Clifton Powell

Clifton Powell
Powell in 2007
Born (1956-03-16) March 16, 1956 (age 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1981–present
SpouseKimberly Powell
Children2

Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956) is an American actor who primarily plays supporting roles in films, such as in Ray (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture nomination.

Career

Powell has appeared in more than one hundred films, beginning in the 1980s. His credits include Menace II Society (1993), Dead Presidents (1995), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Rush Hour (1998), Next Friday (2000), and its 2002 sequel, Friday After Next, Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004), and Ray (2004). He played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1999 television film Selma, Lord, Selma. Powell also has had many supporting roles in smaller direct-to-video films in 2000s and 2010s.

On television, Powell had the recurring roles on Roc, South Central, and Army Wives, and well as guest-starred on In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote, NYPD Blue, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and House. In 2016, Powell was cast as main antagonist in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway and Gloria Reuben.

Powell is also known for his voice acting role as Big Smoke in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

In 2017, Powell appeared in the second season of My Step Kidz.

Personal life

Powell was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Mayfair Mansions in Northeast D.C. He attended HD Woodson Senior High School, before he transferred and graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He is the uncle of famed sports broadcaster, James Brown. Powell is married to Kimberly, with whom he has two children.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Ephraim McDowell's Kentucky Ride Tyrone TV movie
1984 Alphabet City Ramon
1990 House Party Sharane's Brother
Heat Wave Rioter 1 TV movie
1992 Deep Cover Officer Leland
3 Ninjas FBI Agent Kurl
1993 Conflict of Interest Detective Oakes
Menace II Society Chauncey
1994 Green Dolphin Beat Armstrong TV movie
Nowhere to Hide Braddock TV movie
1995 Divas Bobby TV movie
Dead Presidents Cutty
1997 Riot Steve TV movie
First Time Felon King TV movie
Buffalo Soldiers - TV movie
1998 Phantoms General Leland Copperfield
Deep Rising Mason
Caught Up Herbert / Frank Lowden
The Pentagon Wars Sergeant Benjamin Dalton TV movie
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Lawrence Roberts
Rush Hour Luke
1999 Safe House Detective Horace Williams
The Breaks Cosmo
Foolish Everette Washington
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years Frazier Johnson TV movie
No Tomorrow Styles
2000 Next Friday Pinky
Hot Boyz Saint Video
A Private Affair Isaiah TV movie
Lockdown Malachi Young
2001 The Brothers Fred Smith
Bones Jeremiah Peet
2002 Civil Brand Captain Alan Deese
Ticker FBI Agent Short
Friday After Next Pinky
Play'd: A Hip Hop Story Oz TV movie
2003 Crime Partners Kenyatta
Love Chronicles Thomas
Tapped Out Detective Blackman
2004 Never Die Alone Moon
Woman Thou Art Loosed Reggie
Ray Jeff Brown
Roscoe's House of Chicken n Waffles Mo Fro Video
Sugar Valentine Joshua Valentine
Da Block Party Action Jackson Video
Pryor Offenss Bucky TV movie
He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? Satin Jones Video
Choices 2 - Video
2005 Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up Big Man Video
White Men Can't Rap DaRon
Golden Empire Old School
The Fabric of a Man Blair Video
Brothers in Arms Doc
The Gospel Bishop Fred Taylor
Knights of the South Bronx Cokey TV movie
2006 Confessions of a Call Girl Chauncey
Who Made the Potato Salad? Mr. Jenkins
It Ain't Easy Fish Video
Faceless Langdon Fox TV movie
2007 Norbit Earl Latimore
Da Block Party 2 Action Jackson Video
Gangsta Rap: The Glockumentary Tommy Guns
Young Cesar Ali Dean
Father of Lies Bishop Calvin Jacobs Video
2008 First Sunday Officer Eddie King
R&B Chick Benjamin Video
Show Stoppers Coach
Street Kings Sergeant Green
Love for Sale Cinque
Block Party Madness Action Jackson Video
Vicious Circle Freddy
3 Dimensions of a Man Spencer Video
The Rimshop Joe Joe's Father
Internet Dating Leroy 'The Pimp' Video
Jazz in the Diamond District Blair Morgan
Jada Terrance
American Dream Old Skool
2009 Man of Her Dreams Senator Marcus Gordon
There's a Stranger in My House Mr. John Moore
God Send Me a Man Bishop
Steppin: The Movie Detective Lewis
Just Another Day Bowman
Before I Self Destruct Sean Video
Busted Leroy
Contradictions of the Heart Damien Video
2010 Preacher's Kid Ike
Let God Be the Judge Gabriel
When The Lights Go Out Freddy Video
Heaven Ain't Hard to Find Big Bill Herod
Trapped: Haitian Nights Mike
Vigilante: The Hayward Brown Story Henry Brown
Chain Letter Coach
Love Me or Leave Me Cecil TV movie
Something Like a Business Sexy Silk
2011 The Ideal Husband Daniel TV movie
Street Kings 2: Motor City Detective Tyrone Fowler Video
35 and Ticking Zane
She's Not Our Sister Rev. Beckley TV movie
The Perfect Gift Michael Sr.
He's Mine Not Yours Walter
The Saints of Mt. Christopher Donald Ray Williams
23rd Psalm: Redemption Lester Wayne
2012 Dead Money Leon
The Marriage Chronicles Robert McDaniel
Nicki: A Hip Hop Love Story Mr. Jamison
Supernatural Swamp Slaughter -
Womack Gilly Smalls Short
Note to Self Coach Gerald Woodson
C'mon Man Rooselvelt Steele
Interludes Blake
Somebody's Child Dr. Sperry TV movie
The House of Malik Uncle Kyle
The Undershepherd Deacon Roberts
One Blood Winston
2013 Coffin Baby Detective S. Jackson
Criminal Behavior Cedric
They Die by Dawn Deputy Sheriff
The Dempsey Sisters Theo Dempsey
Shake Red
Mutumbo the Lost Prince Oscer
God's Precious Jewels Joe Thomas
Forbidden Woman Randall Trace
2014 Blood Ransom Detective Hobbs
99 North Uncle P
2015 Fear Files Detective Owen Marsh TV movie
A Baby for Christmas Gavin TV movie
The Freight Rider William Short
Love Won't Let Me Wait Bishop Buckworth
2016 The North Star Mr. Lee
A Weekend with the Family Dingo Stankershet
Guns and Grams Mr. Marshall
Banger Chief Crans
Where Hearts Lie Carl
Hunting Season Thomas Curry
Flowers Movie Mr. Waldell
Merry Ex-Mas Pastor Jordan TV movie
King of Newark Juice
2017 Mountain Top Larry Fletcher
The Preacher's Son Bishop T.K. Wilson
The Cheaters Club Marvin
Misguided Behavior Captain Rogers
Love by Chance Donald
The Hills Captain Pearson
Schooling Life President Adams Short
All Eyez on Me Floyd
Chasing Titles Vol. 1 T Parker Short
2018 Fade Away Eazy
The Choir Director Bishop T.K. Wilson
Easy Money Mr. Miller
Couples' Night Rich
Dogstar: High School 2 - (voice)
Sinners Wanted One Eye [2]
A Talent for Trouble Mr. Wellington
5K1 Barry
Worth Tony
Fatima's Revenge Lt. Earl Garrison
Juug Gone Wrong Mr. Johnson
Everything That Glitters Fram
Sliders Mr. Miller
Gangland: The Musical Pastor Earl
2019 Prodigal Censear
Sins of the Father Kevin TV movie
I Got the Hook Up 2 Tony Smooth
Diamond in the Rough Pastor Davis
The Lick Movie Richard Jacobson
Let Go and Let God Donald
The Probe Commissioner Davis TV movie
2020 The Available Wife Mitchell
Guns and Grams Mr. Marshall
2021 Saints & Sinners Judgment Day Rex TV movie
Fruits of the Heart Marcus
Seven Deadly Sins: Envy - TV movie
The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 Angry Cop
Moonlight Soul Greg Monaghan
2022 Chocolate City 3: Live Tour Mr. James Williams
Boxed In Witt 'Pa' Scandrick
The Next 24 Hours Max
2023 The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation Sugar Slim
The In Law Gang! John Sr.
Recession Proof Jackson Holloway
Player Donti Player
Sebastian Captain Harris
Boxed In 2 Witt 'Pa' Scandrick
Gangster's Daughter 2 -
2024 Skeletons in the Closet Father Francisco
Once in a Valentine William
The Probe Commissioner Davis
Hidden Lies Hector
Negligence Judge

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Tour of Duty Luther Fraction Episode: "Payback"
Cop Rock Cop Episode: "Potts Don't Fail Me Now"
Equal Justice Mugger Episode: "Promises to Keep"
1991 Gabriel's Fire Admitting Clerk Episode: "The Great Waldo"
Matlock Security Guard Episode: "The Trial: Part 1"
Jake and the Fatman Director Episode: "Nevertheless"
Equal Justice Jermaine Watkins Episode: "Opening Farewell"
1992 Martin Younger Cop Episode: "The Great Payne Robbery"
1992–94 Roc Andre Thompson Recurring Cast
1993 In the Heat of the Night Henry Cowen Episode: "Leftover Man: Part 1 & 2"
Thea Ray Singer Episode: "Dirty Laundry"
Murder, She Wrote Detective Eddie Flowers Episode: "Lone Witness"
NYPD Blue Lewis Futrel Episode: "Oscar, Meyer, Weiner"
1993–94 The Sinbad Show Eddie Recurring Cast
1994 South Central Bobby Deavers Recurring Cast
Renegade J.J. Corvell Episode: "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"
1995 Simon John Doe Recurring Cast
Murder She Wrote Ralph Danton Episode: "Big Easy Murder"
1996 Pacific Blue Captain Brooks Episode: "Pilot" & "First Shoot"
Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal Bob Williams Episode: "4 Points"
1997 High Incident - Episode: "Black & Blue"
Touched by an Angel Mr. Burns Episode: "Last Call"
New York Undercover Elvin Barnes Episode: "Is It a Crime?"
The Jamie Foxx Show Mazi Episode: "The Employee Formerly Known as Prince"
NYPD Blue Gerald/Frankie Episode: "As Flies to Careless Boys..."
Moesha Harold Moss/Ray Stokes Episode: "Mentor" & "Rhythm and Dues"
1998 In the House Eddie Episode: "Working Overtime: Part 1 & 2"
1999 The Wonderful World of Disney Martin Luther King Jr. Episode: "Selma, Lord, Selma"
Ryan Caulfield: Year One Lt. Keith Vaughn Recurring Cast
2000 Walker, Texas Ranger James Jackson Episode: "Thunderhawk"
Linc's Suntza Episode: "East Meets West"
The Parkers Mr. Alexander Episode: "A Simple Plan"
2001 Moesha R.C. Episode: "Run, Mo, Run" & "Scary Marriage"
2002 One on One Coach Guillory Episode: "I Believe I Can Fly: Part 2"
The Practice Earl Johnson Episode: "The Good Fight"
2003 Third Watch Joy's Father Episode: "10-13"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dempsey Powers Episode: "Cuba Libre"
2005 House Ken Hall Episode: "Daddy's Boy"
2006 Eve Yusef Episode: "Daddy's Home" & "Daughter Don't Preach"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Terrance Crowley Episode: "Burn Out"
Day Break Lt. Romero Episode: "What If They're Stuck?"
2007 Shark Ray Tillman Episode: "Backfire"
Numb3rs Max Devane Episode: "Chinese Box"
2008 Cold Case Tom Bernard '08 Episode: "Glory Days"
2009–10 Army Wives Terrence Price Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4
2010 The Boondocks 1st Prisoner (voice) Episode: "A Date with the Booty Warrior"
2011 The Mentalist C.O. Earls Episode: "Like a Redheaded Stepchild"
She's Still Not Our Sister Rev. Beckley Main Cast
2011–12 Black Dynamite Black Dynamite's Daddy (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1
2012 Awake John Cooper Episode: "Guilty"
For Richer or Poorer Mason Recurring Cast
The Garage Marty P. Silverstein Recurring Cast
Unsupervised Coach Durham (voice) Recurring Cast
2013 JD Lawrence's Community Service Bishop Nixon Main Cast
2015 The Soul Man Gooch Episode: "Tell It Like It Isn't"
Murder in the First Ethan Rydel Episode: "Schizofrenzy"
Black Jesus - Episode: "False Witness"
2016 Mann & Wife Bernard Episode: "Miracle Mann"
2016–22 Saints & Sinners Rex Fisher Main Cast
2017 My Step Kidz Mr. Stan Miller Episode: "Pilot"
Tales Bob Davis Episode: "F*ck the Police"
2018 Brockmire Charles Sr. Episode: "Platoon Player"
2018–19 Hawaii Five-O Percy Grover Jr. Episode: "Lele pu na manu like" & "Hewa ka lima"
Black Lightning Reverend Jeremiah Holt Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2-3
2018–22 The Family Business Uncle Lou Recurring Cast: Season 1 & 4, Guest: Season 2
2019 American Soul Herschel Recurring Cast: Season 1
2020 Chase Street Earl Main Cast
2020–21 The Last O.G. Big Mike Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4
2021 The Urbans DJ Frankie Snow Episode: "The Good Broccoli Part 1 & 2"
2022 Mortal Truth Sheriff McFadden Episode: "Pilot"
2023 Legacy Willy Main Cast
2024 Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Mushmouth Rowe Recurring Cast

Video Games

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris Voice
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Voice
Archival recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only

References

  1. ^ "Clifton "PINKY" Powell's Teenage Son Films Him GOING OFF In Car!!!". I Love Old School Music. March 26, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. ^ "Clifton Powell speaks on the powerful message behind his new film 'Sinners Wanted' - Music News - ABC News Radio".

Media related to Clifton Powell at Wikimedia Commons