James Pickens, Jr.

James Pickens, Jr.

James Pickens, Jr. (with Dawnn Lewis) at a charity golf tournament, 2008
Born James Pickens, Jr.
October 26, 1954 (1954-10-26) (age 57)
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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Early life

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]

Career

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.

Personal life

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.

Filmography

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

Television

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 Child's Cry for Help, AA 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 Lazarus Man, TheThe 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 Pretender, TheThe 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 Slight Case of Murder, AA 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 District, TheThe 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 Practice, TheThe 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 X-Files, TheThe 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 Lyon's Den, TheThe 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 West Wing, TheThe 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)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Anatomy of an Actor, BGSU Magazine , 8(Summer 2007):12-13.
  2. ^ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00808: 808
  3. ^ Martino, Stacey (2007-02-28). "The Peace Alliance". The Gift of Peace. http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/289/148/. Retrieved 2007-03-01. 

External links