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Jeffrey Wright Biography

Birth Name:Jeffrey Wright

Birth Place:Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Established Taia Lion Resources, a mineral exploration company dedicated to ethical and sustainable mining in Sierra Leone, as part of his activism to end resource-related conflict
Won the Career Achievement Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2007
Graduated from Amherst College in 1987 with a B․A․ in Political Science
Started acting Off-Broadway in New York City full time after studying acting on a scholarship at New York University for two months
Quote: "I do have characters who are more well known than I am, which suits me fine․"
Has portrayed historical figures on multiple occasions, playing the title role in "Basquiat" and Dr․ Martin Luther King in the made-for-cable film "Boycott․"
Was an original cast member of the Broadway production "Angels in America․"
Originally intended to attend law school and become an attorney

Awards

1997Independent Spirit Award-Best Debut Performance: nominated
2000TFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Male: winner
2002AFI Award-Actor of the Year - Male - TV Movie or Mini-Series: winner
2002Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Actor: nominated
2002Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2004Black Reel-Television: Best Supporting Actor: winner
2004Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actor: winner
2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2005Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005Vision Award-Best Dramatic Performance: nominated
2005SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor - Television: winner
2006Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2006Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2008SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2009Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actor of the Decade: nominated
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2012Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2013IGN Award-Best TV Villain: nominated
2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2014Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: winner
2015Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: nominated
2016IGN People's Choice Award-Best TV Actor: winner
2016IGN Award-Best TV Actor: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Theatrical): nominated
2017Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor on Television: nominated
2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2017Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2017Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2017INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2017OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2018Jury Prize-Best Documentary Short: winner
2018Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Actor: nominated
2018IDA Award-Best Short: nominated
2018INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2018OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Best Actor-: winner
2019Saturn Award-Best Actor in a Television Series: nominated
2019Lost Weekend Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2019The BAM Award-Best Cast: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2021CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2021Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2021IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2021NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2021OAFFC Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
2021PCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2021PCA Award-Best Male Supporting Role: winner
2021SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2021SFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2022ACCEC Award-Favorite Movie: winner
2022AFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor: nominated
2022CIC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2022ALFS Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
2022NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2022OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
2022SFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2023BFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2023Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor: nominated
2023Visionary Award-: winner
2023DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023Gotham Independent Film Award-Outstanding Lead Performance: nominated
2023GWNYFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023IFJA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2023ICP Award-Best Performance: nominated
2023Sierra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023LAFCA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2023MMCG Award-Best Actor: winner
2023NTFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023OAFFC Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
2023PFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023PCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023SDFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2023SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2023WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024AACTA International Award-Best Lead Actor in Film: nominated
2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2024EDA Award-Best Actor: winner
2024Astra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Acting Achievement Award-: winner
2024AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance: winner
2024Windie-Best Actor: nominated
2024COFCA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
2024COFCA Award-Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work): nominated
2024Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024DFCS Award-Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male: nominated
2024Independent Spirit Award-Best Lead Performance: winner
2024GAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: nominated
2024Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
2024HFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024HFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2024ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
2024MNFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024MCFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024NCFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2024Career Achievement Award-: winner
2024PCA Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2024SFBAFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2024Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2024SFCS Award-Best Lead Actor: winner
2024UFCA Award-Best Lead Performance, Male: nominated
2025Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2025Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2025Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2025OFTA Television Award-Best Voice-Over Performance: nominated
2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
2025SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2026Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance: nominated
2026Image Award-Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2026Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated