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Obba Babatundé

Obba Babatundé

Known For Acting
Birthday Dec 01, 1951 (73)
Birthplace Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 0.6 (history)
Updated Dec 19, 2024
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Obba Babatundé (born December 1, 1951) is an American actor of stage and screen, known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated role for his perform ... ance as C.C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Babatundé was a protege of Sammy Davis, Jr., who said of him, "This is the only cat who can do everything I can do." Babatundé does dance, sing, play instruments, execute impersonations, including his portrayal of Davis, aided by their similarity in energy, size and talent, tap dancing and performing on multiple instruments. In fall 2009, Babatundé played Davis in the title role of "Sammy: Once in a Lifetime," a world premiere musical at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Early in 2000, Babatundé partnered with writer/producer Ruth Adkins Robinson for a series of TV projects including "TV in Black: The First 50 Years," "Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Hallie" and "Dorthy Dandridge: An American Beauty". The pair have projects that will take them through 2011. His TV roles have often portrayed authority figures, such as a recurring guest-starring role as a high school principal on Dawson's Creek, an appearance as a judge in a two-part episode of Any Day Now, and as the father of the main characters on Half & Half. He also played Harvard college Dean Cain in the movie How High, as well as the role of Willie Long in the movie Life, and co-starred as an attorney in Philadelphia and as a senator in the 2004 reprise of The Manchurian Candidate. He also played the director in season 3 of Friends in an episode titled "The One with All the Jealousy". Other TV shows he has had recurring roles on include The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Chicago Hope, Rocket Power, Static Shock, and Karen Sisco. He played a small but pivotal role as a doorman/bellhop in the film That Thing You Do! and also appeared in The Wild Thornberrys Movie as the voice of Boko. He played a famous producer known as Gordy Berry on two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the 1998 miniseries, The Temptations, he played the founder of Motown Records Berry Gordy. Babatundé is adept at American sign language and had used this talent in many roles including on one NYPD Blue. His recorded work includes a performance with the New York pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs on the 2007 album Sack Full of Dreams. The actor/producer is also an avid horseman and is a highly regarded rider and trainer in the Rodeo Circuit, including the annual Bill Pickett Rodeol. ​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Known For

Filmography

Noble Intentions

Noble Intentions

2023

as Pastor Stevens

The Millennial

The Millennial

2022

as Mr. Burke

Trigger

Trigger

2020

as Chief Keaton

Revival!

Revival!

2019

as Nicodemus

Jingle Belle

Jingle Belle

2018

as Charles Williams

Kinky

Kinky

2018

as Mr. Bernard

City of Lies

City of Lies

2018

as Chief of Police

'Til Death Do Us Part

'Til Death Do Us Part

2017

as John Harris

Pup Star: Better 2Gether

Pup Star: Better 2Gether

2017

as Big Ears (voice)

The Watcher

The Watcher

2016

as Stark

Pup Star

Pup Star

2016

as Big Ears (voice)

Death's Door

Death's Door

2015

as Mesmer

If I Tell You I Have to Kill You

If I Tell You I Have to Kill You

2015

as Jonathan Black

American Bad Boy

American Bad Boy

2015

as Pastor Lovely

Lap Dance

Lap Dance

2014

as Roscoe

Dolls of Voodoo

Dolls of Voodoo

2013

as Iklif

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

2012

as Vampire Actor #4 (voice)

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

2012

as Mayor Denny

The Trap Door

The Trap Door

2011

as Mesmer

Trapped: Haitian Nights

Trapped: Haitian Nights

2011

as Ikliff

Joy Road

Joy Road

2011

as Dr. Howard Perkins

All Star Superman

All Star Superman

2011

as Judge / Bibliobot (voice)

I Do... I Did!

I Do... I Did!

2009

as Mr. Johnson

Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite

2009

as Osiris

The Eye

The Eye

2008

as Dr. Haskins

April Fools

April Fools

2007

as Detective Combs

Cover

Cover

2007

as Attorney Miller

Material Girls

Material Girls

2006

as Craig

The Celestine Prophecy

The Celestine Prophecy

2006

as Miguel

Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.!

Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.!

2004

as Chief Ankamuti (voice)

After the Sunset

After the Sunset

2004

as Zacharias

The Manchurian Candidate

The Manchurian Candidate

2004

as Senator Wells

The Notebook

The Notebook

2004

as Band Leader

Redeemer

Redeemer

2002

as Charles Henderson

John Q

John Q

2002

as Sgt. Moody

The Visit

The Visit

2001

as Tony

How High

How High

2001

as Dean Carl Cain

The Apartment Complex

The Apartment Complex

1999

as Chett

Life

Life

1999

as Willie Long

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

1999

as Harold Nicholas

Miss Evers' Boys

Miss Evers' Boys

1997

as Willie Johnson

The Tomorrow Man

The Tomorrow Man

1996

as Brian Parish

Soul of the Game

Soul of the Game

1996

as Cum Posey

That Thing You Do!

That Thing You Do!

1996

as Lamarr

The Cherokee Kid

The Cherokee Kid

1996

as Isom Dart

Carpool

Carpool

1996

as Jeffery

Multiplicity

Multiplicity

1996

as Paul

Fatal Pursuit

Fatal Pursuit

1995

as Trinidad

Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild

1995

as Interpreter

The Net

The Net

1995

as FBI Agent

M.A.N.T.I.S.

M.A.N.T.I.S.

1994

as Cornell

Undercover Blues

Undercover Blues

1993

as Sawyer

Philadelphia

Philadelphia

1993

as Jerome Green

Necronomicon

Necronomicon

1993

as Paul

The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs

1991

as TV Anchor Man

Miami Blues

Miami Blues

1990

as Blink Willie

God Bless the Child

God Bless the Child

1988

as Raymond Watkins

Married to the Mob

Married to the Mob

1988

as The Face of Justice

Leonard Part 6

Leonard Part 6

1987

as Bongo Drummer

Baryshnikov on Broadway

Baryshnikov on Broadway

1980

as Dancer

Noble Intentions

Noble Intentions

2023

Writers' Assistant

Angels Around Me

Angels Around Me

2013

Additional Writing

If I Tell You I Have to Kill You

If I Tell You I Have to Kill You

2015

Executive Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

S.W.A.T.

as Daniel Harrelson, Sr.

Episodes: 24

First Aired: Nov 02, 2017

Dawson's Creek

as Principal Howard Green

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Jan 20, 1998

Dear White People

as Dean Fairbanks

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Apr 28, 2017

Goliath

as Ivan Tillinger

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Oct 13, 2016

Kingdom

as Detective Gaines

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Oct 08, 2014

Forever

as Gregory

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 14, 2018

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

as Gordy Berry

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 10, 1990

The Temptations

as Berry Gordy

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Nov 01, 1998

Little Fires Everywhere

as George Wright

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 18, 2020

Friends

as Director

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1994

Chicago Med

as Dr. James Coleman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 17, 2015

Family Law

as Philip Hamilton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1999

Static Shock

as Watch Store Salesman (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 2000

Static Shock

as Singer (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 2000

Tales from the Crypt

as Lieutenant Jamison

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 10, 1989

Grey's Anatomy

as Dan Gates

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 27, 2005

Psych

as David Gaffney

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 07, 2006

The Outer Limits

as Dr. Joseph Lennox

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 26, 1995

Max Steel

as (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 25, 2000

The Good Fight

as Danny Quinn

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 19, 2017

A Different World

as Frank Benning

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 24, 1987

Ballers

as J.D. Pritchard

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 21, 2015

Sliders

as Cezanne Brown

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 22, 1995

For The People

as Philip Kaws

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 13, 2018

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

as Mongoose

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 27, 1993

Everwood

as Jason

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 2002

Enlisted

as General Murray

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 10, 2014

Touched by an Angel

as Carter Evans

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1994

Private Practice

as Dr. Larry Cannon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 2007

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

as Jameson Walker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1992

Chicago Hope

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 18, 1994

The Human Factor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 16, 1992

M.A.N.T.I.S.

Episodes: 0

First Aired: Aug 26, 1994

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 11 19 7
2024 7 18 36 7
2024 8 14 37 8
2024 9 14 33 7
2024 10 6 12 4
2024 11 6 9 2
2024 12 7 14 3
2025 1 11 32 4
2025 2 6 12 1
2025 3 5 12 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 3 4 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 3 9 0
2025 9 0 1 0
2025 10 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

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