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Obba Babatundé

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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Obba Babatundé, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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Born:
Dec 1, 1951 In Queens, New York, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
64
First Appeared:
In the movie Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer)
Latest Project:
Movie Noble Intentions 2023-01-03
Known For
Filmography
Movie Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer) 2025
Movie Noble Intentions Pastor Stevens 2023-01-03
Movie The Millennial Mr. Burke 2022-01-27
Movie City of Lies Chief of Police 2018-09-06
Movie Kinky Mr. Bernard 2018-10-12
Movie Jingle Belle Charles Williams 2018-11-25
Movie Pup Star: Better 2Gether Big Ears (voice) 2017-08-29
Movie 'Til Death Do Us Part John Harris 2017-09-29
Movie The Watcher Stark 2016-10-01
Movie Pup Star Big Ears (voice) 2016-08-30
Movie If I Tell You I Have to Kill You Jonathan Black 2015-10-20
Movie Death's Door Mesmer 2015-09-29
Movie American Bad Boy Pastor Lovely 2015-06-02
Movie Lap Dance Roscoe 2014-12-05
Movie Dolls of Voodoo Iklif 2013-08-13
Movie Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire Vampire Actor #4 (voice) 2012-03-07
Movie The Last Fall 2012-03-09
Movie Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups Mayor Denny 2012-11-20
Movie Trapped: Haitian Nights Ikliff 2011-02-08
Movie All Star Superman Judge / Bibliobot (voice) 2011-02-22
Movie The Trap Door Mesmer 2011-10-11
Movie Joy Road Dr. Howard Perkins 2011-10-21
Movie Black Dynamite Osiris 2009-10-16
Movie The Eye Dr. Haskins 2008-02-01
Movie Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History Self 2008-10-14
Movie King: Man of Peace in a Time of War Narrator 2007-01-16
Movie April Fools Detective Combs 2007-09-11
Movie Cover Attorney Miller 2007-05-08
Movie Material Girls Craig 2006-08-18
Movie The Celestine Prophecy Miguel 2006-06-01
Movie The Notebook Band Leader 2004-06-25
Movie TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Self 2004-01-01
Movie The Manchurian Candidate Senator Wells 2004-07-30
Movie After the Sunset Zacharias 2004-11-12
Movie Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.! Chief Ankamuti (voice) 2004-11-16
Movie Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty Host 2003-06-24
Movie Redeemer Charles Henderson 2002-01-31
Movie John Q Sgt. Moody 2002-02-15
Movie The Visit Tony 2001-04-20
Movie How High Dean Carl Cain 2001-12-21
Movie Life Willie Long 1999-04-16
Movie The Apartment Complex Chett 1999-10-31
Movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Harold Nicholas 1999-08-21
Series The Temptations Berry Gordy 1998-11-01
Movie Miss Evers' Boys Willie Johnson 1997-02-22
Movie Carpool Jeffery 1996-08-23
Movie Soul of the Game Cum Posey 1996-04-20
Movie Multiplicity Paul 1996-07-19
Movie The Tomorrow Man Brian Parish 1996-09-01
Movie That Thing You Do! Lamarr 1996-10-04
Movie The Cherokee Kid Isom Dart 1996-12-14
Movie Fatal Pursuit Trinidad 1995-02-01
Movie Born to Be Wild Interpreter 1995-03-31
Movie Undercover Blues Sawyer 1993-09-10
Movie Necronomicon Paul 1993-11-01
Movie Philadelphia Jerome Green 1993-12-22
Movie The Importance of Being Earnest Lane 1992-05-14
Movie The Silence of the Lambs TV Anchor Man 1991-02-14
Movie Dead Again Syd - Restaurant Owner 1991-08-23
Movie Miami Blues Blink Willie, Informant 1990-04-20
Movie God Bless the Child Raymond Watkins 1988-03-21
Movie Married to the Mob The Face of Justice 1988-08-19
Movie Leonard Part 6 Bongo Drummer 1987-12-18
Movie Baryshnikov on Broadway Dancer 1980-04-24