| James Pickens, Jr. | |
|---|---|
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 |
| Spouse | Gina Pickens |
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 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.
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Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and did not begin acting until he was 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]
Pickens started his acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York 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 appearence 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] which seeks 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.
Pickens is married to Gina 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' two children, Carl Tharps and Gavyn Picken, are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is currently 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.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | F/X | Ambulance Driver |
| 1987 | Hotshot | |
| 1992 | Trespass | Police Officer Reese |
| 1993 | Boiling Point | Prison Officer |
| 1993 | Menace II Society | Man |
| 1994 | Hostile Intentions | Capt. Connor |
| 1994 | Jimmy Hollywood | Cook |
| 1995 | Dead Presidents | Mr. Curtis |
| 1995 | Nixon | Black Orator |
| 1996 | Power 98 | Det. Wilkinson |
| 1996 | Sleepers | Marlboro |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Medgar Evers |
| 1997 | Gridlock'd | Supervisor |
| 1997 | RocketMan | Ben Stevens |
| 1998 | Sphere | O.S.S.A. Instructor |
| 1998 | Bulworth | Uncle David |
| 1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Walter Payne |
| 1999 | Liberty Heights | Sylvia's Father |
| 2000 | Traffic | Ben Williams |
| 2002 | Home Room | Principal Robbins |
| 2003 | White Rush | Denny |
| 2005 | Venom | Sheriff |
| 2008 | Ball Don't Lie | Roberto |
| 2010 | Just Wright | Lloyd Wright |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–90 | Another World | Zack Edwards | |
| 1992 | Blossom | Vinnie | Episode: "The Letter" |
| 1992 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Fred | Episode: "Hungry Heart" |
| 1992 | Exclusive | Jonathan Heglin | Television film |
| 1992 | L.A. Law | Joseph Russell | Episode: "Zo Long" |
| 1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Episode: "Roommate With a View" | |
| 1991–92 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Henry Thomas | |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Sonny Greene | Episode: "The Survivor" |
| 1994 | Renegade | Episode: "Hostage" | |
| 1994 | Coach | Rick Williams | Episode: "Blue Chip Blues" |
| 1994 | Sodbusters | Isaac | Television film |
| 1994 | Me and the Boys | Coach | Episode: "Black Dads Can't Jump" |
| 1994 | A Child's Cry for Help | Brad Currie | Television film |
| 1994 | Lily in Winter | Chick | Television film |
| 1995 | Trial by Fire | Television film | |
| 1995 | Sharon's Secret | Ashmore | Television film |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | George | Episode: "The Driver" |
| 1996 | Bloodhounds | Agent John DeGraf | Television film |
| 1996 | In the House | Russell | Episode: "My Crazy Valentine" |
| 1996 | The Lazarus Man | Episode: "The Conspirator" | |
| 1996 | One West Waikiki | Episode: "Allergic to Golf" | |
| 1996 | Dangerous Minds | Coach Butch Kelly | Episode: "Moonstruck" |
| 1990–96 | Roseanne | Chuck Mitchell | |
| 1997 | Pacific Palisades | Josh Smith | Episode: "Past & Present Danger" |
| 1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Staff Sergeant Luther Parrish | Episode: "The Fighting McLains" |
| 1996–97 | Something So Right | Jim | |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Clark Thomas | Episode: "Crash" |
| 1998 | Seinfeld | Detective Hudson | Episode: "The Finale" |
| 1998 | Little Girl Fly Away | Detective Walter Engelhart | Television film |
| 1997–98 | Brooklyn South | Detective | Four episodes |
| 1999 | Vengeance Unlimited | Mr. Hobbs | Episode: "Friends" |
| 1999 | A Slight Case of Murder | Det. Larry Gray | Television film |
| 1999 | JAG | Commander Wallace Burke | Episode: "The Return" & "Rogue" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Wilson Patterson | Episodes: "The Prince and the Porker", "Assume the Position" & "Deliver the Male" |
| 2000 | Daddio | Doug Grayson | Episode: "The Premium Also Rises" |
| 2000 | The District | Mr. Lane | Episode: "The Real Terrorist" |
| 2000 | Family Law | Episode: "Family Values" | |
| 1993–2000 | NYPD Blue | Nathan Foster Lt. Joe Abner |
Episode: "Personal Foul" Episodes: "Along Came Jones", "Jackass" & "Little Abner" |
| 1997–2000 | The Practice | Detective Mike McKrew | |
| 1998–2000 | Any Day Now | Judge Lucius Pearl | Episodes: "Huh?", "A Parent's Job" and "Pay Your Dues" |
| 2001 | Semper Fi | Mr. Maddox | Television film, uncredited role |
| 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 | Screen Actors Guild Award (nominated) |
| 2001–02 | Philly | Clyde Coleman | |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami | Prison Warden | Episode: "Body Count" |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Terrance Christianson | Episodes: "The Fifth", "Pilot" and "Hubris" |
| 2002–03 | Six Feet Under | Roderick Charles | Episodes: "The Liar and the Whore" & "Everyone Leaves" |
| 2002–03 | Becker | Cliff Bennett | Episodes: "Blind Injustice" & "But I've Got Friends I Haven't Used Yet" |
| 2004 | Line of Fire | Kenneth Stevens | Episode: "The Senator" |
| 2004 | The West Wing | Mayor | Episode: "Full Disclosure" |
| 2004 | Jack & Bobby | Marcus Ride | Pilot episode |
| 2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Doctor | Episodes: "The Smoking Jacket" & "The Ski Lift" |
| 2007–09 | Private Practice | Richard Webber | Episodes: "In Which We Meet Addison, a Nice Girl From Somewhere Else"; "Ex-Life" |
| 2005–present | Grey's Anatomy | Richard Webber | NAACP Image Award (nominated-2) Screen Actors Guild Award (won-1) (nominated-1) |
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