Acting

Mykelti Williamson

Born 4 March 1957 · St. Louis, Missouri, USA · 69

Perhaps best remembered for his touching performance as "Bubba" opposite Tom Hanks in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump (1994), Mykelti Williamson is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, steadily honing his craft since he began acting professionally at age 18. In 2000, Williamson starred as Lt. Philip Gerard, the hardnosed detective determined to recapture escaped convict Dr. Richard Kimble (Tim Daly) in CBS's update of the classic 1960s action series The Fugitive (2000). The son of an Air Force Staff Sergeant and a certified public accountant, Williamson was born in St. Louis, MO, and began performing on stage at age 9. Like many youngsters, he was enamored with television and initially thought small-screen images were reality. It was not until his mother put him in a church play that he realized the actors were performing. He was hooked instantly. At age 15, Williamson and his family settled in Los Angeles. A superb athlete, he excelled at football and basketball, but the acting bug led him to leave team sports and dance with the cheerleading squad, much to the chagrin of his coaches. Following graduation, Williamson began acting professionally, appearing on television series such as Starsky and Hutch (1975), Hill Street Blues (1981), and China Beach (1988). He made his film debut in Walter Hill's Streets of Fire (1984), opposite Diane Lane, Michael Paré, and Willem Dafoe. He subsequently appeared in The First Power (1990) with Lou Diamond Phillips, Miracle Mile (1988) with Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham, Number One with a Bullet (1987), Wildcats (1986), and Free Willy (1993). Following his acclaimed performance in Forrest Gump (1994), Williamson starred in Forest Whitaker's Waiting to Exhale (1995), partnered with Al Pacino in Michael Mann's Heat (1995), returned for Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995), and starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Con Air (1997). Williamson also appeared in Mike Nichols' political drama Primary Colors (1998)—a cameo done as a favor to Nichols and John Travolta—and Three Kings (1999), opposite George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. In 1996, Williamson returned to television opposite Delroy Lindo and Blair Underwood in the acclaimed HBO telefilm Soul of the Game (1996), earning rave reviews for his stirring portrayal of legendary Negro League slugger Josh Gibson. He also starred in Buffalo Soldiers (1997) for TNT, 12 Angry Men (1997) for Showtime, and the cable series The Hoop Life (1999). On stage, Williamson starred alongside Samuel L. Jackson, D.B. Sweeney, Ellis Williams, Matt McGrath, and Richard Reilly in Clark Gregg's 1995 ensemble drama "Distant Fires," which earned the cast an L.A. Theatre Award. An avid sports fan and devoted family man, Williamson enjoys restoring classic cars and rodeoing in his free time. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two of his three daughters. Named by his grandfather for 'Spirit' or 'Silent Friend' in the language of the Blackfeet, Mykelti Williamson has built a reputation in Hollywood as one of the most consistently proven actors in the industry, delivering stirring and honest performances that captivate audiences.