Wendell Pierce | |
|---|---|
 Pierce in 2022 | |
| Born | Wendell Edward Pierce (1962-12-08)December 8, 1962 (age 62) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1962) is an American actor and businessman.[1] Having trained atJuilliard School, Pierce rose to prominence as acharacter actor of stage and screen. He firstgained recognition portraying DetectiveBunk Moreland in theHBO drama seriesThe Wire from 2002 to 2008.
Pierce's other notable television roles include thetrombonist Antoine Batiste inTreme (2010–2013),James Greer inTom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018–2023), the attorney Robert Zane inSuits (2013–2019), andClarence Thomas inConfirmation (2016). He earnedIndependent Spirit Awards nominations for his film roles inFour (2012) andBurning Cane (2019), on which he also served as a producer. Other notable film roles includeMalcolm X (1992),Waiting to Exhale (1995),Ray (2004),Selma (2014),The Gift (2015), andClemency (2019).
Pierce made hisBroadway debut inJohn Pielmeier's 1985 playThe Boys of Winter, followed byCaryl Churchill'sSerious Money in 1988. As a theatrical producer, he earned aTony Award for Best Play nomination forAugust Wilson'sRadio Golf (2007), then won forBruce Norris'sClybourne Park (2012). He performed the lead role ofWilly Loman in the revival ofDeath of a Salesman on theWest End in London in 2019 and onBroadway in New York in 2022, for which he earnedLaurence Olivier Award andTony Award nominations.
Wendell Pierce was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana, one of three sons of a teacher and a decoratedWorld War II veteran who worked as a maintenance engineer.[2] His father's segregatedArmy unit helpedMarines win theBattle of Saipan in 1944. Pierce has said of his father's experience:
My father fought in World War II, loved this country when this country wasn't loving him back. My father fought in Saipan, came back, was awarded medals and were denied them by a white officer who said, "no, not you, not your unit." There was nothing that this country was doing for him or to him that would make him love this country. And in spite of all of that, he gave us a love for country because of the values that we are aspiring to as a nation.[3]
Pierce was raised in the black middle-class community ofPontchartrain Park, the first African-American postwar suburb. His father, along with many other black veterans, moved there after returning from the war. The neighborhood was wiped out duringHurricane Katrina in 2005, including Pierce's family home, which was flooded by 14 feet (4.3 m) of water.[4][5]
Pierce graduated in 1981[6] from bothBenjamin Franklin High School[7] and theNew Orleans Center for Creative Arts (most NOCCA students attend traditional secondary school in the mornings and the arts school in the afternoons). In 1981, he was named aPresidential Scholar of the Arts.[8] As a young actor, he appeared inThe Winter's Tale at the Tulane Shakespeare Festival. He produced and hostedThink About It, a youth-themed talk show, for the local NBC affiliate station, and also hosted a weekly jazz show onWYLD-FM Radio calledExtensions from Congo Square.[9]
Pierce then attended theJuilliard School's Drama Division from 1981 to 1985, graduating as a member of Group 14 with aBachelor of Fine Arts.[10] In May 2023, Pierce received anhonorary doctorate from the Juilliard School.[11]
Pierce made his television debut on theHBO anthology seriesVietnam War Story in the third episode, "The Pass", along withChing Valdes-Aran,Tony Becker, andMerritt Butrick.[12][13] His second television role wasDr. Wolff in two episodes ofThe Equalizer (1988, 1989).
Pierce worked on the HBO dramasThe Wire andTreme. When first cast inThe Wire, he and his castmates doubted the show would be a hit: "I remember the first time we all sat around and watched the pilot. We all turned to each other and said, 'Man, I don't think this shit is going anywhere.'"[14] For his role inTreme, Pierce learned to play trombone, though he relied on "sound double" Stafford Agee of theRebirth Brass Band.[4] Agee played off-camera for Pierce, syncing his trombone with Pierce's motions for authenticity.[15]
In 2012, he playedJ. Jenks inThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.[16][better source needed]
Pierce was nominated for anIndependent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his portrayal of Joe, a married and closeted gay man who steps out on his family with a young white man he met online, inFour. The film was released in September 2013, around the same time thatThe Michael J. Fox Show debuted onNBC, in which Pierce playedMichael J. Fox's character's boss. The show was canceled five months later.[17][18]
From 2015 to 2017, Pierce starred alongsideMatthew Perry andThomas Lennon inCBS's revival of the sitcomThe Odd Couple, playing the role of Teddy.[citation needed]
WhenMike Henry stepped down as the voice ofCleveland Brown onFamily Guy in June 2020, in light of theGeorge Floyd protests, Pierce launched a campaign to become Henry's replacement.[19] He lost the role to YouTube personalityArif Zahir.[20]
Pierce has been in numerous stage productions. He was lauded for his performance as Holt Fay inQueenie at theJohn F. Kennedy Center. He has performedon Broadway in staged productions ofThe Piano Lesson,Serious Money, andThe Boys of Winter. He has performedoff-Broadway inThe Cherry Orchard (for which he was nominated for aVIV Award for Lead Actor),Waiting for Godot (which was set on a New Orleans rooftop post-Hurricane Katrina), andBroke-ology performed atLincoln Center for the Performing Arts.[21] Other performances includeCymbeline (atThe Public Theater),The Good Times Are Killing Me,Two Gentlemen of Verona,Tis Pity She's a Whore, andMs. Ever's Boys performed at theACT Theatre.[citation needed]
Pierce is also a theater producer, and produced the Broadway show,Clybourne Park. The show was nominated for fourTony Awards; and won theTony Award for Best Play in 2012.[22] In 2015, Pierce returned to the stage to star in theBillie Holiday Theatre production of Jackie Alexander'sBrothers from the Bottom in New York.[23]
In 2019, Pierce starred in the acclaimedArthur Miller playDeath of a Salesman at theYoung Vic Theatre inLondon and its successful transfer to the West End.[24] For this performance, he received a nomination for theOlivier Award for Best Actor.[25] The show made itsBroadway transfer in 2022, returning with Pierce,Sharon D. Clarke, andAndre De Shields. In December 2022, on one of the nights of its production run, a woman disrupted the beginning of Act 2, shouting at the stage. Pierce tried to calm her down from the stage. She was eventually escorted out of the building by authorities and the play's producers issued a statement saying, "We're grateful to the entire team at theHudson Theatre for working together to resolve the situation and resume the performance as quickly as possible."[26] Videos of the event and Pierce's attempts to reason with the patron went viral online.[27][28] Pierce received aTony Award nomination for the production.[citation needed]
In 2009, Pierce became the host of the nationally syndicated,Peabody Award-winning radio programJazz at Lincoln Center, which featured live recordings fromJazz at Lincoln Center's House of Swing.[citation needed]
In 2016, Pierce started appearing on several albums recorded in New Orleans. He recorded the song "Make America Great Again" withDelfeayo Marsalis in 2016, one song withKermit Ruffins onIrvin Mayfield's 2017 albumA Beautiful World, and one withStanton Moore on his 2017 albumWith You In Mind.[citation needed]
In 2020, Pierce recorded "The Ever Fonky Lowdown" withWynton Marsalis.[citation needed]
Pierce considers himself a "true capitalist" and a "classic entrepreneur".[4][5]
In 2013,Fast Company named Pierce one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business".[29]
Pierce started the nonprofit Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp. to build new affordable solar and geothermal homes in the area for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.[30]
In 2012, inspired in part byMichelle Obama's initiative to bring more supermarkets tofood deserts where residents lack easy access to fresh produce, Pierce, along with partners Troy Henry and James Hatchett, started Sterling Farms, a chain of grocery stores in theNinth Ward of New Orleans.[14] The chain closed 13 months later.[31] Sterling Farms also had a convenience store division, Sterling Express. The stores were named after Sterling Henry, Troy Henry's father, who ran a pharmacy for about 40 years in the Lower Ninth Ward.[32]
Pierce describes himself as "tri-coastal", splitting his time amongLos Angeles,New York City, and New Orleans.[33] He is aNew Orleans Saints supporter, and locals have nicknamed him "Saints Wendell".[14] He is also an avid supporter ofSt. Patrick's Athletic FC.[34] He isCatholic.[35]
Pierce was a vocal supporter ofHillary Clinton and was on the board of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a campaign created by theClinton Foundation.[36] He attended the2012 Democratic National Convention, was one of PresidentBarack Obama's top campaign fundraisers in 2012, and once escortedGwen Ifill to a White House state dinner.[5][37][38] Pierce announced the ceremonial delegate casting forLouisiana at the2024 Democratic National Convention.[39]
On May 15, 2016, Pierce was arrested and charged with simple battery for an alleged attack against a femaleBernie Sanders supporter outside Atlanta Loews Hotel. He was booked and released on $1,000 bond fromFulton County Jail.[40][41] Pierce subsequently completed a pretrial diversion program, including counseling and community service, resulting in dismissal of the charge.[42]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Money Pit | Paramedic | |
| 1989 | Casualties of War | MacIntire | |
| Family Business | Prosecutor | ||
| 1990 | A Matter of Degrees | Wells Dennard | |
| 1991 | A Rage in Harlem | Louis | |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Ben Thomas | |
| 1993 | Manhattan Murder Mystery | Policeman | |
| 1994 | It Could Happen to You | Bo Williams | |
| 1995 | Bye Bye Love | Hector | |
| Hackers | Secret Service Agent Dick Gill | ||
| Waiting to Exhale | Michael Davenport | ||
| 1996 | Sleepers | Eddie "Little Caesar" Robinson | |
| Get on the Bus | Wendell | ||
| 1998 | Bulworth | Fred | |
| 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | Roy LaBelle | |
| Abilene | Reverend Tillis | ||
| 2001 | The Gilded Six Bits | Otis D. Slimmons | Short |
| 2002 | The Date | Naive Man | Short |
| Brown Sugar | Simon | ||
| 2003 | The Fighting Temptations | Reverend Lewis | |
| 2004 | A Hole in One | Dan | |
| Land of Plenty | Henry | ||
| Ray | Wilbur Brassfield | ||
| 2006 | Stay Alive | Detective Thibodeaux | |
| 2007 | I Think I Love My Wife | Sean | |
| Pariah | Arthur | Short | |
| 2009 | Beyond All Boundaries | Sergeant Thomas McPhatter (voice) | Short |
| The Storm Inside | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2010 | Night Catches Us | David Gordon | |
| Love Ranch | Naasih Mohammed | ||
| The Big Uneasy | Himself (narration) | Documentary | |
| 2011 | The Mortician | Wendell Simms | |
| Horrible Bosses | Detective Hagan | ||
| 2012 | Lay the Favorite | Dave "The Rave" | |
| Four | Joe | ||
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | J. Jenks | ||
| 2013 | Parker | Carlson | |
| Möbius | Bob | ||
| 2014 | Foreclosure | Virgil | |
| Elsa & Fred | Armande | ||
| Selma | Hosea Williams | ||
| 2015 | Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band | Andy Kirk (voice) | Documentary |
| Runaway Hearts | Paul | ||
| The Gift | Detective Mills | ||
| The Runner | Frank Legrand | ||
| 2016 | Bad Moms | Principal Daryl Burr | |
| 2017 | The Forever Tree | Dr. Willow | Short |
| Rodents of Unusual Size | The Narrator | Documentary | |
| 2018 | Piercing | Doctor | |
| One Last Thing | Dylan Derringer | ||
| 2019 | Clemency | Jonathan Williams | |
| Burning Cane | Reverend Tillman | Also producer | |
| 2022 | Don't Hang Up | Chris Daniels | |
| 2025 | Thunderbolts* | Congressman Gary | |
| Highest 2 Lowest | Gabe | ||
| Superman | Perry White | ||
| TBA | Untitled Jack Ryan film† | James Greer | Post-production |
| King of the South† | Percy Miller Sr. | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Vietnam War Story | French | Episode: "The Pass"(S1.E3)[12][13] |
| 1988–1989 | The Equalizer | Dr. Wolff | Episodes: "The Last Campaign", "Starfire" |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Derrick West | Episode: "Never My Love" |
| 1990 | Capital News | Conrad White | Main cast |
| 1991 | I'll Fly Away | Charles | Episode: "Coming Home" |
| The 10 Million Dollar Getaway | Parnell "Stacks" Edwards | TV movie | |
| 1992 | General Motors Playwrights Theater | Sergeant Kelly | Episode: "Avenue Z Afternoon" |
| Law & Order | Chief Ola-Gimju Nwaka | Episode: "Consultation" | |
| Unnatural Pursuits | Cabbie | Episode: "I Don't Do Cuddles" | |
| 1993 | Strapped | District Attorney | TV movie |
| 1994 | Last Days of Russell | Walter | TV movie |
| 1995 | Law & Order | Jerome Bryant | Episode: "Rage" |
| New York News | Jesus | Episode: "The Using Game" | |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Dr. Anthony Fisher | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
| Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story | John Saunders | TV movie | |
| 1997 | The Advocate's Devil | Justin | TV movie |
| 1996–1997 | Moloney | District Attorney Calvin Patterson | Recurring cast |
| 1997 | 413 Hope | Taffy | Episode: "Pilot" & "Fatherhood" |
| 1997–1999 | The Gregory Hines Show | Carl Stevenson | Main cast |
| 1998 | Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Assistant Coach | Episode: "Scrubs" |
| 1998–2000 | The Brian Benben Show | Kevin La Rue | Main cast |
| 1999 | The Expert | Dr. Worseley | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Law & Order | Mr. Wade | Episode: "Disciple" | |
| MTV Downtown | Limo driver | Episode: "Limo", credited as Edward Pierce | |
| 2000 | God, the Devil and Bob | Mike (voice) | Episodes: "In the Beginning" & "Date from Hell" |
| Third Watch | Officer Conrad 'Candyman' Jones | Recurring cast (season 1) | |
| City of Angels | Norbert Grimly | Episode: "Straight Flush" | |
| 2001 | My Wife and Kids | Dr. Boucher | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2000–2001 | The Weber Show | Wendell Simms | Main cast |
| 2002 | Girlfriends | Anthony Jackson | Episode: "Childs in Charge" |
| 2002–2008 | The Wire | Detective William "Bunk" Moreland | Main cast |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | Harry Benton | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| Law & Order | Roger Porter | Episode: "Gunplay" | |
| Mitchellville | – | TV movie | |
| 2005–2006 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Dr. Richard Link | Episodes: "The Line" & "Eros in the Upper Eighties" |
| 2006 | Close to Home | Sam Carter | Episode: "Prodigal Son" |
| 2007 | The Wire: The Chronicles | Detective William "Bunk" Moreland | Episode: "2000: Bunk and McNulty" |
| Life Support | "Slick" | TV movie | |
| 2007–2008 | Numb3rs | William Bradford | Recurring cast (season 3), guest (season 5) |
| 2008 | Women's Murder Club | Bill Schroeder | Episode: "Father's Day" |
| In Plain Sight | Dr. Warren McBride / Warren Morris | Episode: "It Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | |
| House of Payne | Jeffrey Lucas | Recurring cast (season 4) | |
| 2009 | Fear Itself | Wiilbur Orwell | Episode: "Something with Bite" |
| Hawthorne | Michael Schilling | Episode: "Trust Me" | |
| Drop Dead Diva | Neal David | Episode: "Grayson's Anatomy" | |
| 2010 | Tim & Eric Awesome Show | Detective | Episode: "Re-Animated" |
| 2010–2013 | Treme | Antoine Batiste | Main cast |
| 2013–2014 | The Michael J. Fox Show | Harris Green | Main cast |
| 2013–2019 | Suits | Robert Zane | Recurring cast (seasons 2–9) |
| 2014–2015 | Ray Donovan | Ronald Keith | Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3) |
| 2015 | The Night Shift | Walt | Episode: "Moving On" |
| 2015–2017 | The Odd Couple | Teddy | Main cast |
| 2016 | Grease Live! | Coach Calhoun | TV movie |
| Confirmation | Clarence Thomas | TV movie | |
| Pickle and Peanut | Dr. Craig (voice) | Episode: "Night Shift/Scalped" | |
| 2017 | Archer | Verl (voice) | Episode: "Archer Dreamland: Jane Doe" |
| 2017–2020 | Chicago P.D. | Alderman Ray Price | Recurring cast (seasons 5–6), guest (season 7) |
| 2018 | Unsolved | Detective Lee Tucker | Recurring cast |
| 2018–2023 | Jack Ryan | James Greer | Main cast |
| 2021 | The Watch | Death (voice) | Main cast |
| 2022–2023 | Eureka! | Sandy (voice) | Recurring cast |
| 2023 | Accused | Detective Trent Douglas | Episode: "Kendall's Story" |
| 2023–present | Power Book III: Raising Kanan | Ishmael "Snaps" Henry | Recurring cast (season 3–4) |
| 2024–present | Elsbeth | C.W. Wagner | Main cast |
| 2025 | Harley Quinn | Lex Luthor (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | The Wire | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Tony Award | Best Play | Radio Golf | Nominated | [50] |
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Play | Clybourne Park | Won | [51][52] |
| 2013 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Male Lead | Four | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Best Actor | Death of a Salesman | Nominated | [53][54] |
| 2020 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Supporting Male | Burning Cane | Nominated | |
| Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor | Death of a Salesman | Nominated | [55] | |
| 2023 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Play | Nominated | [56] |
(picture caption) Ching Valdes-Aran, Tony Becker, Merritt Butrick and Wendell Pierce star in 'The Pass,' the tale of a fateful encounter with the Viet Cong in an after-hours bar.
