Courtney B. Vance Explained

Courtney B. Vance
Birth Name:Courtney Bernard Vance
Birth Date:12 March 1960
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1983–present
Children:2

Courtney Bernard Vance (born March 12, 1960[1]) is an American actor. He started his career on stage before moving to film and television. Vance has received various accolades, including a Tony Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as nominations for a Grammy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Having trained at the Yale School of Drama, he soon made his Broadway debut the original production of August Wilson's Fences (1985), earning his first Tony Award nomination. He continued acting in theatre in John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation (1990) and Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy (2013), the later of which earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.[2] He is known for his roles in films such as Hamburger Hill (1987), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), The Preacher's Wife (1996), Cookie's Fortune (1999), and Isle of Dogs (2018).

From 2001 to 2006 he portrayed Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver in the NBC series . He earned Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie portraying Johnnie Cochran in the FX limited series (2016), and for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for playing George Freeman in the HBO series Lovecraft Country (2020). He also played Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017) and C. L. Franklin in Genius: Aretha (2020).

He has been married to actress Angela Bassett since 1997. He is on the Board of Directors of The Actors Center in New York City, and is an active supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2019, he was appointed president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.

Early life and education

Vance was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Leslie Anita, a librarian, and Conroy Vance, a grocery store manager and benefits administrator.[3] He attended Detroit Country Day School[4] and later graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Harvard, he was already working as an actor at the Boston Shakespeare Company. He subsequently earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at Yale School of Drama, where he met fellow student and future wife Angela Bassett.[5]

Career

1985–1999: Broadway debut and early roles

In 1985, Vance started his acting career on the stage as Cory in the Yale Repertory Theatre production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award for Best Play-winning play Fences. From 1987 to 1988, Vance continued the role on Broadway opposite James Earl Jones where he won a Clarence Derwent Award and the Theatre World Award for his performance. He was also nominated for his first Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role. Vance's film debut was in 1987 American war film, Hamburger Hill about the 1969 assault during the Vietnam War. During this time he had small roles in the CBS television film First Affair (1983), and the ABC drama Thirtysomething (1989), and Law & Order (1990). Vance played Thami Mbikwarna in the Athol Fugard play My Children! My Africa! at the New York Theatre Workshop from 1989 to 1990. In 1991, Vance returned to Broadway playing Paul in John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation. Vance played Paul, replacing James McDaniel who originated the role in the 1990 Off-Broadway production. Vance acted alongside John Cunningham and Stockard Channing. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance at the 45th Tony Awards.

Throughout the 1990s, Vance continued acting in a variety of feature films such as The Hunt for Red October (1990), and The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993). In 1995, Vance played Black Panther Bobby Seale in the Melvin and Mario Van Peebles docudrama Panther. That same year, he also appeared in The Last Supper and Dangerous Minds. He also worked with acclaimed directors such as Robert Altman in Cookie's Fortune, Penny Marshall in The Preacher's Wife, and Clint Eastwood in Space Cowboys. During the 1990s, Vance guest-starred in numerous television shows including Law & Order, Picket Fences, and Thirtysomething. In 1998 he acted in the Showtime television film Blind Faith he played John Williams. Vance earned critical acclaim with Janet Maslin of The New York Times describing his performance as "first rate".[6] He went on to receive a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He also starred in made-for-television films such as William Friedkin's 12 Angry Men (1997), in which he played the Foreman and acted alongside Ossie Davis, George C. Scott, Jack Lemmon, Hume Cronyn, and James Gandolfini. In 1999, Vance also starred in and co-produced the romantic comedy Love and Action in Chicago.

2000–2015: Television roles and return to Broadway

From 2001 to 2006, Vance starred in , in which he played A.D.A. Ron Carver. He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his performance. In 2008 and 2009, he guest-starred in the final season of ER alongside his wife Angela Bassett. He was also in Hurricane Season. On December 2, 2008, TV Guide reported that Vance had been cast as the Los Angeles bureau chief of the FBI in the ABC pilot FlashForward, based on a Robert J. Sawyer novel and slated to be a possible "companion show" to Lost.[7] In 2011, he starred in the American horror film Final Destination 5. Vance was tapped for the lead in the German-American apocalypse thriller The Divide. He appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movie Let It Shine, where he played the pastor Jacob Debarge, the main character's father, and co-starred with Tyler James Williams, Trevor Jackson, Coco Jones, Brandon Mychal Smith, and Dawnn Lewis. It was the third time Vance portrayed a pastor in a motion picture, after The Preacher's Wife and Joyful Noise). Vance has provided the voiceover for the National Football League's "You Want the NFL, Go to the NFL" television spots.[8]

He appeared as Chief Tommy Delk on the TNT series, The Closer, from 2010 to 2011 (Season 6–7). Vance also played the role of Attorney Benjamin Brooks on four episodes of ABC's Revenge. Vance returned to Broadway playing Hap Hairston in the Nora Ephron play Lucky Guy (2013) acting alongside Tom Hanks. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised Vance writing, "[He] is terrific as the whip-smart black editor who, even with the sharpest of professional skills, has had to stay on his toes to keep ahead in a white man’s game."[9] He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as at the 67th Tony Awards.[10] In 2015, he portrayed Miles Dyson in Terminator Genisys opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke.[11]

2016–present: Career expansion

In 2016, he took on the role of famed civil rights lawyer Johnnie Cochran in FX's American Crime Story, which tells the story of the O. J. Simpson murder case.[12] The series premiered on February 2, 2016, and his performance was critically acclaimed, winning Vance numerous accolades including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie.[13] [14] [15] In 2017, he starred in the HBO television film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, where he played Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield opposite Oprah Winfrey's Deborah Lacks. In 2018, Vance narrated Wes Anderson's stop motion animated comedy Isle of Dogs. The same year, he appeared as Neil Beeby in the Peter Hedges film Ben Is Back, opposite Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges.

In 2019, Vance was appointed President of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.[16] In 2020, Vance was seen in HBO's drama series Lovecraft Country for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He was cast opposite Niecy Nash in Prentice Penny's feature film directorial debut, the Netflix original movie Uncorked, released in 2020.[17] In 2021, he appeared in National Geographic's Genius: Aretha as C. L. Franklin. In 2023, Vance was cast in Disney's live-action reimagining of Lilo & Stitch as Cobra Bubbles.

Acting credits

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
1985 Fences Cory Yale Repertory Theatre
1987–88 46th Street Theatre, Broadway
1989–90 My Children! My Africa! Thami Mbikwarna
1990–92 Six Degrees of Separation Paul Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway
2013 Lucky Guy Hap Hairston Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987Hamburger HillSpc. Abraham 'Doc' Johnson
1990The Hunt for Red OctoberSonar Technician (Petty Officer 2nd Class) Jones
1993The Adventures of Huck FinnJim
Beyond the LawConroy Price
1994Holy MatrimonyCooper
1995PantherBobby Seale
Dangerous MindsGeorge Grandey
The Tuskegee Airmen2nd Lt. Glenn
The Last SupperLuke
1996The Preacher's WifeReverend Henry Biggs
1998Blind FaithJohn Williams
AmbushedJerry Robinson
1999Cookie's FortuneOtis Tucker
Love and Action in ChicagoEddie JonesAlso co-producer
2000Space CowboysRoger Hines
2002D-ToxReverend JonesAlso known as Eye See You
2008Nothing but the TruthAgent O'Hara
2009Hurricane SeasonMr. Randolph
2010Extraordinary MeasuresMarcus Temple
2011The DivideDelvin
Final Destination 5Agent Jim Block
2012Joyful NoisePastor Dale
Let It ShinePastor Jacob DeBarge
2015Terminator GenisysMiles Dyson
2016Office Christmas PartyWalter Davis
2017The MummyArmy Colonel Greenway
2018Isle of DogsNarrator (voice)
Ben Is BackNeal Burns
2020The PhotographLouis Morton
UncorkedLouis
Project PowerCaptain Crane
2023Heist 88Jeremy HorneAlso executive producer
2025Lilo & StitchCobra BubblesPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983First AffairMale studentTelevision film
1989ThirtysomethingCurtisEpisode: "Trust Me"
1990Law & OrderMayor's AssistantEpisode: "By Hooker, by Crook"
Uncredited
1991The Emperor's New ClothesScribe (voice)Television film
1992Justice ButlerTelevision film
1993Percy & ThunderThunderTelevision film
1994Race to Freedom: The Underground RailroadThomasTelevision film
1995Law & OrderBenjamin 'Bud' GreerEpisode: "Rage"
The Piano LessonLymonTelevision film
Picket FencesWarren Grier2 episodes
The Tuskegee AirmenLt. GlennTelevision film
The AffairTravis HollowayTelevision film
1996The Boys Next DoorLucien P. SingerTelevision film
199712 Angry MenForemanTelevision film
1998Any Day NowMr. James JacksonEpisode: "Unfinished Symphony"
Officer James HalloranTelevision film
The Wild ThornberrysMakai (voice)Episode: "Naimina Enkiyio"
Officer James HalloranTelevision film
2000Boston PublicWalter Harrelson2 episodes
2001–06A.D.A. Ron Carver111 episodes
2002American ExperienceDr. Vivien Thomas (voice)Episode: "Partners of the Heart"
Clarence BrandleyTelevision film
2004American ExperienceNarrator (voice)Episode: "The Fight"
2007State of MindWilliam Banks3 episodes
2008–09ERRussell Banfield8 episodes
2009The Spectacular Spider-ManRoderick Kingsley (voice)Episode: "Accomplices"
2009–10FlashForwardStanford Wedeck22 episodes
2010–11The CloserChief Tommy Delk3 episodes
2012RevengeBenjamin Brooks4 episodes
Let It ShinePastor Jacob DeBargeTelevision film
2013GracelandSam CampbellEpisode: "Pilot"
2014–15State of AffairsMarshall Payton7 episodes
2014Masters of SexDr. Charles Hendricks3 episodes
2015ScandalClarence ParkerEpisode: "The Lawn Chair"
2016The People v. O. J. Simpson:
American Crime Story
Johnnie Cochran10 episodes
2017The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksSir Lord Keenan Kester CofieldTelevision film
2020Lovecraft CountryGeorge Freeman3 episodes
2021Genius: ArethaC. L. Franklin8 episodes
2022–2361st StreetFranklin Roberts16 episodes
2023Merlin Kelly (voice)Episode: "The Soul Vibrations"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated WorkResult
1987 Most Promising Male Performer Fences
1991 Six Degrees of Separation
1998 Blind Faith
2013 Lucky Guy
2016 The People v. O.J. Simpson
2019 Accessory to War
2021 Lovecraft Country
Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Movie Genius
2024Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations Artist of the YearHimself
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialHeist 88
Black Reel TV AwardsOutstanding Lead Performance in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Personal life

Marriage and family

Vance first met Angela Bassett in 1980, and the pair has been married since 1997. Together, they have twins, a son and a daughter, born in 2006. He and Bassett have authored a book, Friends: A Love Story, with Hilary Beard.[18] The two also participate in the annual Christmas celebration, Candlelight Processional, at Epcot. The family lives in Los Angeles.[19] On the PBS program Finding Your Roots,[20] Vance discovered that his father was born out of wedlock to 17-year-old Victoria Ardella Vance.

Interests

Vance is on the Board of Directors for The Actors Center in New York City, and is an active supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He is an alumnus of the Detroit Boys & Girls Club, and was recently inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.[21]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Rose . cleveland com . 2024-03-12 . Famous birthdays list for today, March 12, 2024 includes celebrities Aaron Eckhart, Jaimie Alexander . 2024-06-02 . cleveland . en.
  2. News: Semuels . Alana . Tony Awards 2013: Courtney B. Vance glad he took a chance on 'Lucky Guy' . June 9, 2013 . Los Angeles Times . June 9, 2013.
  3. Book: Gates Jr., Henry Louis. Finding Your Roots, Season 2: The Official Companion to the PBS Series. 2016-01-28. UNC Press Books. 9781469626192. en.
  4. Web site: Alumni E-Bee. Detroit Country Day School. 2013. January 29, 2015.
  5. News: Penn. Charli. Black Love: Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. 14 March 2016. Essence. 12 October 2011. March 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315031956/http://www.essence.com/2011/10/12/black-love-angela-bassett-and-courtney-b-vance. dead.
  6. Web site: Maslin . Janet . Film Review; Tragedy at Home and in the Courtroom for a Black Youth . The New York Times . February 26, 1999.
  7. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Vance-Davenport-Flashforward-1000407.aspx Who's on board for ABC's new sci-fi thriller?
  8. News: For N.F.L., Split Seconds Become 30-Second Spots . . August 6, 2009 . September 15, 2011.
  9. Web site: Lucky Guy Review. The Hollywood Reporter. April 2013. February 4, 2024.
  10. Web site: Kinky Boots, Vanya and Sonia, Pippin and Virginia Woolf? Are Big Winners at 67th Annual Tony Awards . June 10, 2013 . 6 September 2013 . . Purcell, Carey . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130611034933/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/178918-Kinky-Boots-Vanya-and-Sonia-Pippin-and-Virginia-Woolf-Are-Big-Winners-at-67th-Annual-Tony-Awards . June 11, 2013 .
  11. Web site: January 6, 2015 . Preview: Here's a T-800 From 'Terminator Genisys' . January 28, 2015 . Bloody Disgusting.
  12. Web site: Courtney B. Vance Set as Johnnie Cochran in FX's 'American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson'. The Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. February 7, 2015. February 5, 2015.
  13. Web site: Sepinwall. Alan. Review: FX's compelling 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story'. HitFix. February 1, 2016. February 3, 2016. February 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202091914/http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-fxs-compelling-the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story. dead.
  14. Web site: Fienberg. Dan. 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story': TV Review. The Hollywood Reporter. January 19, 2016. February 4, 2016.
  15. Web site: Bernstein. Jonathan. The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, review: 'expertly executed entertainment'. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/02/03/the-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story-review-expertly-exe/ . January 12, 2022 . subscription . live. The Telegraph. February 3, 2016. February 3, 2016.
  16. News: Courtney B. Vance appointed SAG-AFTRA President. sagaftra.foundation. November 5, 2019. July 14, 2021.
  17. News: Niecy Nash, Courtney B. Vance to Star in 'Uncorked' for Netflix . .
  18. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7445483 "Bassett and Vance Tell Their 'Love Story'"
  19. Web site: Unique Perspective – 'Candlelight' at Disney's Epcot. Smith, Thomas. Disney Parks. December 14, 2009. December 8, 2016.
  20. https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/profiles/courtney-vance/ "Courtney B. Vance"
  21. Web site: Home >> About Us >> Alumni Hall of Fame >> Courtney B. Vance. Boys and Girls Club of America. February 23, 2020.