Don Cheadle
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․"
- 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
- Played abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the online program "Drunk History" in 2012
- Played in the Pro-Am golf tournament in New Zealand in 2012
- Published "Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond" in 2007
- Writes his own music and plays the saxophone regularly
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 AwardWinner
- 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 AwardNominated
- 2016Best Directorial DebutNominated
- 2016Music Movies CompetitionNominated
- 2016Audience AwardNominated
- 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 WatchWinner
- 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