James Pickens Jr.

James Pickens, Jr. is an American actor notable for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber, chief of surgery on the ABC drama series, "Grey's Anatomy" and his also starring role as Assistant Director Alvin Kersh on The X-Files.

Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio and did not begin acting until he was a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of "Matters of Choice" by Chuck Gordone.

Pickens started his acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York playing Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun.

In 1981, Pickens performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of "A Soldier's Play", starring alongside Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

In 1990, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "The West Wing", "Roseanne", "Beverly Hills 90210", "JAG", and "Six Feet Under".

In the February 28, 2007 all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which seeks to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget.

In 2005, Pickens was chosen to replace actor/surgeon John Forbs as chief Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" when Forbs was called away on a medical-related venture. He has played the role ever since.