tony Award for Best Play Clybourne Park Won [47][48]
2019 Evening Standard Theatre Award Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor Death of a Salesman Nominated [49][50]
2020 Laurence Olivier Award Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor Nominated [51]
2023
Tony Award
 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play Nominated [52]

References

  1. ISSN 0140-0460
    . Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Mosley, Tonya (January 15, 2021). "Wendell Pierce On Parenting, The Pandemic And Reckoning With The Past". NPR.org. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Pierce's New Orleans". Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Halperin, Shirley (March 20, 2012). "Why "Treme" Star Wendell Pierce is Getting into the Supermarket Business". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "Digital Yearbooks". www.bfhsla.org. Benjamin Franklin High School. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "Actor wants to revive Pontchartrain Park". KATC Channel 3. Associated Press. 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2008.
  7. ^ Brown, Ethan (November 12, 2007). "The lower ninth ward meets Samuel Beckett". The Guardian. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Wendell Pierce Award Winning Actor and President of the Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp" (PDF). Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  9. The Juilliard School. September 2007. Archived from the original
    on November 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Way, Emma (May 25, 2023). "Wendell Pierce, Jon Batiste among notable New Orleanians to receive honorary degrees this year". Axios New Orleans. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Treme's Wendell Pierce". September 2, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  12. ^ "Wendell Pierce". IMDb. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  13. ^ "'Treme's' Antoine Batiste gets his horn sound from Rebirth's Stafford Agee". NOLA.com. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  14. ^ "Controversial Award-Winning Film". Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates for New Season". The Futon Critic. June 21, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  16. ^ Sharf, Mike (June 29, 2020). "'The Wire' Favorite Wendell Pierce Launches Campaign to Be the New Voice of Cleveland". IndieWire. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  17. ^ Matthews, Liam (September 25, 2020). "Family Guy Recasts Cleveland Brown with YouTuber Arif Zahir". TV Guide.
  18. ^ "Cast: Wendell Pierce". Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  19. ^ "New Orleans Natives Bring Home Tony Award". Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  20. ^ Pierce, Wendell (March 5, 2015). "Wendell Pierce Back on Stage in 'Brothers From the Bottom'" (Interview). Interviewed by Derrick Hemphill. nbcnews.com.
  21. ^ "Death of a Salesman". Young Vic website. May 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  22. ^ Wood, Alex (March 3, 2020). "Olivier Awards 2020 nominees include & Juliet, Dear Evan Hansen, James McAvoy and Andrew Scott". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  23. ^ "Broadway's 'Death Of A Saleman' Stopped By Disruptive Woman, Cops Escort Her Out Of Theater". Deadline Hollywood. December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  24. ^ Hall, Margaret (December 28, 2022). "Wendell Pierce Talks Down Unruly Audience Member at Death of a Salesman". Playbill. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  25. ^ Vassell, Nicole (December 29, 2022). "Wendell Pierce praised for response after audience member disrupts Broadway show". The Independent. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  26. ^ "100 Most Creative People in Business 2013 Business". Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  27. ^ Rice, Alison. "Exploring the Big Easy: Wendell Pierce, Hometown Hero". Pool & Spa News. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  28. ^ "Sterling Farms grocery, co-owned by Wendell Pierce, closes after just one year". May 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  29. ^ "Wendell Pierce on 'The Wire', 'Treme' and Food". NPR. March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  30. ^ "New Orleans' Favorite Son". Scene Magazine. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  31. ^ "'Bunk' from The Wire revels in St Pats' FAI Cup triumph". November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  32. ^ Pierce, Wendell (August 27, 2018). "tweet". Twitter. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  33. ^ "Board of Directors". Alliance for a Healthier Generation (via Wayback Machine). Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  34. ^ Tran, Vivyan (September 7, 2012). "Celebrities spotted at the Democratic National Convention". Politico.
  35. ^ "Obama Campaign Releases List of Top Campaign Fundraisers". CBS News. March 2, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  36. ^ McKenzie, Joi-Marie (May 16, 2016). "'The Wire' Actor Wendell Pierce Arrested at Atlanta Hotel". ABC News. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  37. ^ "'The Wire' Star – Arrested for Allegedly Attacking Bernie Sanders Supporter". TMZ. May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  38. ^ "'The Wire' star Wendell Pierce's 2016 assault case finally closed (via Wayback Machine)". New York Post. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  39. ^ "The Witch of Edmonton 87–88". Shakespeare Theatre Company. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  40. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  41. ^ Herman, Jan (July 18, 1995). "A 'Dream' That Shouldn't Be Missed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  42. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  43. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  44. ^ Clement, Olivia (February 8, 2018). "Update: James Anthony Tyler's Some Old Black Man Delays First Preview". Playbill. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  45. ^ "Some Old Black Man". 59e59.org. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  47. ^ "Wendell Pierce". Playbill. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  48. ^ "Winners". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  49. ^ "The 2019 Evening Standard Theatre Awards shortlist in full". www.standard.co.uk. November 4, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  50. ^ Paskett, Zoe (November 25, 2019). "The 2019 Evening Standard Theatre Awards winners in full". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  51. ^ "Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard – Theatre's Biggest Night". Olivier Awards. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  52. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved May 2, 2023.

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wendell_Pierce&oldid=1219094573"