Wendell Pierce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wendell Pierce
Pierce in 2022
Born	Wendell Edward Pierce (1962-12-08) December 8, 1962 (age 62) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Education	Juilliard School (BFA)
Occupation	Actor, businessman
Years active	1985–present

Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1962) is an American actor and businessman. He is known for playing many different characters on TV, in movies, and on stage.

Wendell Pierce became famous for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland in the TV show The Wire from 2002 to 2008. He also played Antoine Batiste in Treme and James Greer in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. You might also know him as Robert Zane from Suits.

He has also been in many movies like Malcolm X, Ray, and Selma. On stage, he has performed on Broadway and in London. He was even nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Death of a Salesman.

Early Life and School

Wendell Pierce was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was one of three sons. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a decorated World War II veteran. His father's Army unit helped win the Battle of Saipan in 1944.

Pierce grew up in Pontchartrain Park, a community in New Orleans. This was the first neighborhood built for African-American families after World War II. Many black veterans, including his father, moved there after the war. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina badly damaged the neighborhood. Pierce's family home was flooded with 14 feet of water.

He graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1981. He also attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. In 1981, he was named a Presidential Scholar of the Arts. As a young actor, he performed in plays and hosted a youth talk show. He also hosted a jazz radio show.

From 1981 to 1985, Pierce studied at the Juilliard School, a famous arts school. He earned a degree in Fine Arts there. In 2023, he received an honorary doctorate from Juilliard.

Acting Career

Wendell Pierce has worked on many popular TV shows. When he first joined The Wire, he and the other actors weren't sure if the show would be a big hit. For his role in Treme, he learned to play the trombone.

In 2012, he played J. Jenks in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. He was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his role in the movie Four. In this film, he played Joe, a married man who explores his identity.

From 2015 to 2017, Pierce starred in the TV show The Odd Couple on CBS. He played the character Teddy.

On Stage

Pierce has performed in many plays. He was praised for his acting in Queenie at the Kennedy Center. He has been on Broadway in plays like The Piano Lesson and Serious Money.

He also works as a theater producer. He produced the Broadway show Clybourne Park, which won a Tony Award for Best Play in 2012.

In 2019, Pierce starred in the play Death of a Salesman in London. He played the main character, Willy Loman. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for this role. The show then moved to Broadway in 2022, where he also received a Tony Award nomination. During one performance, a person in the audience caused a disturbance. Pierce calmly tried to help resolve the situation from the stage.

Radio and Music

In 2009, Pierce became the host of a radio show called Jazz at Lincoln Center. This show played live jazz recordings.

He has also appeared on several music albums. In 2016, he recorded a song with Delfeayo Marsalis. He also worked with Kermit Ruffins and Stanton Moore on their albums in 2017. In 2020, he recorded "The Ever Fonky Lowdown" with Wynton Marsalis.

Business and Helping Others

Wendell Pierce sees himself as a businessman who likes to create new things. In 2013, Fast Company magazine named him one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business."

Helping Pontchartrain Park

After Hurricane Katrina, Pierce started a non-profit group called Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp. This group helps build new, affordable homes in the area. These homes use solar and geothermal energy.

Sterling Farms Grocery Stores

Pierce was inspired by Michelle Obama's idea to bring more grocery stores to areas that don't have easy access to fresh food. In 2012, he started a chain of grocery stores called Sterling Farms in New Orleans. The stores were named after his business partner's father. The chain closed after about a year.

Personal Life

Wendell Pierce lives in Los Angeles, New York City, and New Orleans. He is a big fan of the New Orleans Saints football team. People in New Orleans sometimes call him "Saints Wendell." He also supports the Irish soccer team St. Patrick's Athletic FC.

He is a Catholic. Pierce has been a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton. He also helped raise money for President Barack Obama's campaign in 2012.

Film Roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Malcolm X	Ben Thomas
1995	Waiting to Exhale	Michael Davenport
2004	Ray	Wilbur Brassfield
2012	Four	Joe
2012	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2	J. Jenks
2014	Selma	Hosea Williams
2015	The Gift	Detective Mills
2016	Bad Moms	Principal Daryl Burr
2019	Clemency	Jonathan Williams
2019	Burning Cane	Reverend Tillman
2025	Superman	Perry White	Post-production

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

TV Shows

Theatre Performances

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Wendell Pierce para niños