Obba Babatundé

Known for ActingBorn 1951-12-01 (age 74)Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Obba Babatundé (born December 1, 1951) is an American actor of stage and screen, known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his performance as C.C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Babatundé was a protege of Sammy Davis, Jr., who said of him, "This is the only cat who can do everything I can do." Babatundé does dance, sing, play instruments, execute impersonations, including his portrayal of Davis, aided by their similarity in energy, size and talent, tap dancing and performing on multiple instruments. In fall 2009, Babatundé played Davis in the title role of "Sammy: Once in a Lifetime," a world premiere musical at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Early in 2000, Babatundé partnered with writer/producer Ruth Adkins Robinson for a series of TV projects including "TV in Black: The First 50 Years," "Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Hallie" and "Dorthy Dandridge: An American Beauty". The pair have projects that will take them through 2011. His TV roles have often portrayed authority figures, such as a recurring guest-starring role as a high school principal on Dawson's Creek, an appearance as a judge in a two-part episode of Any Day Now, and as the father of the main characters on Half & Half. He also played Harvard college Dean Cain in the movie How High, as well as the role of Willie Long in the movie Life, and co-starred as an attorney in Philadelphia and as a senator in the 2004 reprise of The Manchurian Candidate. He also played the director in season 3 of Friends in an episode titled "The One with All the Jealousy". Other TV shows he has had recurring roles on include The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Chicago Hope, Rocket Power, Static Shock, and Karen Sisco. He played a small but pivotal role as a doorman/bellhop in the film That Thing You Do! and also appeared in The Wild Thornberrys Movie as the voice of Boko. He played a famous producer known as Gordy Berry on two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the 1998 miniseries, The Temptations, he played the founder of Motown Records Berry Gordy. Babatundé is adept at American sign language and had used this talent in many roles including on one NYPD Blue. His recorded work includes a performance with the New York pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs on the 2007 album Sack Full of Dreams. The actor/producer is also an avid horseman and is a highly regarded rider and trainer in the Rodeo Circuit, including the annual Bill Pickett Rodeol. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRead more

Movies & web series

Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Halle

One Special Moment

Trapped: Haitian Nights

Run

King: Man of Peace in a Time of War

Chicago Med

Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty

Friends

The Silence of the Lambs

Grey's Anatomy

S.W.A.T.

Max Steel

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

Family Law

Static Shock

The Temptations

Psych

The Notebook

Boston Legal

The Visit

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Human Factor

Tales from the Crypt

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Baryshnikov on Broadway

Little Fires Everywhere

Goliath

The Good Fight

The Outer Limits

NCIS

Philadelphia

Private Practice

Everwood

Sliders

For the People

Spy Game

Saving Grace

Detroiters

Girlfriends

Dawson's Creek

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Chicago Hope

Black Dynamite

Touched by an Angel

John Q

Madam Secretary

Redeemer