Obba Babatundé Photo

Obba Babatundé

Acting

2.9 Popularity Dec 01, 1951 (73 years old) Queens, New York City, New York, USA

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 perfor...

Biography

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

Filmography 119

2025
Run Movie
2025
Wrong Place, Wrong Time Movie

as Captain Green

2023
Noble Intentions Movie

as Pastor Stevens

2023
Noble Intentions Movie

Writers' Assistant

2022
The Millennial Movie

as Mr. Burke

2020
Trigger Movie

as Chief Keaton

2020
Little Fires Everywhere TV

as George Wright

2019
Revival! Movie

as Nicodemus

2018
Jingle Belle Movie

as Charles Williams

2018
Kinky Movie

as Mr. Bernard

2018
Forever TV

as Gregory

2018
City of Lies Movie

as Chief of Police

2018
For The People TV

as Philip Kaws

2017
S.W.A.T. TV

as Daniel Harrelson, Sr.

2017
'Til Death Do Us Part Movie

as John Harris

2017
Pup Star: Better 2Gether Movie

as Big Ears (voice)

2017
Dear White People TV

as Dean Fairbanks

2017
The Good Fight TV

as Danny Quinn

2016
Goliath TV

as Ivan Tillinger

2016
The Watcher Movie

as Stark

Photos 1

Obba Babatundé Photo

Personal Details

Known For Acting
Gender Male
Birthday December 01, 1951 (73 years old)
Place of Birth Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As Obba Babatundè, Obba Babatunde
Years Active 1980 - 2025
Popularity 2.9
Career Stats
119 Total Credits
77 Movie Roles
36 TV Roles
1 Photos