Darryl Van Leer

Darryl Van Leer is an American actor, writer and solo performer best known for his acclaimed one-man stage production, "Power on Earth." Written, directed and performed by Van Leer, the show has earned praise from critics and audiences for its emotional intensity and historical depth. Daily Variety described it as “emotionally riveting,” highlighting Van Leer’s vivid portrayals of some of the most influential African American figures in U.S. history.

In "Power on Earth," Van Leer embodies leaders and cultural icons including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Malcolm X, as well as Nat Turner, Marcus Garvey and Frederick Douglass. The production also pays tribute to blues legends Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, demonstrating Van Leer’s wide dramatic and musical range. An earlier version of the work, titled "The Gallows to the Gavel," earned him a nomination for a 1996 NAACP Theatre Award, further establishing his reputation as a compelling interpreter of historical voices.

Van Leer began his television career with regular work on "Bobby Jones Gospel" on Black Entertainment Television, where he served as a background vocalist, writer and staff photographer. He went on to build a varied career in film and television, appearing in projects such as the Nickelodeon movie "First Time," co-starring John Amos; the Fox movie "Steel Chariots"; and the HBO film "The Second Civil War," alongside James Earl Jones and Beau Bridges. In 2012, he starred in the independent feature "Deadline," based on the true story of the murder of an African American youth in rural Alabama.

His additional screen credits include the NBC movie "Witness to an Execution," the HBO film "Up Against the Wall," and the feature "A League of Their Own," starring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks. A versatile stage performer, Van Leer has also appeared in numerous local theater productions and worked the stand-up comedy circuit, performing at well-known New York venues including The Comic Strip and Catch a Rising Star.