Courtney B. Vance Headshot

Courtney B. Vance

Birth Place: Detroit, MI, USA

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Courtney B. Vance BIO

Courtney was honored with a Tony Award nomination, the Theater World Award and the Clarence Derwent Award for his Broadway debut performance in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, starring James Earl Jones and directed by the late Lloyd Richards. Courtney also starred in John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation with the luminous Stockard Channing, directed by Jerry Zaks, for which he received his second Tony Award nomination. He was also the recipient of an Obie Award for his work in Athol Fugard's My Children! My Africa! At the Public Theater, Courtney also starred in Vaclav Havel's Temptation with David Strathairn and Romeo & Juliet, in which he played Mercutio. He and his wife returned to the stage at Minneapolis' renowned Guthrie Theater to star in John Guare's U.S. premiere of the stage adaptation of His Girl Friday andThe Front Page. Courtney's film & TV work include: CBS' "Extraordinary Measures,"Hurricane Season, Final Destination 5, The Divide, The Preacher's Wife, Space Cowboys, Hamburger Hill, Huck Finn and The Hunt for Red October, ABC/Disney's "Flash Forward," Showtime's "Blind Faith" and "Twelve Angry Men" with the late George C. Scott & Jack Lemmon, August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" for Hallmark, HBO's Emmy-nominated "The Tuskegee Airmen," TNT's "The Closer," NBC's "ER" (playing husband to his real life wife Angela Bassett) and NBC's long-running "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," in which he played asst. DA Ron Carver.

Courtney B. Vance Photos

Courtney B. Vance STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2013
Hap Hairston

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1990
Paul

[Off-Broadway]
1989
Thami Mbikwarna

[Off-Broadway]
1988
Mercutio

[Broadway]
1987
Cory


Courtney B. Vance Movies

First Affair
[ 1983 ] Male Student #2
Hamburger Hill
[ 1987 ] Spc. Abraham 'Doc' Johnson
The Hunt for Red October
[ 1990 ] Seaman Jones
In the Line of Duty: Street War
[ 1992 ] Justice Butler
Percy & Thunder
[ 1993 ] Thunder
Beyond the Law
[ 1993 ] Conroy Price
The Adventures of Huck Finn
[ 1993 ] Jim
Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad
[ 1994 ] Thomas
Holy Matrimony
[ 1994 ] Cooper
Dangerous Minds
[ 1995 ] Mr. George Grandey
The Affair
[ 1995 ] Travis Holloway
The Last Supper
[ 1995 ] Luke
The Piano Lesson
[ 1995 ] Lymon
The Tuskegee Airmen
[ 1995 ] Lt. Glenn
Panther
[ 1995 ] Bobby Seale
The Boys Next Door
[ 1996 ] Lucien P. Singer
The Preacher's Wife
[ 1996 ] Reverend Henry Biggs
12 Angry Men
[ 1997 ] Foreman
Ambushed
[ 1998 ] Jerry Robinson
Naked City: Justice with a Bullet
[ 1998 ] Officer James Halloran
Naked City: A Killer Christmas
[ 1998 ] Officer James Halloran
Blind Faith
[ 1998 ] John Williams
Cookie's Fortune
[ 1999 ] Otis Tucker
Love and Action in Chicago
[ 1999 ] Eddie
The Acting Class
[ 2000 ]
Space Cowboys
[ 2000 ] Roger Hines
Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story
[ 2002 ] Clarence Brandley
D-Tox
[ 2002 ] Reverend Jones
Nothing But the Truth
[ 2008 ] Agent O'Hara
Hurricane Season
[ 2009 ] Mr. Randolph
Extraordinary Measures
[ 2010 ] Marcus Temple
Final Destination 5
[ 2011 ] Agent Block
The Divide
[ 2011 ] Delvin
Joyful Noise
[ 2012 ] Pastor Dale
Let It Shine
[ 2012 ] Jacob
Terminator Genisys
[ 2015 ] Miles Dyson
Office Christmas Party
[ 2016 ] Walter Davis
Civil
[ 2016 ] John Thorne
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
[ 2017 ] Sir Lord Keenan Kester Cofield
The Mummy
[ 2017 ] Colonel Greenway
Libby and Malcolm
[ 2017 ] Malcolm Black
Isle of Dogs
[ 2018 ] The Narrator - Voice
Compliance
[ 2018 ]
Ben Is Back
[ 2018 ] Neal Beeby
Project Power
[ 2020 ] Captain Craine
The Photograph
[ 2020 ] Louis Morton
Uncorked
[ 2020 ] Louis

Courtney B. Vance TV Shows

Thirtysomething
Curtis
Law & Order
[ 1990-1995 ] Benjamin 'Bud' Greer, Mayor's Assistant
Picket Fences
Warren Grier
The Wild Thornberrys
Makai
Any Day Now
Mr. James Jackson
Boston Public
Walter Harrelson
In the Cutz
Guest
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
[ 2001-2006 ] ADA Ronald 'Ron' Carver, ADA Ron Carver
State of Mind
William Banks
ER
[ 2008-2009 ] Russell Banfield
The Spectacular Spider-Man
Kingsley
Flashforward
[ 2009-2010 ] Stanford Wedeck, Narrator
The Closer
[ 2010-2011 ] Chief Tommy Delk
Revenge
Benjamin Brooks
Graceland
Deputy Director Sam Campbell
Masters of Sex
Dr. Charles Hendricks
Scandal
Clarence Parker
State of Affairs
[ 2014-2015 ] Marshall Payton
American Crime Story
Johnnie Cochran
Lovecraft Country
George Freeman
Genius
C.L. Franklin
61st Street
[ 2022-2023 ] Franklin Roberts

Courtney B. Vance Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2013 - Distinguished Performance Award

Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Tony Awards - 2013 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Tony Awards - 1991 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Courtney B. Vance , Six Degrees of Separation

Tony Awards - 1987 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Courtney B. Vance, Fences

Courtney B. Vance Videos

Courtney B. Vance News


Matthew Jordan Smith Honors The Late Aretha Franklin With New Coffee Table Book


Celebrity photographer Matthew Jordan Smith releases ARETHA COOL: THE INTIMATE PORTRAITS, a coffee table book honoring Aretha Franklin. The 256-page book showcases her musical genius and cultural influence from 2005 to 2018. The photographs illustrate the musical genius of The Queen of Soul.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld March 12, 2024


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 12, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Loretta Devine, Amber Riley & More to Star in THE PREACHER'S WIFE World Premiere


The Alliance Theatre has revealed the cast and creative team of its world premiere musical, THE PREACHER’S WIFE. See who is starring and on the creative team along with ticketing information and more.

Getting To Know AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Power Couple Amy Herzog and Sam Gold


This season, Broadway welcomes a star-studded revival of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People starring Emmy Award-winners Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli, and Victoria Pedretti. Behind the production is powerhouse pair, Tony Award-winning director Sam Gold and acclaimed, award-winning playwright Amy Herzog, a real-life married couple who are making their debut as collaborators on the production. Meet Broadway's newest power couple here!

THE COLOR PURPLE Tops NAACP Image Award Nominations - Full List of Nominees!


The NAACP Image Award Nominations have been announced, with The Color Purple leading with a total of 16 nominations, with nods for Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Check out the full list of nominations now!

Photos: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Angela Bassett & More Visit BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB


See photos of Lin-Manuel Miranda and more at Buena Vista Social Club.

Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance To Host The Elizabeth Taylor Ball To End AIDS


Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance will host The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Find out more in the press release.

Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance to Host The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS


This power couple’s company, Bassett Vance Productions is in partnership with MTVE Studios to create diverse and inclusive content for Paramount Global. Their first project, “One Thousand Years of Slavery,” aired in February 2022 on the Smithsonian Channel, and “Heist 88,” a feature film starring Vance, will air on Paramount+.

Video: Showtime Debuts HEIST 88 Trailer Starring Courtney B. Vance


It reunites Vance with Keesha Sharp, who was in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Bentley Green, who starred alongside Vance in the drama series 61st Street. HEIST 88 also stars Keith David (The Nice Things), Xavier Clyde (City on Fire), Nican Robinson (Beef) and Precious Way (Days of our Lives). Watch the video!

Showtime Sets Premiere for HEIST 88 Starring Courtney B. Vance


The series reunites Vance with Keesha Sharp, who portrayed Dale Cochran in The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, and Bentley Green, who starred alongside Vance in the drama series 61st Street. HEIST 88 also stars Keith David (The Nice Things), Xavier Clyde (City on Fire), Nican Robinson (Beef) and Precious Way (Days of our Lives).

Deborah Cox, Peppermint, Cheyenne Jackson & More Join Center Theatre Group's 2023 Gala


Additional performers have joined the lineup for the 2023 Gala, “Light Up Los Angeles,” which is planned for April 15, 2023 at The Music Center. See who is starring, and learn how to purchase tickets!

Photos: Rita Moreno, Angela Bassett & More Attend TIME's Second Annual Women of the Year Gala


The star-studded gala attendees included Rita Moreno, Anita Hill, Tiffany Haddish, Yvonne Orji, Courtney B. Vance, Li Jun Li, Olivia Culpo, Brooke Shields, Kat Graham, Rickey Thompson, Rupi Kaur, Crime Junkie host Ashley Flowers, Nicole Avant, Higher Ground Head of Film and TV Tonia Davis, and Essence CEO Carolina Wanga. Check out photos!

Photos: Bette Midler Honored at the 25th Costume Designers Guild Awards


Last night, Tituss Burgess hosted the 25th CDGA (Costume Designers Guild Awards) at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA. The annual CDGA gala celebrated excellence in film, television, and short form costume design. Check out photos of Bette Midler, Billy Crystal, Ashley Park, and more at the event!

Angela Bassett to be Honored at 10th Annual MUAHS Awards


ANGELA BASSETT is an actress, director, and executive producer known for captivating, emotionally tinged performances full of dignity in treasured films such as Waiting To Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and the Tina Turner biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It, for which she received an Academy Award nomination.

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of AIN'T TOO PROUD in Los Angeles


Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations opened at Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theater on Thursday, December 15th and runs through January 1st. Check out photos from the opening here!

THE PROUD FAMILY: LOUDER AND PROUDER to Return to Disney+ in February


A season two guest cast featurette spotlighting guest stars Gabrielle Union, Chance the Rapper, Leslie Odom, Jr., Holly Robinson Peete, Normani and more, is now available. The series recently won 'Outstanding Casting for An Animated Program' at the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. Watch the video featurette now!

Elton John Performs Final North American Tour Date at Dodger Stadium


The three-hour concert event, from Disney Branded Television and produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Rocket Entertainment, gave Disney+ audiences a front-row seat to his electrifying and legendary performance, which included performances by Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile. Watch videos from the concert now!

Rosario Dawson Reads for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Storyline Online


Acclaimed actor, activist and philanthropist Rosario Dawson is the newest reader for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy program Storyline Online. Dawson reads her personal favorite Julius, the Baby of the World, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, and published by HarperCollins Publishers.

Audra McDonald, Sheryl Lee Ralph & More SAG-AFTRA Members Urge Congress to End Hair Discrimination & Pass CROWN Act


Among the members who signed the statement of support for the CROWN Act are Audra McDonald, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kerry Washington, and dozens of other performers. In the letter, members assert, “Discrimination based on hair style or texture is a destructive practice that has alienated and caused irreparable harm to Black Americans.” 

Photos: Stars Turn Out For DEATH OF A SALESMAN Opening Night!


The Hudson Theatre was the place to be as stars of stage and screen came out to celebrate opening night of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. This vibrant and timely production is directed by Miranda Cromwell, who co-directed the London production alongside Marianne Elliott. See photos from opening night!

Courtney B. Vance FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Courtney B. Vance been in?

Courtney B. Vance has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.

How many West End shows has Courtney B. Vance been in?

Courtney B. Vance has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Courtney B. Vance been nominated for?

Courtney B. Vance has been nominated for several prestigious awards in the Broadway world. These include the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "Lucky Guy," Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "Lucky Guy," Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "Six Degrees of Separation," and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "Fences."

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