Jeffrey Wright

Jeffrey Wright continues to make his mark as an actor in films, on stage, and on television. His portrayal of Jean-Michel Basquiat in Julian Schnabel's Basquiat, which marked his first lead film role, brought him an Independent Spirit Award nomination. His subsequent films have included Sidney Lumet's Critical Care; Adrian Pasdar's Cement; Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil; John Singleton's Shaft; Michael Mann's Ali (as Howard Bingham); Jonathan Demme's The Manchurian Candidate; and Stephen Gaghan's upcoming Syriana.

Mr. Wright has had a long and rewarding association with New York City's Public Theatre. He has starred, at and for The Public, in Othello; King Lear; Julius Caesar; Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk; Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog (for which he won an OBIE Award and was nominated for a Tony Award); and, most recently, This is How It Goes.

For his portrayal of Belize in Tony Kushner's two-part theatrical event Angels in America, directed by George C. Wolfe, Mr. Wright won the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He later reprised the role for Mike Nichols' epic miniseries, earning Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for his performance, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

He played Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Clark Johnson's telefilm Boycott, for which he was honored with an AFI Award. Mr. Wright also starred for frequent collaborator George C. Wolfe in the telefilm Lackawanna Blues, adapted by Ruben Santiago-Hudson from his play.

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Jeffrey Wright Facts

Birth Name	Jeffrey Charles Wright
Occupation	Actor
Birthday	December 7, 1965 (44)
Sign	Sagittarius
Birthplace	Washington DC, District of Columbia, USA
Awards	2004 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie (for Angels in America)
	2004 Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (for Angels in America)

Selected Filmography

Empire Falls (2005)

Lackawanna Blues (2005)

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Angels in America (2003)

Alias (2001)

Hamlet (2000)

Shaft (2000)

Basquiat (1996)

The Warriors (1979)

Boycott

-movie as Martin Luther King Jr. (breakthrough)

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