
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. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
Credits
- 2023 · Noble Intentions as Pastor Stevens
- 2020 · Little Fires Everywhere as George Wright
- 2018 · Forever as Gregory
- 2018 · City of Lies as Chief of Police
- 2018 · For The People as Philip Kaws
- 2017 · S.W.A.T. as Daniel Harrelson, Sr.
- 2017 · Dear White People as Dean Fairbanks
- 2017 · The Good Fight as Danny Quinn
- 2016 · Goliath as Ivan Tillinger
- 2016 · The Watcher as Stark
- 2015 · Chicago Med as Dr. James Coleman
- 2015 · Death's Door as Mesmer
- 2015 · Ballers as J.D. Pritchard
- 2014 · Kingdom as Detective Gaines
- 2014 · Madam Secretary as President Silvanus Fabre
- 2011 · All Star Superman as Judge / Bibliobot (voice)
- 2009 · Black Dynamite as Osiris
- 2008 · Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History as Self
- 2008 · The Eye as Dr. Haskins
- 2007 · Private Practice as Dr. Larry Cannon
- 2006 · Psych as David Gaffney
- 2006 · The Celestine Prophecy as Miguel
- 2005 · Grey's Anatomy as Dan Gates
- 2004 · After the Sunset as Zacharias
- 2004 · Boston Legal as Dr. Victor Rivers
- 2004 · The Manchurian Candidate as Senator Wells
- 2004 · The Notebook as Band Leader
- 2003 · NCIS as
- 2002 · Everwood as Jason
- 2002 · John Q as Sgt. Moody
- 2001 · How High as Dean Carl Cain
- 2001 · One Special Moment as
- 2000 · Static Shock as Singer (voice)
- 2000 · Static Shock as Watch Store Salesman (voice)
- 2000 · Girlfriends as Attendant
- 2000 · Max Steel as (voice)
- 1999 · Family Law as Philip Hamilton
- 1999 · Life as Willie Long
- 1998 · Dawson's Creek as Principal Howard Green
- 1996 · That Thing You Do! as Lamarr
- 1996 · Carpool as Jeffery
- 1996 · Multiplicity as Paul
- 1995 · The Outer Limits as Dr. Joseph Lennox
- 1995 · Sliders as Cezanne Brown
- 1994 · Friends as Director
- 1994 · Touched by an Angel as Carter Evans
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as
- 1993 · Philadelphia as Jerome Green
- 1993 · Necronomicon as Paul
- 1993 · The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. as Mongoose
- 1992 · Hangin' with Mr. Cooper as Jameson Walker
- 1991 · The Silence of the Lambs as TV Anchor Man
- 1990 · The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Gordy Berry
- 1989 · Tales from the Crypt as Lieutenant Jamison
- 1987 · A Different World as Frank Benning
- Future · Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer) as
- 2025 · Run as
- 2025 · Wrong Place, Wrong Time as Captain Green
- 2022 · The Millennial as Mr. Burke
- 2020 · Trigger as Chief Keaton
- 2019 · Revival! as Nicodemus
- 2018 · Jingle Belle as Charles Williams
- 2018 · Kinky as Mr. Bernard
- 2017 · 'Til Death Do Us Part as John Harris
- 2017 · Pup Star: Better 2Gether as Big Ears (voice)
- 2016 · Pup Star as Big Ears (voice)
- 2015 · If I Tell You I Have to Kill You as Jonathan Black
- 2015 · American Bad Boy as Pastor Lovely
- 2014 · Lap Dance as Roscoe
- 2014 · Enlisted as General Murray
- 2013 · Dolls of Voodoo as Iklif
- 2012 · Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups as Mayor Denny
- 2012 · The Last Fall as Larry Armstrong
- 2012 · Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire as Vampire Actor #4 (voice)
- 2011 · Joy Road as Dr. Howard Perkins
- 2011 · The Trap Door as Mesmer
- 2011 · Trapped: Haitian Nights as Ikliff
- 2009 · Why Am I Doing This? as Cliff
- 2009 · I Do... I Did! as Mr. Johnson
- 2007 · April Fools as Detective Combs
- 2007 · Cover as Attorney Miller
- 2007 · King: Man of Peace in a Time of War as Narrator
- 2006 · Material Girls as Craig
- 2004 · Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.! as Chief Ankamuti (voice)
- 2004 · TV in Black: The First Fifty Years as Self
- 2003 · Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty as Host
- 2002 · Redeemer as Charles Henderson
- 2001 · The Visit as Tony
- 1999 · The Apartment Complex as Chett
- 1999 · Introducing Dorothy Dandridge as Harold Nicholas
- 1998 · The Temptations as Berry Gordy
- 1997 · Spy Game as Lieutenant Wardell
- 1997 · Miss Evers' Boys as Willie Johnson
- 1996 · The Cherokee Kid as Isom Dart
- 1996 · The Tomorrow Man as Brian Parish
- 1996 · Soul of the Game as Cum Posey
- 1995 · The Net as FBI Agent
- 1995 · Born to Be Wild as Interpreter
- 1995 · Fatal Pursuit as Trinidad
- 1994 · M.A.N.T.I.S. as Cornell
- 1993 · Undercover Blues as Sawyer
- 1992 · The Importance of Being Earnest as Lane
- 1992 · The Human Factor as
- 1990 · Miami Blues as Blink Willie
- 1988 · Married to the Mob as The Face of Justice
- 1987 · Leonard Part 6 as Bongo Drummer
- Future · Mississippi Scholar as Reginald
- Future · Start Without Me as Leo
- 1988 · God Bless the Child as Raymond Watkins
- 1982 · Treemonisha as Zodzetrick
- 1980 · Baryshnikov on Broadway as Dancer
- 1980 · An Evening with Liza Minnelli as Himself
- Future · People Not Places as