Clifton Powell

Clifton Powell is an actor and producer recognized for his extensive work in film, television, and theater. Powell began his acting career at Workshops for Careers in the Arts, a professional program designed to train aspiring young artists. He is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. His career spans more than four decades, beginning with stage work where he earned an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Actor in the production "The Talented Tenth." On stage, Powell also starred in "The Thing That Lovers Do" with Shanté Moore, "Will A Real Man Please Stand Up" with Johnny Gill, and toured nationally with the Negro Ensemble Company production of "A Soldier's Play."

Powell achieved critical and commercial success in films such as "House Party," "Menace II Society," "Dead Presidents," "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," "Rush Hour," "Selma, Lord, Selma," "Next Friday," "Friday After Next," "Woman Thou Art Loosed," and "Ray." He is particularly known for his portrayal of Pinky in the urban comedy sequels "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," as well as for roles in "Menace II Society" and "Dead Presidents." Powell has demonstrated range beyond crime films and comedies, starring as Martin Luther King Jr. in the television movie "Selma, Lord, Selma" and as Ray Charles's road manager Jeff Brown in the Taylor Hackford feature "Ray."

His role in "Ray" earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Powell also starred in "Civil Brand," for which he won Best Actor and the film won Best Film at the American Black Film Festival South Beach. On stage, he won the NAACP Theater Award for Best Actor for his role in the national tour of David E. Talbert's "The Fabric Of A Man" as Blair, opposite Shemar Moore. He is also known for voicing Big Smoke in the action-adventure game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," a role that introduced his voice to a new generation of fans.

Powell has appeared in many direct-to-video films and guest roles on television shows, including recurring roles on "Roc," "South Central," and "Army Wives," and guest appearances on "In the Heat of the Night," "Murder, She Wrote," "NYPD Blue," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "House." He was cast as the main antagonist in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera "Saints & Sinners," opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway and Gloria Reuben. Powell has also starred as Uncle Lou Duncan, a partner in a family-run auto dealership entangled in crime, on BET+ "The Family Business."

Known for his ability to portray complex and often villainous characters, Powell has accumulated more than 100 film and television credits, contributing to his enduring presence in the entertainment industry.