Bokeem Woodbine (born April 13, 1973) is an American actor. In 1994, he portrayed Joshua, the main character's troubled brother, in Jason's Lyric. He won a Black Reel Award and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award for his role as Kansas City mob enforcer Mike Milligan in the second season of Fargo. Woodbine also portrayed Daniel in season 2 of the WGN series Underground, Herman Schultz/Shocker in the film Spider-Man: Homecoming, and saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman in the Oscar-winning Ray Charles biopic Ray.

Bokeem Woodbine
Woodbine in 2011
Born (1973-04-13) April 13, 1973 (age 51)
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Spouse
Mahiely Woodbine
(m. 1999)
Children2

Early life and education

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Woodbine was born on April 13, 1973, in Harlem, New York. He attended the Dalton School on Manhattan's Upper East Side, before transferring to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in the city.[1]

Career

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He made his TV acting debut in the CBS Schoolbreak Special entitled "Love Off Limits". His appearance was noticed by casting director Jaki Brown-Karman, who later recommended him to Forest Whitaker for the latter's directorial effort, the HBO television movie Strapped (1993). Since then, he has worked with other major African-American filmmakers such as Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles and the Hughes Brothers in the films Crooklyn (1994), Panther (1995), and Dead Presidents (1995), respectively.[2]

In 1996, he appeared in Tupac Shakur's music video for "I Ain't Mad at Cha"[3] and formed a friendship with the rapper. They subsequently reunited in Vondie Curtis-Hall's directorial debut, Gridlock'd, which was released four months after Shakur's death.[4] In 1999, Woodbine appeared in an episode of HBO's The Sopranos as New Jersey gangster rapper Massive Genius.

Woodbine was featured as a regular on the NBC midseason sitcom Battery Park and played Dr. Damon Bradley, who later turned out to be a serial rapist,[5] in the short-lived CBS medical drama City of Angels, the latter of which earned him a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[citation needed] Additionally, he appeared in the Wu-Tang Clan's music videos for their songs "Protect Ya Neck II (The Jump Off)", "Gravel Pit", and "Careful (Click, Click)".[6] Woodbine went to portray saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman in the Oscar-winning Ray Charles biopic Ray.[3]

Over the next few years, Woodbine made minor appearances in both film and television. On the small screen, he could be seen in an episode of Fox's crime drama Bones and ABC's short-lived cop drama The Evidence, as well as two episodes of Spike TV's Blade: The Series, based on Marvel Comics' character and popular film series. The next year, Woodbine appeared with his Blade: The Series co-star Sticky Fingaz in his musical drama film A Day in the Life, starring Omar Epps and Mekhi Phifer, and two films by Jesse V. Johnson: the low-budget sci-fi/action movie The Last Sentinel (alongside Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Katee Sackhoff), and the action film The Butcher, opposite Eric Roberts. He also became a series regular, as Leon Cooley, an inmate on death row, in the TNT crime/drama series Saving Grace alongside Holly Hunter.

In 2009, Woodbine appeared in the blaxploitation film Black Dynamite[3] and followed it up the next year with the M. Night Shyamalan-produced supernatural thriller Devil.[7] He has also appeared as a police officer on the critically acclaimed series Southland (2011). He next appeared in the 2012 remake of Total Recall[8] and then Riddick the next year.[9]

In December 2015, he received a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Mike Milligan in Fargo.[10][11]

In 2017, Woodbine appeared in the Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios film Spider-Man: Homecoming, as Shocker, one of four villains, alongside Michael Keaton, Logan Marshall-Green and Michael Chernus.[12] In 2018, Woodbine starred in the series Unsolved. He played Daryn Dupree, who was part of a police task force that investigated the murders of rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur. In 2021, Woodbine played Sheriff Domingo in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Crooklyn Richard
Jason's Lyric Joshua Alexander
1995 Panther Tyrone
Dead Presidents Staff Sgt. Cleon
1996 Freeway Chopper
The Rock Gunnery Sergeant Crisp
The Elevator Malcolm
1997 Gridlock'd Mud
1998 Caught Up Daryl Allen
The Big Hit Crunch
Almost Heroes Jonah
1999 Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies Mr. Farralon Video
Life Can't Get Right
The Runner 477
It's the Rage Agee
2000 BlackMale Jimmy Best
2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Benjamin Franklin
The Road to Graceland Franklin (voice) Short
The Breed FBI Agent Steve Grant
2002 Run for the Money Rock
Sniper 2 U.S. Army Sniper Jake Cole Video
2003 Detonator Jack Forrester
2004 Ray Fathead Newman
2005 The Circle Cop
Blood of a Champion Shadow Video
Edmond Prisoner
2006 18 Fingers of Death! Billy Buff Video
Confessions Miles Adams
The Champagne Gang Rock Star
2007 The Last Sentinel Anchilles
2008 The Poker House Duval
The Fifth Commandment Miles Templeton
2009 Black Dynamite Black Hand Jack
A Day in the Life Bam Bam
The Butcher Chinatown Pete
Three Bullets Bo Short
2010 Devil Guard
Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright Miller Video
2011 Little Murder Lipp
License to Reproduce DEA Agent Troy Peterson Short
2012 Total Recall Harry
Letting Go Mark
2013 Caught on Tape Tyrone
The Host Nate
Five Thirteen Nestor
Riddick Moss
1982 Scoop
They Die by Dawn Bill Pickett
2014 For Love or Money Jacoby
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire Danny Kettner Video
Guardian Angel Detective Jackson
2015 AWOL72 Myron
The Night Crew Crenshaw
2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming Herman Schultz / Shocker #2
2018 Billionaire Boys Club Tim Pitt
Overlord Sgt. Rensin
2019 In the Shadow of the Moon Maddox
Queen & Slim Uncle Earl
2020 Spenser Confidential Driscoll
2021 Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sheriff Sherman Domingo
2022 The Inspection Leland Laws
2023 Earth Mama Paul
Old Dads Mike Richards

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 CBS Schoolbreak Special Steve Newberg Episode: "Love Off Limits"
Strapped Diquan Mitchell TV movie
1995 The X-Files Sammom Roque Episode: "The List"[14]
1997 New York Undercover Mobster Episode: "No Place Like Hell"
1999 The Sopranos Massive Genius Episode: "A Hit Is a Hit"
2000 Battery Park Detective Derek Finley Main cast
Soul Food Detective Conrad Episode: "Bad Luck"
City of Angels Dr. Damon Bradley Recurring cast (season 2)
Sacrifice Agent Gottfried TV movie
2003 Fastlane Super G. Episode: "Overkill"
Jasper, Texas Khalid X TV movie
2004 CSI: Miami Byron 'B-Slick' Middlebrook Episode: "Pro Per"
2005 Black in the 80s Himself Main guest
Bones Randall Hall Episode: "The Man in the Wall"
2006 The Evidence Chaz Roberts Episode: "Stringers"
Blade: The Series Steppin' Razor Recurring cast
2007 Shark Willy Tarver Episode: "The Wrath of Khan"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Gordon 'G-Man' Thomas Episode: "Flipped"
2007–09 Saving Grace Leon Cooley Main cast (season 1-2), guest (season 3)
2011 Flesh Wounds Jackie TV movie
2011–12 Southland Officer Jones Recurring cast (season 3-4)
2013 Payday Simmons Episode: "The Elephant"
2014 The Fright Night Files Isaiah TV movie
2015 Battle Creek Devin Episode: "Old Wounds"
Chicago P.D. Derek Keyes Episode: "Life Is Fluid"
Life in Pieces Officer Wood Episode: "Sleepy Email Brunch Tree"
2015–20 Fargo Mike Milligan Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 4)
2016 Drunk History George Washington Episode: "Hamilton"
2017 Underground Daniel Recurring cast (season 2)
Snowfall Knees Episode: "A Long Time Coming"
2018 Unsolved Officer Daryn Dupree Main cast
2019–23 Wu-Tang: An American Saga Jerome Recurring cast (season 1-2), guest (season 3)
2022–24 Halo Soren-066 Main cast
2024 Ripley Alvin McCarron Miniseries, 2 episodes
TBA Government Cheese Main cast[15]

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Role
1995 "Waterfalls" TLC Himself
"Just tah Let U Know" Eazy-E Himself
1996 "I Ain't Mad at Cha" 2Pac featuring Danny Boy Friend
2000 "Gravel Pit" Wu-Tang Clan Bo Rockhard
"Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" B-Boy
2001 "Careful (Click, Click)" B-Boy

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2013 Payday 2 The Elephant

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
2016 Black Reel Awards Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series Fargo Won
Critics' Choice Television Awards Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Bokeem Woodbine Profile - Metacritic". Metacritic.
  2. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (June 9, 2016). "Scene Stealer Bokeem Woodbine on Life he was also in Jason's Lyric. Before and After 'Fargo'". Variety.
  3. ^ a b c Rowles, Dustin (November 16, 2015). "8 Times You've Seen Fargo's Bokeem Woodbine And Didn't Know It". Pajiba.
  4. ^ "Tupac Month: Bokeem Woodbine Remembers Working With 'Pac". XXL. September 14, 2011.
  5. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 224. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  6. ^ Michael, Brett (February 25, 2016). "Bokeem Woodbine On Life After 'Fargo,' His Mysterious 'Sopranos' Character, And His Hazy Wu-Tang Memories". Uproxx (Interview).
  7. ^ "Bokeem Woodbine Rides with the "DEVIL"". Fangoria. July 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  8. ^ Gallagher, Brian (May 3, 2011). "Total Recall Wants Bokeem Woodbine". MovieWeb. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  9. ^ Gallagher, Brian (November 3, 2011). "Riddick Wants Katee Sackhoff and Bokeem Woodbine". MovieWeb. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  10. ^ Gray, Tim (December 14, 2015). "Critics' Choice Award Nominations: Complete List". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation.
  11. ^ Bokeem Woodbine on His Perfect ‘Fargo’ Role: “It Was Like I’d Written It for Myself”
  12. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (June 23, 2016). "Spider-Man: Homecoming Casts Third Villain in Fargo's Bokeem Woodbine". IGN. San Francisco, California: j2 Global.
  13. ^ Ghostbusters: Afterlife Cast
  14. ^ "Bokeem Woodbine". IMDb. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  15. ^ Otterson, Joe (2024-04-16). "David Oyelowo Apple Series 'Government Cheese' Rounds Out Cast With Four Additions (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
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