Cleavant Derricks (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cleavant Derricks
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| Born |
Cleavant Derricks Jr.
May 15, 1953 Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
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| Occupation | Actor, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Clinton Derricks-Carroll (twin brother) |
Cleavant Derricks Jr. (born May 15, 1953) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He won a Tony Award for his acting. Many people know him best as Rembrandt Brown from the TV show Sliders.
About Cleavant Derricks
Cleavant Derricks was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His mother, Cecile G., was a pianist. His father, Cleavant Derricks Sr., was a Baptist preacher and composer. His father was famous for his gospel song "Just a Little Talk with Jesus". Cleavant also has a twin brother, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, who is an actor and musician.
Cleavant started his career writing gospel songs in Nashville. He wrote a gospel album called Satisfaction Guaranteed with his father. He also worked as a music director and composer for a musical called When Hell Freezes Over I'll Skate.
Cleavant then moved to New York City to study acting. He got great reviews for his performances on Broadway. These included shows like But Never Jam Today and Hair. He won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls. He also won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this part. Later, he starred in the Broadway musical Brooklyn.
Acting Career Highlights
After his success on stage, Cleavant Derricks appeared in several movies. These included Moscow on the Hudson and The Slugger's Wife. He also acted in Carnival of Souls.
He was a regular actor on TV shows like Thea and Good Sports. His most famous TV role was Rembrandt Brown on Sliders. He was the only character to appear in every episode of the series. Cleavant also made guest appearances on many other popular TV shows. These include Roseanne, A Different World, Miami Vice, and Charmed.
More recently, in 2019, Cleavant played the Wizard of Oz in the musical Wicked. He played this role again on Broadway in 2022. In 2024, he will star as Joe in the musical Waitress.
Movies and TV Shows
- Cindy (1978) as Michael Simpson
- When Hell Freezes Over, I'll Skate (1979)
- Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) as Suspect No. 4
- The Ambush Murders (1982)
- Moscow on the Hudson (1984) as Lionel Witherspoon
- Miami Vice (1985) as David Jones
- The Slugger's Wife (1985) as Manny Alvarado
- Off Beat (1986) as Abe Washington
- The Equalizer (1986) as Sonny Raines
- Mickey and Nora (1987) as Marvin
- Bluffing It (1987) as Cal
- Spenser: For Hire (1987) as Mac Dickerson
- Moonlighting (1987) as Leonard Haven
- Roseanne (1989)
- A Different World (1991) as Larry
- L.A. Law (1991) as Mark Wright
- Sibs (1991)
- Good Sports (1991) as Jeff Mussberger
- Drexell's Class (1991–1992) as George Foster
- Woops! (1992) as Frederick Ross
- Thea (1993–1994) as Charles
- Something Wilder (1994–1995) as Caleb
- Sliders (1995–2000) as Rembrandt 'Cryin' Man' Brown
- Carnival of Souls (1998) as Sid
- Touched by an Angel (1999) as Robert
- Charmed (2000) as Cleavant Wilson
- 18 Wheels of Justice (2000) as Harold Baines
- The Practice (2001) as Mr. Lees
- World Traveler (2001) as Carl
- The Bernie Mac Show (2002) as Willie
- Basilisk: The Serpent King (2006) as Col. Douglas
- The Wedding Bells (2007)
- Cold Case (2007)
- Rome & Jewel (2008) as Reverend Q
- Miami Magma (2011) as Ray Jackson
Music Albums
Cleavant Derricks has also released music albums.
- Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album (1982)
- Beginnings (1999)
- Brooklyn (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Cleavant Derricks para niños
