Clifton Powell

Last updated

Clifton Powell
Clifton Powell (cropped).jpg
Powell in 2007
Born (1956-03-16) March 16, 1956 (age 69)
OccupationActor
Years active1981–present
SpouseKimberly Powell
Children2

Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956) is an American actor who primarily plays supporting roles in films, such as in Ray (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture nomination.

Contents

Career

Powell has appeared in more than one hundred films, beginning in the 1980s. His credits include Menace II Society (1993), Dead Presidents (1995), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Rush Hour (1998), Next Friday (2000), and its 2002 sequel, Friday After Next , Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004), and Ray (2004). He played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1999 television film Selma, Lord, Selma . Powell also has had many supporting roles in smaller direct-to-video films in 2000s and 2010s.

On television, Powell had the recurring roles on Roc , South Central , and Army Wives , and well as guest-starred on In the Heat of the Night , Murder, She Wrote , NYPD Blue , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , and House . In 2016, Powell was cast as main antagonist in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway and Gloria Reuben.

Powell is also known for his voice acting role as Big Smoke in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas .

In 2017, Powell appeared in the second season of My Step Kidz.

Personal life

Powell was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Mayfair Mansions in Northeast D.C. He attended HD Woodson Senior High School, before he transferred and graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Powell is married to Kimberly, with whom he has two children. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981Ephraim McDowell's Kentucky RideTyroneTV movie
1984 Alphabet City Ramon
1990 House Party Sharane's Brother
Heat Wave Rioter 1TV movie
1992 Deep Cover Officer Leland
3 Ninjas FBI Agent Jerry Kurl
1993 Conflict of Interest Detective Oakes
Menace II Society Chauncey
1994 Green Dolphin Beat ArmstrongTV movie
Nowhere to Hide BraddockTV movie
1995DivasBobbyTV movie
Dead Presidents Cutty
1997 Riot SteveTV movie
First Time Felon KingTV movie
Buffalo Soldiers -TV movie
1998 Phantoms General Leland Copperfield
Deep Rising Mason
Caught Up Herbert / Frank Lowden
The Pentagon Wars Sergeant Benjamin DaltonTV movie
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Lawrence Roberts
Rush Hour Luke
1999 Safe House Detective Horace Williams
The Breaks Cosmo
Foolish Everette Washington
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Frazier JohnsonTV movie
No TomorrowStyles
2000 Next Friday Pinky
Hot Boyz SaintVideo
A Private AffairIsaiahTV movie
Lockdown Malachi Young
2001 The Brothers Fred Smith
Bones Jeremiah Peet
2002 Civil Brand Captain Alan Deese
Ticker FBI AgentShort
Friday After Next Pinky
Play'd: A Hip Hop Story OzTV movie
2003 Crime Partners Kenyatta
Love Chronicles Thomas
Tapped OutDetective Blackman
2004 Never Die Alone Moon
Woman Thou Art Loosed Reggie
Ray Jeff Brown
Roscoe's House of Chicken n WafflesMo FroVideo
Sugar ValentineJoshua Valentine
Da Block PartyAction JacksonVideo
Pryor OffenssBuckyTV movie
He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say?Satin JonesVideo
Choices 2-Video
2005 Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up Big ManVideo
White Men Can't RapDaRon
Golden EmpireOld School
The Fabric of a ManBlairVideo
Brothers in ArmsDoc
The Gospel Bishop Fred Taylor
Knights of the South Bronx CokeyTV movie
2006Confessions of a Call GirlChauncey
Who Made the Potato Salad? Mr. Jenkins
It Ain't EasyFishVideo
FacelessLangdon FoxTV movie
2007 Norbit Earl Latimore
Da Block Party 2Action JacksonVideo
Gangsta Rap: The GlockumentaryTommy Guns
Young CesarAli Dean
Father of LiesBishop Calvin JacobsVideo
2008 First Sunday Officer Eddie King
R&B ChickBenjaminVideo
Show StoppersCoach
Street Kings Sergeant Green
Love for Sale Cinque
Block Party MadnessAction JacksonVideo
Vicious Circle Freddy
3 Dimensions of a ManSpencerVideo
The RimshopJoe Joe's Father
Internet DatingLeroy 'The Pimp'Video
Jazz in the Diamond DistrictBlair Morgan
Jada Terrance
American DreamOld Skool
2009Man of Her DreamsSenator Marcus Gordon
There's a Stranger in My HouseMr. John Moore
God Send Me a ManBishop
Steppin: The Movie Detective Lewis
Just Another DayBowman
Before I Self Destruct SeanVideo
BustedLeroy
Contradictions of the HeartDamienVideo
2010 Preacher's Kid Ike
Let God Be the JudgeGabriel
When The Lights Go OutFreddyVideo
Heaven Ain't Hard to FindBig Bill Herod
Trapped: Haitian Nights Mike
Vigilante: The Hayward Brown StoryHenry Brown
Chain Letter Coach
Love Me or Leave MeCecilTV movie
Something Like a BusinessSexy Silk
2011The Ideal HusbandDanielTV movie
Street Kings 2: Motor City Detective Tyrone FowlerVideo
35 and Ticking Zane
She's Not Our SisterRev. BeckleyTV movie
The Perfect GiftMichael Sr.
He's Mine Not YoursWalter
The Saints of Mt. ChristopherDonald Ray Williams
23rd Psalm: RedemptionLester Wayne
2012Dead MoneyLeon
The Marriage ChroniclesRobert McDaniel
Nicki: A Hip Hop Love StoryMr. Jamison
Supernatural Swamp Slaughter-
WomackGilly SmallsShort
Note to SelfCoach Gerald Woodson
C'mon ManRooselvelt Steele
InterludesBlake
Somebody's ChildDr. SperryTV movie
The House of MalikUncle Kyle
The Undershepherd Deacon Roberts
One BloodWinston
2013 Coffin Baby Detective S. Jackson
Criminal BehaviorCedric
They Die by DawnDeputy Sheriff
The Dempsey SistersTheo Dempsey
ShakeRed
Mutumbo the Lost PrinceOscer
God's Precious JewelsJoe Thomas
Forbidden WomanRandall Trace
2014 Blood Ransom Detective Hobbs
99 NorthUncle P
2015Fear FilesDetective Owen MarshTV movie
A Baby for ChristmasGavinTV movie
The Freight RiderWilliamShort
Love Won't Let Me WaitBishop Buckworth
2016 The North Star Mr. Lee
A Weekend with the FamilyDingo Stankershet
Guns and GramsMr. Marshall
BangerChief Crans
Where Hearts LieCarl
Hunting SeasonThomas Curry
Flowers MovieMr. Waldell
Merry Ex-MasPastor JordanTV movie
King of NewarkJuice
2017Mountain TopLarry Fletcher
The Preacher's SonBishop T.K. Wilson
The Cheaters ClubMarvin
Misguided Behavior Captain Rogers
Love by ChanceDonald
The HillsCaptain Pearson
Schooling LifePresident AdamsShort
All Eyez on Me Floyd
Chasing Titles Vol. 1T ParkerShort
2018Fade AwayEazy
The Choir DirectorBishop T.K. Wilson
Easy MoneyMr. Miller
Couples' NightRich
Dogstar: High School 2- (voice)
Sinners WantedOne Eye [2]
A Talent for TroubleMr. Wellington
5K1Barry
WorthTony
Fatima's RevengeLt. Earl Garrison
Juug Gone WrongMr. Johnson
Everything That GlittersFram
SlidersMr. Miller
Gangland: The MusicalPastor Earl
2019ProdigalCensear
Sins of the FatherKevinTV movie
I Got the Hook Up 2Tony Smooth
Diamond in the RoughPastor Davis
The Lick MovieRichard Jacobson
Let Go and Let GodDonald
The ProbeCommissioner DavisTV movie
2020The Available WifeMitchell
Guns and GramsMr. Marshall
2021Saints & Sinners Judgment DayRexTV movie
Fruits of the HeartMarcus
Seven Deadly Sins: Envy -TV movie
The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 Angry Cop
Moonlight SoulGreg Monaghan
2022Chocolate City 3: Live TourMr. James Williams
Boxed InWitt 'Pa' Scandrick
The Next 24 HoursMax
2023The Dirty 3rd: Next GenerationSugar Slim
The In Law Gang!John Sr.
Recession ProofJackson Holloway
PlayerDonti Player
Sebastian Captain Harris
Boxed In 2Witt 'Pa' Scandrick
Gangster's Daughter 2-
2024Skeletons in the ClosetFather Francisco
Once in a ValentineWilliam
The ProbeCommissioner Davis
Hidden LiesHector
NegligenceJudge

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Tour of Duty Luther FractionEpisode: "Payback"
Cop Rock CopEpisode: "Potts Don't Fail Me Now"
Equal Justice MuggerEpisode: "Promises to Keep"
1991 Gabriel's Fire Admitting ClerkEpisode: "The Great Waldo"
Matlock Security GuardEpisode: "The Trial: Part 1"
Jake and the Fatman DirectorEpisode: "Nevertheless"
Equal Justice Jermaine WatkinsEpisode: "Opening Farewell"
1992 Martin Younger CopEpisode: "The Great Payne Robbery"
1992–94 Roc Andre ThompsonRecurring Cast
1993 In the Heat of the Night Henry CowenEpisode: "Leftover Man: Part 1 & 2"
Thea Ray SingerEpisode: "Dirty Laundry"
Murder, She Wrote Detective Eddie FlowersEpisode: "Lone Witness"
NYPD Blue Lewis FutrelEpisode: "Oscar, Meyer, Weiner"
1993–94 The Sinbad Show EddieRecurring Cast
1994 South Central Bobby DeaversRecurring Cast
Renegade J.J. CorvellEpisode: "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"
1995 Simon John DoeRecurring Cast
Murder She Wrote Ralph DantonEpisode: "Big Easy Murder"
1996 Pacific Blue Captain BrooksEpisode: "Pilot" & "First Shoot"
Sports Theater with Shaquille O'NealBob WilliamsEpisode: "4 Points"
1997 High Incident -Episode: "Black & Blue"
Touched by an Angel Mr. BurnsEpisode: "Last Call"
New York Undercover Elvin BarnesEpisode: "Is It a Crime?"
The Jamie Foxx Show MaziEpisode: "The Employee Formerly Known as Prince"
NYPD Blue Gerald/FrankieEpisode: "As Flies to Careless Boys..."
Moesha Harold Moss/Ray StokesEpisode: "Mentor" & "Rhythm and Dues"
1998 In the House EddieEpisode: "Working Overtime: Part 1 & 2"
1999The Wonderful World of Disney Martin Luther King Jr. Episode: "Selma, Lord, Selma"
Ryan Caulfield: Year One Lt. Keith VaughnRecurring Cast
2000 Walker, Texas Ranger James JacksonEpisode: "Thunderhawk"
Linc's SuntzaEpisode: "East Meets West"
The Parkers Mr. AlexanderEpisode: "A Simple Plan"
2001 Moesha R.C.Episode: "Run, Mo, Run" & "Scary Marriage"
2002 One on One Coach GuilloryEpisode: "I Believe I Can Fly: Part 2"
The Practice Earl JohnsonEpisode: "The Good Fight"
2003 Third Watch Joy's FatherEpisode: "10-13"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dempsey PowersEpisode: "Cuba Libre"
2005 House Ken HallEpisode: "Daddy's Boy"
2006 Eve YusefEpisode: "Daddy's Home" & "Daughter Don't Preach"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Terrance CrowleyEpisode: "Burn Out"
Day Break Lt. RomeroEpisode: "What If They're Stuck?"
2007 Shark Ray TillmanEpisode: "Backfire"
Numb3rs Max DevaneEpisode: "Chinese Box"
2008 Cold Case Tom Bernard '08Episode: "Glory Days"
2009–10 Army Wives Terrence PriceRecurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4
2010 The Boondocks 1st Prisoner (voice)Episode: "A Date with the Booty Warrior"
2011 The Mentalist C.O. EarlsEpisode: "Like a Redheaded Stepchild"
She's Still Not Our SisterRev. BeckleyMain Cast
2011–12 Black Dynamite Black Dynamite's Daddy (voice)Recurring Cast: Season 1
2012 Awake John CooperEpisode: "Guilty"
For Richer or PoorerMasonRecurring Cast
The GarageMarty P. SilversteinRecurring Cast
Unsupervised Coach Durham (voice)Recurring Cast
2013JD Lawrence's Community ServiceBishop NixonMain Cast
2015 The Soul Man GoochEpisode: "Tell It Like It Isn't"
Murder in the First Ethan RydelEpisode: "Schizofrenzy"
Black Jesus -Episode: "False Witness"
2016 Mann & Wife BernardEpisode: "Miracle Mann"
2016–22 Saints & Sinners Rex FisherMain Cast
2017My Step KidzMr. Stan MillerEpisode: "Pilot"
Tales Bob DavisEpisode: "F*ck the Police"
2018 Brockmire Charles Sr.Episode: "Platoon Player"
2018–19 Hawaii Five-O Percy Grover Jr.Episode: "Lele pu na manu like" & "Hewa ka lima"
Black Lightning Reverend Jeremiah HoltGuest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2-3
2018–22 The Family Business Uncle LouRecurring Cast: Season 1 & 4, Guest: Season 2
2019 American Soul HerschelRecurring Cast: Season 1
2020Chase StreetEarlMain Cast
2020–21 The Last O.G. Big MikeRecurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4
2021The UrbansDJ Frankie SnowEpisode: "The Good Broccoli Part 1 & 2"
2022Mortal TruthSheriff McFaddenEpisode: "Pilot"
2023LegacyWillyMain Cast
2024 Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Mushmouth RoweRecurring Cast
2025 BMF PastorEpisode: “Good Faith”

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Archival recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only

References

  1. "Clifton "PINKY" Powell's Teenage Son Films Him GOING OFF In Car!!!". I Love Old School Music. March 26, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. "Clifton Powell speaks on the powerful message behind his new film 'Sinners Wanted' - Music News - ABC News Radio".

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