Bill Duke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Duke
Duke in 2019
Born	William Henry Duke Jr. (1943-02-26) February 26, 1943 (age 82) Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
Education	Boston University New York University Tisch School of the Arts AFI Conservatory
Occupation	Actor director producer
Years active	1961–present
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Awards	American Black Film Festival Career Achievement Award, Lifetime achievement Directors Guild of America

William Henry Duke Jr. (born February 26, 1943), known as Bill Duke, is an American actor, director, and producer. He is famous for his strong presence on screen. Bill Duke often plays characters involved with law enforcement in action and crime movies.

As a director, he is known for telling stories about the Black American experience. Some people even call him the "Godfather of African American Cinema." He started his career as a theater actor. His first movie role was in the comedy Car Wash (1976). On TV, he is well-known as Agent Percy Odell in Black Lightning (2018–2021).

Bill Duke's first time directing a film was The Killing Floor (1984). This movie won a special award at the 1984 Sundance Film Festival. He also directed A Rage in Harlem (1991) and the musical comedy Sister Act 2 (1993). He has directed many TV shows, like Dallas and Miami Vice.

Early Life and Education

Bill Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. His parents were Ethel Louise and William Henry Duke Sr. He went to Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park, New York. He first studied performing arts and writing at Dutchess Community College.

After that, he went to Boston University. He planned to study medicine to make his parents happy. But he later changed his major to English Education, then dance and drama. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree there.

Duke then studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He also appeared on Broadway in the 1971 musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. Later, he studied filmmaking at AFI Conservatory.

Career Highlights

Acting in Movies

Bill Duke is 6 feet 4 inches tall and often has a shaved head. He became well-known in the movie Car Wash (1976). In this film, he played a character named Abdullah Mohammed Akbar.

He often played tough characters in action movies. He was in Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also appeared with Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers in the sci-fi action movie Predator. Duke played a police chief in Action Jackson (1988).

He was a police chief in Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal. Duke also played a law enforcement agent in two movies with Mel Gibson. These were Bird on a Wire and Payback. He played Trask in X-Men: The Last Stand and Caruthers in Mandy.

Directing Films and TV Shows

In the early 1980s, Bill Duke started directing TV shows. He directed 10 episodes of Knots Landing. This made him one of the first four Black television directors. He then directed episodes of Dallas and Falcon Crest. He also directed action and cop shows like Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice.

Duke directed the TV movie The Killing Floor in 1984. In the 1990s, he began directing movies for theaters. These included crime dramas like A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Deep Cover (1992). He also directed the comedy sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) starring Whoopi Goldberg.

For television, Duke directed The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2000). In 2007, he directed historical scenes for the documentary Prince Among Slaves. He also co-produced Cover (2007), a film about the HIV epidemic. He is set to direct a film about Chicago activist Diane Latiker.

Television Appearances

Bill Duke has appeared in many TV shows. He was in Kojak in 1976. He also guest-starred in Lost as Warden Harris.

He had a main role in the TV series Palmerstown, U.S.A. (1980–81). This show was praised by critics and won an Emmy. He also guest-starred in the remake of Battlestar Galactica in 2004.

Duke was a recurring character, Capt. Parish, in the series Fastlane. He played a corrupt politician named Grover Boone in an episode of Cold Case in 2008. He also voiced a detective in the animated series The Boondocks.

In 2018, Duke joined the superhero show Black Lightning. He played Agent Percy Odell, a government official.

Other Work and Interests

Bill Duke has served on important boards, like the American Film Institute. He was also appointed to the California Film Commission by Governor Schwarzenegger. He was a member of the National Endowment for the Humanities, chosen by President Bill Clinton.

In 2011, he directed the documentary Dark Girls, which was nominated for an NAACP Award. He followed this with Light Girls in 2015.

Duke also started the Duke Media Foundation. This foundation helps young people learn about film, video, and TV production. In 1973, he became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation in Ethiopia.

Personal Life

Bill Duke has been married to author Shelia P. Moses since 2006. He is an honorary member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Filmography

Film

Television

Films Directed

See also

In Spanish: Bill Duke para niños