James Pickens Jr.
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James Pickens Jr. (born October 26, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
medical drama A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the chara ...
television series '' Grey's Anatomy'', and for his supporting role as Deputy Director
Alvin Kersh Alvin D. Kersh is a fictional character in the Fox science fiction television series ''The X-Files'', played by James Pickens Jr. He serves as a figure of authority within the series, first introduced as an Assistant Director of the Federal Bure ...
on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series '' The X-Files'', and Chuck Mitchell on ''
Roseanne ''Roseanne'' is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Roseann ...
'' (1990-1996;2018), and '' The Conners'' (2018–Present).


Early life and education

Pickens was born in
Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
. He began acting while a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of ''Matters of Choice'' by Chuck Gordone. Pickens earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from
BGSU Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a Public university, public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research ...
in 1976.


Career

Pickens started his professional acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City playing Walter Lee in '' A Raisin in the Sun''. In 1981, Pickens performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of ''
A Soldier's Play ''A Soldier's Play'' is a play by American playwright Charles Fuller. Set on a US Army installation in the segregation-era South, the play is a loose adaptation of Herman Melville's novella ''Billy Budd'', and follows the murder investigation of ...
'', starring alongside
Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...
and Samuel L. Jackson. In 1986, Pickens began his TV career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera '' Another World'' from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on " X-Files" as Deputy Director Kersh, ''
Curb Your Enthusiasm ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' is an American television sitcom produced and broadcast by HBO since October 15, 2000, and created by Larry David, who stars as a semi-fictionalized version of himself. It follows David's life as a semi-retired televisio ...
'', '' The West Wing'', ''
Roseanne ''Roseanne'' is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Roseann ...
'', '' Beverly Hills, 90210'', '' JAG'', and '' Six Feet Under''. He also served a role in '' 42''. In 1997, Pickens played the role of Stevens, head of NASA, in Disney’s comedy Rocket Man. In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film '' Red Dragon''. In the February 28, 2007, all-star
benefit Benefit or benefits may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Benefit'' (album), by Jethro Tull, 1970 * "Benefits" (''How I Met Your Mother''), a 2009 TV episode * ''The Benefit'', a 2012 Egyptian action film Businesses and organisation ...
reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain,
Amy Brenneman Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She worked extensively in television, coming to prominence as Detective Janice Licalsi in the ABC police drama series ''NYPD Blue'' (1993–1994). Brenneman nex ...
, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House
Resolution Resolution(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate * Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body * New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...
808, which sought to establish a
Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...
-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two-percent diversion of the
Pentagon In geometry, a pentagon (from the Greek πέντε ''pente'' meaning ''five'' and γωνία ''gonia'' meaning ''angle'') is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagon may be simpl ...
's annual budget. In 2005, Pickens was chosen to play Dr.
Richard Webber Richard Webber, M.D., F.A.C.S is a fictional character from the ABC medical drama television series ''Grey's Anatomy''. The character was created by Shonda Rhimes and is portrayed by actor James Pickens Jr. since the start of the show in 2005. ...
on the ABC medical drama '' Grey's Anatomy''. In 2018, Pickens has reprised his role as Chuckie Mitchell in two episodes of the tenth season revival of ''
Roseanne ''Roseanne'' is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Roseann ...
''.


Personal life

Pickens married Gina Taylor, a former member of
Musique Musique is the French word for music. Musique may also refer to: Music *Musique (disco band), a 1970s studio band produced by Patrick Adams *Musique, a British dance act consisting of Moussa Clarke and Nick Hanson best known for their 2001 song ...
, on May 27, 1984 and has two children. In his spare time Pickens can be found horseback riding and roping cattle. He is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in
roping Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer (typically a Corriente) and two mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the "header", the person who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the ...
events across the country. He owns an
American Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...
named Smokey. James's two children, Carl Pickens and Gavyn Pickens, are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is working on a Hip-Hop career and can be seen in various television appearances, including '' Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'' where he appeared alongside his long-time friend Omar Gooding. His father James Pickens Sr. worked for the City of Cleveland.


Filmography


Film


Television


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pickens, James Jr. 1954 births Male actors from Cleveland American male film actors African-American male actors American male television actors Bowling Green State University alumni Living people 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Roping (rodeo) 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people