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) is an American actor, director, and producer. He is known for his tall and strong appearance, which has helped him in many of his roles. Duke often acts in action movies and crime stories, where he frequently plays characters involved with law enforcement.

As a director, Duke has made important films about the experiences of Black Americans. For his work, he has been called the "Godfather of African American Cinema."

Duke started his career acting in plays. His first movie role was in the comedy Car Wash (1976). He often plays memorable supporting characters. He acted alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movies Commando (1985) and Predator (1987).

Some of his other well-known films include Bird on a Wire (1990), Payback (1999), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). On television, he is famous for playing Agent Percy Odell in the series Black Lightning (2018–2021).

Duke has also directed many movies and TV shows. His first film as a director was The Killing Floor (1984), which won a special award at the Sundance Film Festival. He also directed the popular musical comedy Sister Act 2 (1993).

Early Life and Schooling

Bill Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. His parents were Ethel Louise and William Henry Duke Sr. He went to high school in Hyde Park. He first started learning about acting and writing at Dutchess Community College.

Duke worked hard to pay for his education. The president of his college, Dr. James Hall, saw his potential. Dr. Hall gave Duke money to help him attend Boston University. At first, Duke planned to study medicine to make his parents happy. However, he later switched his studies to English, dance, and drama.

After getting his first degree, Duke studied at New York University's famous Tisch School of the Arts. He also studied filmmaking at the AFI Conservatory.

Career as an Actor and Director

Acting in Movies

Bill Duke is 6 feet 4 inches tall and often has a shaved head, which makes him stand out on screen. His first big movie role was in Car Wash (1976). He played a young Black Muslim revolutionary named Abdullah Mohammed Akbar.

As action movies became popular, Duke played many tough characters. He had a role in Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He then starred with Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura in the science-fiction action movie Predator.

Later, he played a police chief in the movie Action Jackson. He also played law enforcement officers in Bird on a Wire and Payback. Some of his other movie roles include Trask in X-Men: The Last Stand, Washington in National Security, and Levar in Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Directing Films and TV Shows

In the 1980s, Duke began directing television shows. He directed 10 episodes of the show Knots Landing. This made him one of the first four Black television directors. He also directed episodes of popular shows like Dallas, Hill Street Blues, and Miami Vice.

Duke started directing movies in the 1990s. He directed crime dramas like A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Deep Cover (1992). He also directed the comedy The Cemetery Club (1993) and the hit sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), starring Whoopi Goldberg.

He has continued to direct for television, including the movie The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2000). In 2007, he directed parts of the award-winning documentary Prince Among Slaves.

Appearing on Television

Besides his movie roles, Duke has appeared in many TV shows. In 1976, he was in an episode of Kojak. He had a main role in the TV series Palmerstown, U.S.A., which was created by Norman Lear and Roots author Alex Haley.

He has guest-starred in shows like Lost and the modern version of Battlestar Galactica. He also played a recurring character, Captain Parish, in the crime drama Fastlane.

From 2018 to 2021, Duke played Agent Percy Odell in the superhero series Black Lightning.

Other Important Work

Bill Duke has been involved in many organizations that support film and the arts. He has served on the board of the American Film Institute and the California Film Commission. He has also taught filmmaking at Howard University.

In 2011, he directed the documentary Dark Girls, which explores issues of skin color. He later directed a follow-up called Light Girls in 2015.

Duke also started the Duke Media Foundation. This organization helps young people learn about careers in film and television.

Personal Life

In honor of his work in the film industry, a street in his hometown of Poughkeepsie was renamed Bill Duke Way. The ceremony for the renaming took place on May 16, 2025.

Selected Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Films Directed