Acting
Mar 3, 1957
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Mykelti Williamson
Acting
Biography
Perhaps best remembered for his touching performance as "Bubba" opposite Tom Hanks in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump (1994), Mykelti Williamson is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, steadily honing his craft since he began acting professionally at age 18. In 2000, Williamson starred as Lt. Philip Gerard, the hardnosed detective determined to recapture escaped convict Dr. Richard Kimble (Tim Daly) in CBS's update of the classic 1960s action series The Fugitive (2000). The son of an Air Force Staff Sergeant and a certified public accountant, Williamson was born in St. Louis, MO, and began performing on stage at age 9. Like many youngsters, he was enamored with television and initially thought small-screen images were reality. It was not until his mother put him in a church play that he realized the actors were performing. He was hooked instantly. At age 15, Williamson and his family settled in Los Angeles. A superb athlete, he excelled at football and basketball, but the acting bug led him to leave team sports and dance with the cheerleading squad, much to the chagrin of his coaches. Following graduation, Williamson began acting professionally, appearing on television series such as Starsky and Hutch (1975), Hill Street Blues (1981), and China Beach (1988). He made his film debut in Walter Hill's Streets of Fire (1984), opposite Diane Lane, Michael Paré, and Willem Dafoe. He subsequently appeared in The First Power (1990) with Lou Diamond Phillips, Miracle Mile (1988) with Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham, Number One with a Bullet (1987), Wildcats (1986), and Free Willy (1993). Following his acclaimed performance in Forrest Gump (1994), Williamson starred in Forest Whitaker's Waiting to Exhale (1995), partnered with Al Pacino in Michael Mann's Heat (1995), returned for Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home (1995), and starred alongside Nicolas Cage in Con Air (1997). Williamson also appeared in Mike Nichols' political drama Primary Colors (1998)—a cameo done as a favor to Nichols and John Travolta—and Three Kings (1999), opposite George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. In 1996, Williamson returned to television opposite Delroy Lindo and Blair Underwood in the acclaimed HBO telefilm Soul of the Game (1996), earning rave reviews for his stirring portrayal of legendary Negro League slugger Josh Gibson. He also starred in Buffalo Soldiers (1997) for TNT, 12 Angry Men (1997) for Showtime, and the cable series The Hoop Life (1999). On stage, Williamson starred alongside Samuel L. Jackson, D.B. Sweeney, Ellis Williams, Matt McGrath, and Richard Reilly in Clark Gregg's 1995 ensemble drama "Distant Fires," which earned the cast an L.A. Theatre Award. An avid sports fan and devoted family man, Williamson enjoys restoring classic cars and rodeoing in his free time. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two of his three daughters. Named by his grandfather for 'Spirit' or 'Silent Friend' in the language of the Blackfeet, Mykelti Williamson has built a reputation in Hollywood as one of the most consistently proven actors in the industry, delivering stirring and honest performances that captivate audiences.
Feature Films (71)
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.
Forrest Gump
Slevin is mistakenly put in the middle of a personal war between the city’s biggest criminal bosses. Under constant watch, Slevin must try not to get killed by an infamous assassin and come up with an idea of how to get out of his current dilemma.
Lucky Number Slevin
Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.
Heat
When maladjusted orphan Jesse vandalizes a theme park, he is placed with foster parents and must work at the park to make amends. There he meets Willy, a young Orca whale who has been separated from his family. Sensing kinship, they form a bond and, with the help of kindly whale trainer Rae Lindley, develop a routine of tricks. However, greedy park owner Dial soon catches wind of the duo and makes plans to profit from them.
Free Willy
Having just returned from a mission to Mars, Commander Ross isn't exactly himself. He's slowly becoming a terrifying alien entity with one goal -- to procreate with human women! When countless women suffer gruesome deaths after bearing half-alien offspring, scientist Laura Baker and hired assassin Press Lennox use Eve, a more tempered alien clone, to find Ross and his brood. Before long Eve escapes to mate with Ross.
Species II
Television & Series (48)
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
Alice
The exploits of a group of men and women who serve the City of New York as police officers, firemen, and paramedics, all working the same fictional 55th precinct during the 3pm to 11pm shift - the 'Third Watch'.
Third Watch
Kidnapped is an American television drama series from Sony Pictures Television which aired on NBC from September 20, 2006, to August 11, 2007. The series returned on Universal HD in 2008.
Kidnapped
Thanks to his police officer father's efforts, Shawn Spencer spent his childhood developing a keen eye for detail (and a lasting dislike of his dad). Years later, Shawn's frequent tips to the police lead to him being falsely accused of a crime he solved. Now, Shawn has no choice but to use his abilities to perpetuate his cover story: psychic crime-solving powers, all the while dragging his best friend, his dad, and the police along for the ride.
Psych
Justice is an American legal drama produced by Jerry Bruckheimer that aired on Fox in the USA and CTV in Canada. The series also aired on Warner Channel in Latin America, Nine Network in Australia, and on TV2 In New Zealand. It first was broadcast on Wednesdays at 9:00 but, due to low ratings, it was rescheduled to Mondays at 9:00, in the hope viewers of the hit series Prison Break would stay tuned. On November 13, 2006, the show was put on hiatus, but two days later the network announced it was shifting it to Fridays at 8:00 to replace the canceled Vanished. Fourteen episodes of the series were ordered, of which 13 episodes were produced. Twelve of the episodes of Justice have aired in the United States with the final episode airing in Mexico, the UK and Germany.
