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Obba Babatundé
Born · December 1, 1951 (73 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Bio
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 encyclopedia
Noble Intentions
Pastor Stevens
5.7
2023
The Millennial
Mr. Burke
5.5
2022
City of Lies
Chief of Police
6.4
2018
Pup Star: Better 2Gether
Big Ears (voice)
6.2
2017
The Watcher
Stark
5.3
2016
Pup Star
Big Ears (voice)
5.2
2016
If I Tell You I Have to Kill You
Jonathan Black
0.0
2015
Death's Door
Mesmer
4.4
2015
American Bad Boy
Pastor Lovely
2.5
2015
Dolls of Voodoo
Iklif
1.5
2013
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
Mayor Denny
6.1
2012
The Last Fall
5.8
2012
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #4 (voice)
7.7
2012
Joy Road
Dr. Howard Perkins
7.0
2011
The Trap Door
Mesmer
2.0
2011
Trapped: Haitian Nights
Ikliff
8.7
2011
Black Dynamite
Osiris
7.1
2009
I Do... I Did!
Mr. Johnson
2.8
2009
The Eye
Dr. Haskins
5.8
2008
Cover
Attorney Miller
4.9
2007
King: Man of Peace in a Time of War
Narrator
8.5
2007
Material Girls
Craig
5.3
2006
Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.!
Chief Ankamuti (voice)
4.0
2004
After the Sunset
Zacharias
6.2
2004
The Manchurian Candidate
Senator Wells
6.5
2004
The Notebook
Band Leader
7.9
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self
4.0
2004
Redeemer
Charles Henderson
6.6
2002
How High
Dean Carl Cain
6.3
2001
One Special Moment
0.0
2001
The Visit
Tony
7.6
2001
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Harold Nicholas
6.7
1999
Life
Willie Long
6.7
1999
Miss Evers' Boys
Willie Johnson
6.2
1997
The Cherokee Kid
Isom Dart
5.0
1996
That Thing You Do!
Lamarr
6.9
1996
The Tomorrow Man
Brian Parish
4.6
1996
Multiplicity
Paul
5.8
1996
Soul of the Game
Cum Posey
4.4
1996
Born to Be Wild
Interpreter
5.4
1995
Fatal Pursuit
Trinidad
4.0
1995
Philadelphia
Jerome Green
7.7
1993
Undercover Blues
Sawyer
6.0
1993
The Importance of Being Earnest
Lane
0.0
1992
The Silence of the Lambs
TV Anchor Man
8.3
1991
Miami Blues
Blink Willie
6.0
1990
Start Without Me
Leo
0.0
God Bless the Child
Raymond Watkins
6.3
1988
Leonard Part 6
Bongo Drummer
2.8
1987
The Temptations Le film de leur ascension vers la gloire
Berry Gordy
0.0
People Not Places
0.0
Necronomicon
Paul
6.0
1993
Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer)
0.0
Trigger
Chief Keaton
5.5
2020
Little Fires Everywhere
George Wright · (2 episodes)
7.7
2020
Revival!
Nicodemus
0.0
2019
Jingle Belle
Charles Williams
5.9
2018
Kinky
Mr. Bernard
6.5
2018
Forever
Gregory · (2 episodes)
6.5
2018
For The People
Philip Kaws · (1 episode)
7.2
2018
S.W.A.T.
Daniel Harrelson, Sr. · (24 episodes)
8.1
2017
'Til Death Do Us Part
John Harris
6.1
2017
Dear White People
Dean Fairbanks · (4 episodes)
6.1
2017
The Good Fight
Danny Quinn · (1 episode)
7.6
2017
Goliath
Ivan Tillinger · (3 episodes)
7.6
2016
Chicago Med
Dr. James Coleman · (1 episode)
8.3
2015
Ballers
J.D. Pritchard · (1 episode)
6.8
2015
Lap Dance
Roscoe
4.5
2014
Kingdom
Detective Gaines · (3 episodes)
6.8
2014
Enlisted
General Murray · (1 episode)
6.4
2014
All Star Superman
Judge / Bibliobot (voice)
6.8
2011
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
7.0
2008
Private Practice
Dr. Larry Cannon · (1 episode)
7.6
2007
April Fools
Detective Combs
2.0
2007
Psych
David Gaffney · (1 episode)
7.9
2006
The Celestine Prophecy
Miguel
5.0
2006
Grey's Anatomy
Dan Gates · (1 episode)
8.2
2005
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
Host
7.5
2003
Everwood
Jason · (1 episode)
7.6
2002
John Q
Sgt. Moody
7.1
2002
Static Shock
Watch Store Salesman (voice) · (1 episode)
8.1
2000
Static Shock
Singer (voice) · (1 episode)
8.1
2000
Max Steel
(voice) · (1 episode)
8.2
2000
The Apartment Complex
Chett
5.8
1999
Family Law
Philip Hamilton · (1 episode)
8.2
1999
The Temptations
Berry Gordy · (2 episodes)
8.0
1998
Dawson's Creek
Principal Howard Green · (8 episodes)
7.3
1998
Carpool
Jeffery
5.0
1996
The Net
FBI Agent
6.0
1995
The Outer Limits
Dr. Joseph Lennox · (1 episode)
7.7
1995
Sliders
Cezanne Brown · (1 episode)
7.6
1995
Friends
Director · (1 episode)
8.4
1994
Touched by an Angel
Carter Evans · (1 episode)
7.2
1994
Chicago Hope
(2 episodes)
7.2
1994
M.A.N.T.I.S.
(0 episode)
5.2
1994
M.A.N.T.I.S.
Cornell
4.3
1994
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Mongoose · (1 episode)
7.0
1993
The Human Factor
(1 episode)
6.0
1992
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Gordy Berry · (2 episodes)
7.9
1990
Tales from the Crypt
Lieutenant Jamison · (1 episode)
8.0
1989
Married to the Mob
The Face of Justice
5.9
1988
A Different World
Frank Benning · (1 episode)
7.0
1987
Treemonisha
Zodzetrick
0.0
1982
Baryshnikov on Broadway
Dancer
7.0
1980
An Evening with Liza Minnelli
Himself
0.0
1980