James Pickens Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Pickens Jr.
Pickens interviewed by RealTVFilms in 2016
Born	(1954-10-26) October 26, 1954 (age 70) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Gina Taylor ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2

James Pickens Jr. (born October 26, 1954) is an American actor. He is well-known for his main role as Dr. Richard Webber on the TV show Grey's Anatomy. This show is a medical drama on ABC. He also had important roles as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on The X-Files and Chuck Mitchell on Roseanne and The Conners.

Early Life and Learning

James Pickens Jr. was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He started acting when he was a student at Bowling Green State University. His very first acting part was in a play called Matters of Choice on his college campus. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from BGSU in 1976. This degree is a special type of college degree for people who study arts like acting.

Acting Journey

James Pickens Jr. began his acting career in New York City at the Roundabout Theatre. He played a character named Walter Lee in a play called A Raisin in the Sun. In 1981, he acted in another play, A Soldier's Play, where he worked with famous actors like Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

In 1986, James started acting on television. He played Zack Edwards on the TV show Another World for several years. After that, he had many recurring roles on popular shows. These included The X-Files, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under. He also appeared in the movie 42. In 1997, he played Ben Stevens, the head of NASA, in the Disney comedy movie Rocket Man.

In 2002, James Pickens Jr. had a small role as a zoo doctor in the movie Red Dragon.

A big moment in his career came in 2005 when he was chosen to play Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. This role made him very well-known.

Pickens (left) in 2007

In 2007, James Pickens Jr. took part in a special event called "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA. This was a benefit reading, which means actors read a play to raise money for a good cause. He played a man who became involved in the peace movement. He acted alongside other well-known actors like Ed Asner and Amy Brenneman. The event helped raise money for a plan to create a "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government.

In 2018, he returned to his role as Chuckie Mitchell for two episodes of the TV show Roseanne. In 2019, he was honored and added to the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.

Personal Life and Hobbies

James Pickens Jr. married Gina Taylor on May 27, 1984. Gina was a member of a music group called Musique. They have two children together.

When he's not acting, James Pickens Jr. loves horseback riding and roping cattle. He is part of the United States Team Roping Championship and takes part in roping events all over the country. He even owns a horse named Smokey, which is an American Quarter Horse.

His two children, Carl Pickens and Gavyn Pickens, are also working in the entertainment business. His son Carl is pursuing a Hip-Hop music career and has appeared on TV shows like Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. James's father, James Pickens Sr., worked for the City of Cleveland.

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: James Pickens Jr. para niños