Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Charles S. Dutton Biography

Birth Name:Charles Stanley Dutton

Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Profession Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Won the Outfest Los Angeles Grand Jury Award for outstanding actor in a feature film for "Blind Faith" in 1999
Won the Black Reel Award for best director on network or cable for "The Corner" in 2001
Discovered his love of drama while serving a prison sentence when he accidentally grabbed an anthology of black playwrights to take with him into solitary confinement
Quote: "I used to be a hardcore, hardhearted guy․ Once you make the decision to change, all kinds of things happen․"
Quote: "In a few years, I ended up going from jail to Yale․"
Sometimes incorporates elements of his real life experience with incarceration and growing up in the streets of East Baltimore into his acting and directing work
Although the role of Cosmo Jackson in "Hero Wanted" was written for him, it was later filled by Ben Cross
Has extensive knowledge about the history of America, especially those instances in which prominent African-Americans were excluded from history books
In exchange for a prison warden letting him start a drama group in jail, he earned his GED and completed a two-year college program before his release

Awards

1992Chainsaw Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1993Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1994Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1999Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
1999Grand Jury Award-Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film: winner
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Cable Series: nominated
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2000OFTA Television Award-Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: winner
2001Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Director: winner
2001Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2002Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2003Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actor: winner
2003Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2003Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special: winner
2004Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
2007DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television: nominated
2009Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2017Festival Prize-Best Actor Horror: nominated