Rocky Carroll

Rocky Carroll

Carroll in October 2012
Born Roscoe Fulton Carroll
July 8, 1963
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1989–present
Spouse(s) Gabrielle Bullock (m. 1996) 1 child

Roscoe "Rocky" Carroll (born July 8, 1963) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the FOX comedy-drama Roc,[1] as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope,[2] and as NCIS Director Leon Vance on the CBS drama NCIS and its spinoffs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans. He also played a supporting role in the 1995 thriller film Crimson Tide.

Early life

Carroll was born Roscoe Fulton Carroll in Cincinnati, Ohio. His acting career is rooted in the theater. In 1981, Carroll graduated from the famed School for Creative and Performing Arts SCPA in Cincinnati Ohio, in the Cincinnati Public School District. Determined to further his knowledge of acting, he attended The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, where he graduated with a B.F.A. degree. After graduating, Carroll decided to test the waters by moving to New York City, the heart of the theater community. There, he introduced many young children to the works of William Shakespeare by participating in Joe Papp's “Shakespeare on Broadway” series.[3] Carroll married Gabrielle Bullock on May 25, 1996. They have one daughter, Elissa.

Career

As part of Joe Papp's acclaimed New York Shakespeare Festival, Carroll helped to open doors for actors of color, by taking on non-traditional roles that were rarely portrayed by Black actors in Shakespeare dramas. In 1987, Carroll was introduced to the works of August Wilson. The up-and-coming and talented young actor was allowed to recreate his role for the Broadway production of Wilson's critically acclaimed story The Piano Lesson. The play not only earned a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but Carroll earned a Tony and Drama Desk nomination.

He is known for portraying ne'er-do-well musician Joey Emerson on the FOX comedy-drama Roc. He also had a starring role as Dr. Keith Wilkes in the TV series Chicago Hope. Carroll has guest starred in several other TV programs including The Agency, Boston Legal, Family Law, The West Wing, Law & Order, The Game, ER and Grey's Anatomy. Carroll has had roles in many Hollywood films such as Born on the Fourth of July, The Ladies Man, Crimson Tide, The Great White Hype, A Prelude to a Kiss, The Chase, Best Laid Plans and Yes Man .

In the fifth season of the CBS drama NCIS, Carrol was featured in a recurring role as Assistant Director Leon Vance. In doing so, he has been reunited with his Chicago Hope castmates Mark Harmon and Lauren Holly. After the death of NCIS director Jenny Shepard, his character became the new director of NCIS, and replaced Holly in the main cast. He has also guest-starred as Vance in the NCIS spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans.

He shares his birthday with fellow NCIS co-star Michael Weatherly.

In addition to being a series regular on NCIS, Carroll has also directed an episode of NCIS, making his directional debut with the Season 12 episode, "We Build, We Fight".

References

  1. ↑ Shales, Tom. "'Roc' on a roll with live shows". Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.), August 19, 1992, p. D1. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Spartanburg Herald-Journal. "Actor just wanted to be good at craft". January 23, 1997, p. A2. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ Elber, Lynn. "Carroll relishes his time on 'smart' sitcom". Eugene Register-Guard, December 26, 2000, p. 6E. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.

External links