Jeffrey Wright

Jeffrey Wright, born on December 7, 1965, is an American actor celebrated for his versatile performances across stage and screen. He has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, alongside an Academy Award nomination.
Wright's career began in theater, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of nurse Belize in the Broadway production of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" (1993). His standout performance earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, and he later reprised the role in the acclaimed 2003 HBO miniseries adaptation, for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.


Transitioning to film, Wright's first leading role was as the iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in "Basquiat" (1996). He has since delivered memorable performances in a variety of films, including "Shaft" (2000), "Syriana" (2005), "Cadillac Records" (2008), "The Ides of March" (2011), and "Rustin" (2023). Notably, he has appeared in Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" (2021) and "Asteroid City" (2023), showcasing his range and versatility.
Wright has also left his mark in major franchises, portraying Felix Leiter in the James Bond films "Casino Royale" (2006), "Quantum of Solace" (2008), and "No Time to Die" (2021), as well as Beetee Latier in "The Hunger Games" series. Additionally, he portrayed Jim Gordon in "The Batman" (2022) and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in "American Fiction" (2023).


On television, Wright has delivered standout performances as Valentin Narcisse in the HBO series "Boardwalk Empire" (2013–2014) and as robot programmer Bernard Lowe in the acclaimed HBO series "Westworld" (2016–2022), earning him three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He has also lent his voice talents to various projects, including Isaac Dixon in the video game "The Last of Us Part II" (2020) and the Watcher in the Marvel Studios animated series "What If...?" (2021–present).


Jeffrey Wright was born on December 7, 1965, in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Barbara Evon Whiting-Wright, a customs lawyer, and James Charles Wright Jr., who passed away when Jeffrey was a child. He attended St. Albans School and later pursued higher education at Amherst College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Initially planning to attend law school, Wright's path took a turn when he discovered his passion for acting. He briefly enrolled in the MFA acting program at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1988 but left after two months to pursue a role in the play "Les Blancs" at Arena Stage. This experience solidified his decision to pursue acting full-time, leading him to a successful career on stage and screen.


Wright's acting career gained momentum as he began appearing off-Broadway in New York City and Washington, D.C. In 1990, he made his debut in a major film as an attorney in Alan J. Pakula's legal drama "Presumed Innocent." The following year, he joined John Houseman's national touring repertory company, The Acting Company, where he performed in productions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Athol Fugard's "Blood Knot."


In 1993 and 1994, Wright delivered a standout performance as Norman "Belize" Arriaga in Tony Kushner's acclaimed play "Angels in America." His portrayal of a gay nurse caring for Roy Cohn during the AIDS crisis earned him the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
During this time, Wright also took on small roles in films such as "Jumpin' at the Boneyard" (1992), "Faithful" (1996), and "Critical Care" (1997). He guest-starred in George Lucas's "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" and "Homicide: Life on the Street" in the early to late 1990s.
In 1996, Wright stepped into his first leading film role, portraying painter Jean-Michel Basquiat in "Basquiat," earning critical acclaim for his performance. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert praised Wright for his enigmatic portrayal, describing it as "[giving] a performance of almost mystical opacity." For this role, Wright received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance.


Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Wright continued to showcase his versatility in leading and supporting roles in films such as Woody Allen's satirical comedy "Celebrity" (1998) and Ang Lee's western "Ride with the Devil" (1999).


In 2000, Jeffrey Wright had a busy year with starring roles in three films: "Shaft," "Hamlet," and "Crime and Punishment in Suburbia." He showcased his versatility by taking on diverse characters in each film. Additionally, he starred in Clark Johnson's HBO television film "Boycott" (2001), portraying the iconic civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. For his portrayal, he received an AFI Award, further solidifying his reputation as a talented actor.
The following year, Wright appeared as Howard Bingham in Michael Mann's biographical sports drama "Ali" (2001), alongside an ensemble cast including Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Voight. In 2002, he returned to Broadway in the Suzan-Lori Parks play "Topdog/Underdog," portraying Lincoln opposite Mos Def's Booth. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play, highlighting his stage presence and dramatic prowess.


In 2003, Wright reprised his role as Norman "Belize" Arriaga in HBO's award-winning adaptation of "Angels in America." His compelling performance garnered him critical acclaim, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.
Continuing his streak of notable performances, Wright appeared in Jonathan Demme's remake of "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004), sharing the screen with acclaimed actors Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington. In February 2005, he returned to HBO Films in "Lackawanna Blues," further solidifying his reputation as a versatile and accomplished actor in both film and television.

References

1.  . "Jeffrey Wright". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
2. ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 14, 2020
3. ^ Richards, David (February 12, 1988). "Barren 'Blancs'". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
4. ^ Horwitz, Simi (November 22, 2010). "Jeffrey Wright Preens in 19th Century New Orleans". Reuters. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
5. ^ "Basquiat". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
6. ^ Meza, Ed; Siegel, Tatiana (January 2, 2008). "'Bell' man takes on Bond". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
7. ^ Moaba, Alex (March 6, 2013). "Jeffrey Wright Joins 'Boardwalk Empire' And More Casting News". HuffPost.
8. ^ "Jeffrey Wright". Television Academy.