Courtney B. Vance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Courtney B. Vance
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Vance in 2013
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Courtney Bernard Vance
March 12, 1960 |
| Education |
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Courtney Bernard Vance (born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. He began his acting journey on stage. Later, he moved into movies and television shows. Vance has won many awards for his work. These include a Tony Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also been nominated for a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
Vance studied acting at the Yale School of Drama. He made his first appearance on Broadway in the play Fences in 1985. This role earned him his first Tony Award nomination. He also acted in other plays like Six Degrees of Separation (1990) and Lucky Guy (2013). For Lucky Guy, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He is well-known for his roles in movies such as Hamburger Hill (1987), The Hunt for Red October (1990), and The Preacher's Wife (1996).
From 2001 to 2006, he played Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver in the TV series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2016, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for playing Johnnie Cochran in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He won another Emmy in 2020 for his role as George Freeman in Lovecraft Country. He also played Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017).
Courtney Vance has been married to actress Angela Bassett since 1997. He helps lead The Actors Center in New York City. He also strongly supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2019, he became the president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
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Early Life and Education
Courtney Vance was born in Detroit, Michigan. His mother, Leslie Anita, was a librarian. His father, Conroy Vance, managed a grocery store. Courtney went to Detroit Country Day School. He then graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While at Harvard, he was already acting. He performed with the Boston Shakespeare Company. After Harvard, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. This was at the Yale School of Drama. There, he met his future wife, Angela Bassett.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting on Broadway
In 1985, Vance began his acting career on stage. He played Cory in the play Fences. This play won a Pulitzer Prize. From 1987 to 1988, Vance continued this role on Broadway. He acted alongside famous actor James Earl Jones.
For his performance, Vance won a Clarence Derwent Award. He also received the Theatre World Award. He was nominated for his first Tony Award for this role.
Early Film and TV Roles
Vance made his film debut in 1987. It was in the war movie Hamburger Hill. This film was about a battle during the Vietnam War. During this time, he also had small roles in TV shows. These included Thirtysomething and Law & Order.
In 1991, Vance returned to Broadway. He played Paul in Six Degrees of Separation. He was nominated for another Tony Award for this performance.
Throughout the 1990s, Vance acted in many movies. These included The Hunt for Red October (1990) and The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993). In 1995, he played Black Panther leader Bobby Seale in the film Panther. He also appeared in Dangerous Minds and The Tuskegee Airmen.
He worked with well-known directors. He was in The Preacher's Wife (1996) with Penny Marshall. He also worked with Robert Altman in Cookie's Fortune (1999).
Television and Broadway Return
From 2001 to 2006, Vance starred in Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He played A.D.A. Ron Carver. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his acting. In 2008 and 2009, he appeared in the final season of ER. He acted alongside his wife, Angela Bassett.
In 2011, he starred in the horror movie Final Destination 5. He also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movie Let It Shine. In this movie, he played Pastor Jacob DeBarge. This was the third time Vance played a pastor in a movie.
Vance returned to Broadway in 2013. He played Hap Hairston in the play Lucky Guy. He acted with Tom Hanks. Vance won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for this role. In 2015, he played Miles Dyson in Terminator Genisys.
Recent Work and Awards
In 2016, Vance took on the role of civil rights lawyer Johnnie Cochran. This was for the TV series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. His performance was highly praised. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for it. He also won a Critics' Choice Television Award.
In 2017, he starred in the HBO TV film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In 2018, Vance narrated Wes Anderson's animated movie Isle of Dogs. He also appeared in the film Ben Is Back.
In 2019, Vance became the President of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. In 2020, he was in the HBO drama series Lovecraft Country. He won another Primetime Emmy Award for this role. He also appeared in the Netflix movie Uncorked. In 2021, he played C. L. Franklin in Genius: Aretha.
In 2023, Vance was cast in Disney's live-action movie Lilo & Stitch. He will play Cobra Bubbles. In November 2024, it was announced that Vance would play Zeus in the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. He took over the role after the passing of Lance Reddick.
Personal Life
Family Life
Courtney Vance first met Angela Bassett in 1980. They have been married since 1997. They have two children, a son and a daughter, who were born in 2006. Vance and Bassett wrote a book together called Friends: A Love Story.
They also take part in the annual Christmas celebration. This is called the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. The family lives in Los Angeles.
Community Involvement
Vance is on the Board of Directors for The Actors Center. This center is in New York City. He is also a strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He was a member of the Detroit Boys & Girls Club when he was younger. He was recently added to their Alumni Hall of Fame.
Awards and Recognitions
Courtney Vance has received many awards for his acting. Here are some of his notable wins:
- 1987: Clarence Derwent Award and Theatre World Award for Fences.
- 2013: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Lucky Guy.
- 2016: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for The People v. O.J. Simpson. He also won a Critics' Choice Television Award and an NAACP Image Award for this role.
- 2021: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Lovecraft Country.
- 2024: Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations Artist of the Year.
Images for kids
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Vance in 2013
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Vance with Angela Bassett in 2007
External Links
- Courtney B. Vance Interview with wife Angela Bassett on Sidewalks Entertainment
- Apr 21, 2021, Terry Gross interviews Courtney B. Vance on Fresh Air
See also
In Spanish: Courtney B. Vance para niños
