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Don Cheadle Biography

Birth Name:Donald Frank Cheadle

Birth Place:Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Writer

Fast Facts

Began working as an activist on the subject of genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan after his work on "Hotel Rwanda" in 2004
Co-founded the Not On Our Watch project, an organization aimed to assist those displaced by war
Received the 2007 Man of Peace Award for his work in helping provide aid to Sudan
Was named BET's Humanitarian of the Year in 2007 following his work on numerous humanitarian trips to Africa
Graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in acting
After graduating college, one of the first roles he landed was playing a teenager on "Night Court․"
Quote: "I don't think it helps to be thought of as a scene-stealer ․․․ I'm never going into a movie thinking that I want to grab the attention, because I'm wanting to make the best whole piece ․․․ I want to be a part of great things․"
Quote: "I'm very critical of myself ․․․ I hate watching myself ․․․ Imagine having to see yourself 30 feet wide and 30 feet big․"
Played abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the online program "Drunk History" in 2012
Played in the Pro-Am golf tournament in New Zealand in 2012
Writes his own music and plays the saxophone regularly
Published "Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond" in 2007
Appeared in the 1989 music video "It's the Real Thing" by Angela Winbush
Is an avid amateur poker player and has played in several celebrity charity tournaments

Awards

1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
1995LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1995NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
1996CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1996CFCA Award-Most Promising Actor: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1996NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1998FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
1998Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2000Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Actor: winner
2000Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special: nominated
2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
2001Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor: winner
2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance: nominated
2002Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2002MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Team: nominated
2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2004NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Special Award-: winner
2004WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2005ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2005BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Theatrical Film: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Motion Picture: winner
2005Black Reel-Best Actor, Drama: nominated
2005Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2005Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
2005Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2005Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
2005Grace Award-Most Inspiring Movie Acting: nominated
2005OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2006BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
2006BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2006BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Film: winner
2006Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2006Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2006Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
2006Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
2006Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2007AAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2007Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2007SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2007Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Chemistry: nominated
2008BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Film: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2008Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2008Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2009Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Scream Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2010Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Fight: nominated
2011BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2011Black Reel-Best Actor: nominated
2011Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2011People's Choice Award-Favorite On-Screen Team: nominated
2012BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2012Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor: winner
2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2012Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012IFTA Award-Best International Actor: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2013BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2013Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2013Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
2013Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2013Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
2013Vision Award-Best Performance - Comedy: winner
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2013Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Chemistry: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2014Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2015Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2015Vision Award-Best Performance - Comedy: winner
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2016Best First Feature Award-: nominated
2016Best Directorial Debut-: nominated
2016Music Movies Competition-: nominated
2016Audience Award-: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2016IFJA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016NTFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2016Directors to Watch-: winner
2016Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie: Chemistry: nominated
2017Movies for Grownups Award-Breakthrough Achievement: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Director, Motion Picture: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2017Blimp Award-#SQUAD: nominated
2017Vision Award-Best Performance - Comedy: nominated
2018Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series: winner
2019National Film and Television Award-Best Performance in a Movie: nominated
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2019The BAM Award-Best Cast: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series: winner
2020Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2020OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): nominated