Actor / Director Profile

On April 13, 1973, in Harlem, New York Bokeem Woodbine already had the world's attention. Bokeem, or as he prefers, "BO," received a scholarship to attend the prestigious private Dalton School in New York City. Bo then attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where he was an instrumental music major, focusing on his guitar skills. The world officially took notice when Bo was only 19 years old. Without any formal acting experience, Bo was hand picked by Forest Whitaker at an open call as the lead in the film, "Strapped." After "Strapped" Bo was cast in Spike Lee's, "Crooklyn." From there, his almost 20 year acting career began. He has appeared in many favorite movies and award winning tv series alongside top actors like, "Jason's Lyric" with Jada Pinkett Smith, "Dead Presidents" with Chris Tucker and Larenz Tate, "Freeway" with Reese Witherspoon, "The Rock" with Ed Harris, "Gridlock'd" with Tim Roth and Luci Lui, "The Big Hit" with Mark Wahlberg, "The Sopranos" with James Gandolfini, "Shark" with James Woods, "Edmond" with William H. Macy, "Ray" with Jamie Foxx, "Jasper Texas" with Jon Voight, "3000 Miles to Graceland" with Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, and "Saving Grace" with Holly Hunter- to name just a few.Most noted for his intense peformances often playing the heavy, Bokeem is actually very humble, well mannered, and funny- which frequently takes his fans by surprise. His favorite comedic roles were "Life" with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, Christopher Guest's "Almost Heroes" with Chris Farley, "BlackMale" with the late Justin Pierce, and "Black Dynamite"(a parody on 70's blaxploitation films) released last year. Always on a quest for a unique story, Bokeem has been drawn to work with some independent/documentary directors, most recently Lori Petty in the tragic yet empowering movie, "Poker House." His current films releasing in late 2010 are "Exodus of Charlie Wright," with Aidan Quinn and Andy Garcia, "Little Murder," with Josh Lucas and Terrence Howard, "Letting Go," and the supernatural thriller "Devil."Bokeem is a serious actor that lives and breathes his characters. He is a big fan of his mentor, Forest Whitaker's work, Robert Duvall, Samuel Jackson, Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp, and Sean Penn. He was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance on the medical drama "City of Angels." A youth advocate, he has spoken for Dr. Marshall's Street Soldiers center located in San Francisco that prepare and pay for urban youth to attend college. Bokeem keeps his physique up practicing Shaolin Kung Fu under Sifu Shi Yan Ming, who is a 34th generation Shaolin Temple Warrior Munk, frequently traveling with him to China for further study. Recently married, he and his wife are expecting their first child in early 2011. In his leisure time, he is an avid reader and writes/performs his own music for his band, "13 Purple Dragons."