Obba Babatundé

Obba Babatundé

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 performance 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

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: December 01, 1951

Deathday: N/A

Popularity:

9.102

Known For

The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs

1991-02-14

After the Sunset
After the Sunset

2004-11-12

Material Girls
Material Girls

2006-08-18

Life
Life

1999-04-16

How High
How High

2001-12-21

The Eye
The Eye

2008-02-01

Multiplicity
Multiplicity

1996-07-19

Undercover Blues
Undercover Blues

1993-09-10

City of Lies
City of Lies

2018-09-06

The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate

2004-07-30

Miami Blues
Miami Blues

1990-04-20

I Do... I Did!
I Do... I Did!

2009-01-01

Start Without Me
Start Without Me

The Millennial
The Millennial

2022-01-27

Soul of the Game
Soul of the Game

1996-04-20

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

1999-08-21

Trapped: Haitian Nights
Trapped: Haitian Nights

2011-02-08

One Special Moment
One Special Moment

2001-06-01

God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child

1988-03-21

Joy Road
Joy Road

2011-10-21

Miss Evers' Boys
Miss Evers' Boys

1997-02-22

King: Man of Peace in a Time of War
King: Man of Peace in a Time of War

2007-01-16

Dolls of Voodoo
Dolls of Voodoo

2013-08-13

Leonard Part 6
Leonard Part 6

1987-12-18

Philadelphia
Philadelphia

1993-12-22

Fatal Pursuit
Fatal Pursuit

1995-02-01

Black Dynamite
Black Dynamite

2009-10-16

The Temptations Le film de leur ascension vers la gloire
The Temptations Le film de leur ascension vers la gloire

That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do!

1996-10-04

Pup Star: Better 2Gether
Pup Star: Better 2Gether

2017-08-29

Pup Star
Pup Star

2016-08-30

Noble Intentions
Noble Intentions

2023-01-03

The Notebook
The Notebook

2004-05-25

Born to Be Wild
Born to Be Wild

1995-03-31

American Bad Boy
American Bad Boy

2015-06-02

The Last Fall
The Last Fall

2012-03-09

The Cherokee Kid
The Cherokee Kid

1996-12-14

The Trap Door
The Trap Door

2011-10-11

Death's Door
Death's Door

2015-09-29

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire

2012-03-07

People Not Places
People Not Places

Necronomicon
Necronomicon

1993-11-01

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

2012-11-20

The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest

1992-05-14

Redeemer
Redeemer

2002-01-31

The Watcher
The Watcher

2016-10-01

The Tomorrow Man
The Tomorrow Man

1996-09-01

The Visit
The Visit

2001-04-20

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

2004-01-01

Cover
Cover

2007-05-08

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

2004-11-16

Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer)
Children of the Dead (Concept Trailer)

If I Tell You I Have to Kill You
If I Tell You I Have to Kill You

2015-10-20

Baryshnikov on Broadway
Baryshnikov on Broadway

1980-04-24

Kinky
Kinky

2018-10-12

Married to the Mob
Married to the Mob

1988-08-19

Jingle Belle
Jingle Belle

2018-11-25

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

2008-10-14

Revival!
Revival!

2019-04-19

Lap Dance
Lap Dance

2014-12-05

Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty
Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty

2003-06-24

The Apartment Complex
The Apartment Complex

1999-10-31

All Star Superman
All Star Superman

2011-01-01

'Til Death Do Us Part
'Til Death Do Us Part

2017-09-29

Treemonisha
Treemonisha

1982-01-01

The Celestine Prophecy
The Celestine Prophecy

2006-06-01

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

1994-01-24

Trigger
Trigger

2020-10-22

April Fools
April Fools

2007-09-11

John Q
John Q

2002-02-15

Carpool
Carpool

1996-08-23

An Evening with Liza Minnelli
An Evening with Liza Minnelli

1980-03-09

The Net
The Net

1995-07-28