Sterling Farms
Wendell Pierce | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 8, 1962 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | Detective Bunk Moreland in The Wire; Antoine Batiste in Treme; James Greer in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan; Robert Zane in Suits |
Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1962) is an American actor and entrepreneur. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Pierce established himself as a distinguished character actor across theater and television. He initially gained widespread acclaim for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland in the HBO drama series The Wire, which aired from 2002 until 2008.
Among his significant television appearances are the trombonist Antoine Batiste in Treme (2010–2013), James Greer in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018–2023), attorney Robert Zane in Suits (2013–2019), and the portrayal of Clarence Thomas in the film Confirmation (2016). His performances in films such as Four (2012) and Burning Cane (2019)—the latter of which he also produced—earned him nominations for Independent Spirit Awards. Additional notable film credits include Malcolm X (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), Ray (2004), Selma (2014), The Gift (2015), and Clemency (2019).
Pierce made his Broadway debut with John Pielmeier's play The Boys of Winter in 1985, followed by a role in Caryl Churchill's Serious Money in 1988. As a producer, he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play with August Wilson's Radio Golf in 2007, and later won the award for Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park in 2012. In 2019, Pierce starred as Willy Loman in the West End revival of Death of a Salesman, reprising the role on Broadway in 2022. These performances garnered him nominations for both the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play.
Early life and education
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Wendell Pierce is one of three sons born to a teacher mother and a father who was a decorated veteran of World War II and worked as a maintenance engineer. His father served in a segregated unit of the U.S. Army, which played a crucial role alongside U.S. Marines during the 1944 Battle of Saipan. Reflecting on his father's service, Pierce has remarked:
My father fought in World War II, loving this country even when it did not reciprocate that love. Despite being awarded medals for his service at Saipan, they were denied to him by a white officer who said, "no, not you, not your unit." Though this country failed him repeatedly, he instilled in us a deep love for it because of the ideals we strive to uphold as a nation.
Raised within the African-American middle-class enclave of Pontchartrain Park, which was established postwar primarily by black veterans including his father, Pierce experienced firsthand the community’s devastation when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, flooding his family home with approximately 14 feet (4.3 m) of water.
Pierce completed his secondary education at Benjamin Franklin High School in 1981 while simultaneously attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, where students typically split their day between traditional academics and specialized arts training. That same year, he was honored as a Presidential Scholar of the Arts. Early in his career, Pierce performed in productions such as The Winter's Tale at the Tulane Shakespeare Festival. Additionally, he produced and hosted a youth-oriented talk show called Think About It on a local NBC affiliate and presented a weekly jazz program titled Extensions from Congo Square on WYLD-FM Radio.
From 1981 to 1985, Pierce studied at the Drama Division of the Juilliard School, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts as part of Group 14. In May 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Juilliard in recognition of his contributions to the arts.
Career
Pierce's first appearance on television was in the third episode, "The Pass," of the HBO anthology series Vietnam War Story, where he acted alongside Ching Valdes-Aran, Tony Becker, and Merritt Butrick. His next TV role was as Dr. Wolff in two episodes of The Equalizer during 1988 and 1989.
He contributed to HBO's acclaimed dramas The Wire and Treme. Upon joining The Wire, Pierce and his fellow actors were initially skeptical about the show's success, recalling their first viewing of the pilot with doubts about its potential. For his role in Treme, Pierce acquired trombone skills but depended on Stafford Agee from the Rebirth Brass Band to provide the actual trombone sound, synchronizing Agee’s playing with his on-screen movements for realism.
In 2012, Pierce portrayed J. Jenks in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
His performance as Joe, a married man concealing his sexuality who embarks on a relationship with a younger white man he met online, earned him a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in the film Four, released in September 2013. Around this period, he also appeared as the boss to Michael J. Fox’s character in NBC’s The Michael J. Fox Show, which was canceled after five months.
Between 2015 and 2017, Pierce starred as Teddy alongside Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon in CBS’s revival of the sitcom The Odd Couple.
Following Mike Henry’s decision to step down from voicing Cleveland Brown on Family Guy amid the George Floyd protests in June 2020, Pierce initiated a campaign to assume the role. However, the part was ultimately awarded to YouTube creator Arif Zahir.
Stage
Wendell Pierce has appeared in a wide array of theatrical productions throughout his career. His portrayal of Holt Fay in Queenie at the John F. Kennedy Center earned him significant praise. On Broadway, he has taken part in productions such as The Piano Lesson, Serious Money, and The Boys of Winter. Off-Broadway, his roles include performances in The Cherry Orchard—which garnered him a VIV Award nomination for Lead Actor—Waiting for Godot, staged on a New Orleans rooftop after Hurricane Katrina, and Broke-ology at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Additional stage credits feature Cymbeline at The Public Theater, as well as The Good Times Are Killing Me, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Tis Pity She's a Whore, and Ms. Ever's Boys at the ACT Theatre.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
In addition to acting, Pierce has contributed as a theater producer, notably producing the Broadway play Clybourne Park. This production received four Tony Award nominations and secured the Tony Award for Best Play in 2012. In 2015, he returned to the stage starring in Jackie Alexander's Brothers from the Bottom at the Billie Holiday Theatre in New York.[1]
In 2019, Pierce took on a leading role in Arthur Miller’s celebrated play Death of a Salesman at London’s Young Vic Theatre, followed by its successful transfer to the West End. For this performance, he earned a nomination for the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Actor. The production later made its way to Broadway in 2022 with Pierce reprising his role alongside Sharon D. Clarke and Andre De Shields. During one December 2022 performance, an audience member disrupted the start of Act 2 by shouting from her seat; Pierce attempted to deescalate the situation from the stage before she was removed by security. The production’s team expressed gratitude toward the Hudson Theatre staff for their swift handling of the incident and resumption of the show.[2] Videos capturing Pierce’s efforts to calm the patron gained widespread attention online.[3][4] For his work in this production, Pierce received a Tony Award nomination.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Radio
In 2009, Pierce took on the role of host for the nationally broadcast, Peabody Award-winning radio show Jazz at Lincoln Center, which showcased live performances from Jazz at Lincoln Center's House of Swing.
Music
Beginning in 2016, Pierce contributed to multiple albums produced in New Orleans. That year, he collaborated with Delfeayo Marsalis on the track "Make America Great Again". In 2017, he appeared on a song with Kermit Ruffins featured on Irvin Mayfield's album A Beautiful World, as well as on a track with Stanton Moore from Moore's album With You In Mind.
In 2020, Pierce recorded the piece "The Ever Fonky Lowdown" alongside Wynton Marsalis.
Business and philanthropy
Pierce identifies himself as a "true capitalist" and embraces the identity of a "classic entrepreneur".
In 2013, he was recognized by Fast Company magazine as one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business".
Nonprofit work
Pierce established the nonprofit organization Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp. with the mission to construct affordable homes powered by solar and geothermal energy for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Sterling Farms
Motivated partly by Michelle Obama's campaign to increase supermarket availability in food deserts lacking fresh produce access, Pierce partnered with Troy Henry and James Hatchett in 2012 to launch Sterling Farms, a grocery store chain located in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. The business ceased operations after 13 months. Sterling Farms also operated a convenience store segment called Sterling Express. The stores were named in honor of Sterling Henry, Troy Henry’s father, who had managed a pharmacy for nearly four decades in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Personal life
Pierce describes his lifestyle as "tri-coastal," dividing his residence among Los Angeles, New York City, and New Orleans. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the New Orleans Saints, earning him the local nickname "Saints Wendell." Additionally, he is a dedicated fan of St. Patrick's Athletic FC.
He practices Catholicism.
Pierce has been an outspoken advocate for Hillary Clinton and served on the board of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative launched by the Clinton Foundation. He attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention, was among President Barack Obama’s leading campaign fundraisers that year, and once accompanied Gwen Ifill to a White House state dinner. Most recently, Pierce fulfilled the role of ceremonial delegate casting for Louisiana at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
2016 arrest
On May 15, 2016, Pierce was taken into custody and faced charges of simple battery following an alleged incident involving a female supporter of Bernie Sanders outside the Loews Hotel in Atlanta. He was processed and subsequently released on a $1,000 bond from Fulton County Jail. Afterward, Pierce completed a pretrial diversion program that included counseling sessions and community service, which led to the charges being dropped.
Film
rowspan=3 2014 }Television
| 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 film | |
| 2002 | The Date | Naive Man | Short film | |
| 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 film | ||
| 2009 | Beyond All Boundaries | Sergeant Thomas McPhatter (voice) | Short film | |
| 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 | |||
| rowspan=2 2013 | Parker | Carlson | ||
| Möbius | Bob | |||
| Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes | ||||
| Foreclosure ! Virgil ! | ||||
| Elsa & Fred ! Armande ! | ||||
| Selma ! Hosea Williams ! | ||||
| 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 ! | ||||
| The Forever Tree ! Dr. Willow ! Short film | ||||
| Rodents of Unusual Size ! The Narrator ! Documentary | ||||
| Piercing ! Doctor ! | ||||
| One Last Thing ! Dylan Derringer ! | ||||
| Clemency ! Jonathan Williams ! | ||||
| Burning Cane ! Reverend Tillman ! Also producer | ||||
| 2022 | Don't Hang Up | Chris Daniels | ||
| Thunderbolts* | Congressman Gary | |||
| Highest 2 Lowest | Gabe | |||
| Superman | Perry White | |||
| Template:Pending film\ | James Greer | Post-production | ||
| Template:Pending film\ | Percy Miller Sr. | Post-production | ||
| Year | Title | Character | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Vietnam War Story | French Soldier | Appeared in episode: "The Pass" (S1.E3) |
| 1988–1989 | The Equalizer | Dr. Wolff | Featured in episodes: "The Last Campaign", "Starfire" |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Derrick West | Episode titled: "Never My Love" |
| 1990 | Capital News | Conrad White | Part of main ensemble |
| 1991 | I'll Fly Away | Charles | Appeared in episode: "Coming Home" |
| The 10 Million Dollar Getaway | Parnell "Stacks" Edwards | Television film | |
| 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 production |
| 1994 | Last Days of Russell | Walter | Television movie |
| 1995 | Law & Order | Jerome Bryant | Episode titled: "Rage" |
| New York News | Jesus | Featured in episode: "The Using Game" | |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Dr. Anthony Fisher | Appeared in episode: "Bad Blood" |
| Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story | John Saunders | Television film role | |
| 1997 | The Advocate's Devil | Justin | TV movie appearance |
| 1996–1997 | Moloney | District Attorney Calvin Patterson | Recurring character throughout series |
| 1997 | 413 Hope | Taffy | Episodes: "Pilot" and "Fatherhood" |
| 1997–1999 | The Gregory Hines Show | Carl Stevenson | Principal cast member |
| 1998 | Shaquille O'Neal#Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Assistant Coach | Episode: "Scrubs" |
| 1998–2000 | The Brian Benben Show | Kevin La Rue | Main cast member |
| 1999 | The Expert | Dr. Worseley | Pilot episode appearance |
| Law & Order | Mr. Wade | Episode: "Law & Order season 9#ep196 Disciple" | |
| 2000 | God, the Devil and Bob | Mike (voice) | Episodes include "In the Beginning" and "Date from Hell" |
| Third Watch | Officer Conrad 'Candyman' Jones | Recurring role during first season | |
| City of Angels | Norbert Grimly | Episode called "Straight Flush" | |
| 2001 | My Wife and Kids | Dr. Boucher | Series premiere episode appearance |
| 2000–2001 | The Weber Show | Wendell Simms | Part of main cast |
| 2002 | Girlfriends | Anthony Jackson | Episode titled "Childs in Charge" |
| 2002–2008 | The Wire | Bunk Moreland#Detective William "Bunk" Moreland | Principal cast member throughout series |
| rowspan=3 2004
|| Judging Amy || Harry Benton || Episode named "Sins of the Father" |- || Law & Order || Roger Porter || Episode: "Law & Order season 15#ep330 Gunplay" |- || Mitchellville || – || Television movie | |||
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Dr. Richard Link | Episodes: "The Line" and "Eros in the Upper Eighties" | |
| Close to Home | Sam Carter | Episode titled "Prodigal Son" | |
| The Wire: The Chronicles | Detective William "Bunk" Moreland | Episode called "2000: Bunk and McNulty" | |
| Life Support | "Slick" | Television film role | |
| Numb3rs | William Bradford | Recurring appearances in season three; guest role in season five | |
| Women's Murder Club | Bill Schroeder | Episode titled "Father's Day" | |
| In Plain Sight | Dr. Warren McBride / Warren Morris | Featured in episode "It Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | |
| House of Payne | Jeffrey Lucas | Recurring role during fourth season | |
| Fear Itself | Wilbur Orwell | Episode named "Something with Bite" | |
| Hawthorne | Michael Schilling | Episode titled "Trust Me" | |
| Drop Dead Diva | Neal David | Appeared in episode called "Grayson's Anatomy" | |
| Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Detective | Episode: "Re-Animated" | |
| Treme | Antoine Batiste | Part of main cast | |
| The Michael J. Fox Show | Harris Green | Main cast member | |
| Suits | Robert Zane | Recurring character from seasons two through nine | |
| Ray Donovan | Ronald Keith | Recurring role in second season; guest appearance in third season | |
| The Night Shift | Walt | Featured in episode titled "Moving On" | |
| The Odd Couple | Teddy | Principal cast member | |
| Grease Live! | Coach Calhoun | Television movie production | |
| Confirmation | Clarence Thomas | Television film role | |
| Pickle and Peanut | Dr. Craig (voice) | Episodes: "Night Shift/Scalped" | |
| Archer | Verl (voice) | Appeared in episode: "Archer Dreamland: Jane Doe" | |
| Chicago P.D. | Alderman Ray Price | Recurring from seasons five to six; guest role in season seven | |
| Unsolved | Detective Lee Tucker | Recurring character | |
| Jack Ryan | James Greer | Main cast throughout the run | |
| The Watch | Death (voice) | Part of main ensemble | |
| Eureka! | Sandy (voice) | Recurring role | |
| Accused | Detective Trent Douglas | Appeared in episode titled "Kendall's Story" | |
| Power Book III: Raising Kanan | Ishmael "Snaps" Henry | Recurring character during seasons three and four | |
| Elsbeth | C.W. Wagner | Principal cast member | |
| Harley Quinn | Lex Luthor (voice) | Featured in two episodes |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Character | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Boys of Winter | Radio Voice / Flight Captain | Biltmore Theatre, Broadway |
| 1987 | The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Outlaw 2 | Delacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1987 | The Witch of Edmonton | Cast Member | Shakespeare Theatre Company |
| 1988 | Serious Money | Merrison / Nigel / T.K. | Royale Theatre, Broadway |
| 1991 | The Good Times Are Killing Me | Mr. Willis | Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 1992 | 'Tis Pity She's a Whore | Friar Bonaventura | The Public Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1995 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Nick Bottom | La Jolla Playhouse |
| 1999 | Tartuffe | Cleante | Delacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 2006 | Fences | Jim Bono | Pasadena Playhouse |
| 2006 | Waiting for Godot | Vladimir | Classical Theatre of Harlem |
| 2007 | Radio Golf | Producer only | Cort Theatre, Broadway |
| 2009 | Broke-ology | William King | Mitzi Newhouse Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 2012 | Clybourne Park | Producer only | Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway |
| 2016 | Cost of Living | Eddie | Williamstown Theatre Festival |
| 2018 | Some Old Black Man | Calvin Jones | 59E59 Theaters, Off-Broadway |
| 2019 | Death of a Salesman | Willy Loman | Piccadilly Theatre, West End |
| 2022 | Hudson Theatre, Broadway |
Awards and nominations
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See also
References
- ↑ Template:Cite interview
- ↑ "Broadway's 'Death Of A Saleman' Stopped By Disruptive Woman, Cops Escort Her Out Of Theater". Deadline Hollywood. December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ↑ Hall, Margaret (December 28, 2022). "Wendell Pierce Talks Down Unruly Audience Member at Death of a Salesman". Playbill. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ↑ Vassell, Nicole (December 29, 2022). "Wendell Pierce praised for response after audience member disrupts Broadway show". The Independent. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
- ↑ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ↑ "Wendell Pierce". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ↑ "Winners". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ↑ "The 2019 Evening Standard Theatre Awards shortlist in full". www.standard.co.uk. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ↑ Paskett, Zoe (2019-11-25). "The 2019 Evening Standard Theatre Awards winners in full". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ↑ "Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard – Theatre's Biggest Night". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
External links
- Wendell Pierce at IMDb
- Template:IBDB name
- Template:Iobdb name
- Interview with Wendell Pierce: Discussing 'Treme', Jazz, and New Orleans. Accessed May 3, 2014.
Template:Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor Template:NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
- 1962 births
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century African-American people
- 21st-century American male actors
- African-American Catholics
- 20th-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century African-American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- Businesspeople from New Orleans
- Juilliard School alumni
- Male actors from New Orleans
- Defunct supermarkets of the United States