Clarke Peters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarke Peters
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Peters in Edinburgh in August 2010
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Peter Clarke
April 7, 1952 New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1970s–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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The Wire; Five Guys Named Moe; Da 5 Bloods |
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| Children | 5, including Joe Jacobs |
Peter Clarke (born April 7, 1952), known to the world as Clarke Peters, is an American actor, writer, and director. He has lived in the United Kingdom for many years. He is famous for playing Detective Lester Freamon in the TV series The Wire and Albert Lambreaux in the series Treme.
Peters is also a talented writer. He wrote the story for the popular musical show Five Guys Named Moe. You might have also seen him in movies like John Wick, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Harriet, and Da 5 Bloods. His role in Da 5 Bloods earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award, which is a major British film award.
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Early Life and First Steps on Stage
Clarke Peters was born Peter Clarke in New York City. He was the second of four brothers and grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. His love for acting started early. When he was just 12, he performed in his school's play, My Fair Lady.
By the time he was 14, he knew he wanted a career in the theater. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1970 with big dreams for the future.
Career in Music and Theater
Moving to Europe
In 1971, Peters's older brother helped him get a job as a costume designer for the musical Hair in Paris, France. Peters later got to act in the show as well. Two years later, in 1973, he moved to London.
He had to change his name from Peter Clarke to Clarke Peters because another actor already had that name. In London, he started a soul music group called The Majestics. He also sang backup for famous musicians like Joan Armatrading and the band Heatwave.
Success on the Stage
Even though he was good at music, Peters's real passion was the theater. He got his first big roles in London's famous West End in musicals like I Gotta Shoe and Bubbling Brown Sugar.
He became a star on the stage, appearing in many hit shows, including:
- Blues in the Night
- Porgy and Bess
- Guys and Dolls
- Chicago
In 1990, Peters wrote a musical show called a revue (a show with lots of songs and sketches). It was called Five Guys Named Moe and was a huge hit. It was so successful that it was nominated for a Tony Award, one of the highest honors in theater.
His acting on Broadway in New York City also won him awards. For his role in the play The Iceman Cometh, he won the Theatre World Award.
Acting on Screen
Famous Television Roles
Many people know Clarke Peters from his amazing work on television. From 2002 to 2008, he played the smart and quiet detective Lester Freamon in the HBO series The Wire.
He also worked with the creator of The Wire, David Simon, on other shows. He was in the miniseries The Corner and later starred in the series Treme. In Treme, he played Albert Lambreaux, the chief of a Mardi Gras Indian tribe in New Orleans.
Some of his other TV appearances include:
- Damages
- Life on Mars
- Person of Interest
- His Dark Materials
- The Man Who Fell to Earth
Movie Career
Peters has acted in many movies throughout his career. In the 1986 film Mona Lisa, he played a villainous character.
More recently, he has appeared in several major films. He played a police chief in the award-winning movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He also had roles in the action movie John Wick and the historical film Harriet, about the life of Harriet Tubman.
In 2020, he starred in Spike Lee's film Da 5 Bloods as a character named Otis. His performance was praised by critics and earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award.
Personal Life
During the Vietnam War, Peters participated in protests because he did not agree with the war. This experience made him feel strongly about standing up for his beliefs.
Peters has five children. His son, Joe Jacobs, is also an actor. Another son, Max, played the young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller – Live in London. Sadly, his son Guppy passed away from a kidney tumor in 1992 at the age of four.
Today, Peters divides his time between his home in Baltimore and his home in London. He is a follower of the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual movement that focuses on peace and meditation.
See also
In Spanish: Clarke Peters para niños
