Obba Babatunde Biography (1951-)

Some sources cite original name as Donald Cohen; born December, 1951, in Jamaica, Queens, New York, NY; brother of Akin Babatunde (an actor); married; children: two sons. Addresses: Agent: Stone Manners Talent and Literary Agency, 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, voice performer, director, producer
Birth Details: 1951; New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Short Eyes (also known as Slammer), Film League, 1977
The face of justice, Married to the Mob, Orion, 1988
Blink Willie, Miami Blues, Orion, 1990
Syd, Dead Again, Paramount, 1991
Television anchor, The Silence of the Lambs, Orion, 1991
Lane, The Importance of Being Earnest, Eclectic Concepts/Paco Global, 1992
Jerome Green, Philadelphia (also known as People Like Us),TriStar, 1993
Lieutenant Theodore "Ted" Sawyer, Undercover Blues (also known asCloak and Diaper), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1993
Barfly, Conversations, 1994
Paul, "Whispers," H. P. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" (also known asH. P. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon, Book of the Dead" and Necronomicon: Book of the Dead), Turner Home Entertainment, 1994
Interpreter, Born to Be Wild (also known as Katie), WarnerBros., 1995
Professor Thurman, A Reason to Believe, Castle Hill Productions, 1995
Jeffery, Carpool, Warner Bros., 1996
Lamarr, That Thing You Do!, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1996
Paul, Multiplicity, Columbia, 1996
Trinidad, Fatal Pursuit, New City Releasing, 1998
Willie Long, Life, Universal, 1999
Tony Waters, The Visit, Shoreline Entertainment/Urbanworld Films,2000
Dean Carl Cain, How High, Universal, 2001
Sergeant Moody, John Q (also known as John Q.), New Line Cinema, 2002
Voice of Boko, The Wild Thornberrys Movie (animated), Paramount, 2002
Dr. Howard Perkins, MVP, Extra Film Productions MVP, 2003
Band leader, The Notebook, New Line Cinema, 2004
Senator Wells, The Manchurian Candidate, Paramount, 2004
Voice of Chief Ankamuti, Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.! (animated),Warner Home Video, 2004
Zacharias, After the Sunset, New Line Cinema, 2004
Craig, Material Girls, Arclight Films, 2006
Miguel, The Celestine Prophecy, Celestine Films Holding Company, 2006
Professor Morrison, The Black Man's Guide to Understanding Black Women, Urban Entertainment Group, 2006
Television Appearances
Series
Rusty Bennett, All My Children (also known as All My Children:The Summer of Seduction), ABC, 1987
Xyber 9: New Dawn (animated), Fox, 1999
Principal Howard Green, Dawson's Creek, The WB, 1999-2000
Charles Thorne, Half & Half, UPN, beginning 2002
Uncle Clay, One Life to Live, ABC, 2005
Miniseries
Berry Gordy, The Temptations, NBC, 1998
Movies
Cornell, M.A.N.T.I.S., Fox, 1994
Cum Posey, Soul of the Game (also known as Baseball in Black and White and Field of Honour), HBO, 1996
Isom Dart, The Cherokee Kid, HBO, 1996
Willie Johnson (a dancer), Miss Evers' Boys, HBO, 1997
Chett, The Apartment Complex, Showtime, 1999
Harold Nicholas, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, HBO, 1999
Ed, One Special Moment, Black Entertainment Television, 2001
Charles Henderson, Redeemer, USA Network, 2002
Reverend Jesse, The Great Commission, Showtime, 2003
Voice of Conroy, Rocket Power: Reggie's Big (Beach) Break (animated), Nickelodeon, 2003
Specials
Dancer, Baryshnikov on Broadway (also known as IBM Presents: Baryshnikov on Broadway), ABC, 1980
Zodzetric, "Treemonisha" (opera), America's Musical Theatre, PBS,1986
Raymond, "God Bless the Child" (also known as "Children of Poverty"), ABC Theatre, ABC, 1988
The Human Factor, CBS, 1992
The Art of the Spirit with Avery Brooks, TBS, 1996
Host, Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty, 2003
Behind the Scenes: The Great Commission, Showtime, 2003
Soul Decisions, Showtime, 2004
Awards Presentations

Presenter, The 19th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1997
Presenter, Ninth Annual Prism Awards, FX Channel, 2005
Episodic
Backstage man, "The Magician," Matlock, NBC, 1988
Frank Benning, "Soldier Boy," A Different World, NBC, 1990
Ben, "Crash and Born," Sisters, NBC, 1992
"Maniac at Large," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's "Tales from the Crypt"), HBO, 1992
Jameson Walker (some sources cite Parker), "Trading Places," Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, ABC, 1993
Mongoose, "A.K.A. Kansas," The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (also known as Brisco County, Jr.), Fox, 1993
Carter Evans, "Fallen Angela," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1994
Charles, "The Rich Guy," Getting By, NBC, 1994
Gordy Berry, "The Client," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1994
Gordy Berry, "What's Will Got to Do with It?," The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC, 1994
"Identity Crisis," Thunder in Paradise, syndicated, 1994
Cezanne Brown, "Summer of Love," Sliders, Fox, 1995
Charles Ellis, "Freeze Outs," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1995
Charles Ellis, "Full Moon," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1995
The director, "The One with All the Jealousy," Friends (also knownas Across the Hall, Friends Like Us, Insomnia Cafe, andSix of One), NBC, 1997
Lieutenant Tony Mays, "The Last Endless Summer," The Burning Zone,UPN, 1997
Lieutenant Wardell, "Lorne and Max Drop the Ball," Spy Game (alsoknown as Cloak and Dagger and Lorne and Max), ABC, 1997
Mr. Kirby, "A Day in the Life II," Sparks (also known as Sparks, Sparks, and Sparks), UPN, 1997
Army veteran, "Dog Day Afternoon," Linc's, Showtime, 1999
Allardyce, "The Value of Secrets," The Invisible Man (also known as I-Man), Sci-Fi Channel, 2000
Dr. Joseph Lennox, "The Beholder," The Outer Limits (also known asThe New Outer Limits), Showtime, Sci-Fi Channel, and syndicated, 2000
Benjamin Chadway, "A Clear and Present Stranger," Soul Food, Showtime, 2001
Judge Richards, "It's Not Just a Word: Parts 1 & 2," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2001
Mr. Lowry, "The Price," The Beast, ABC, 2001
Phillip Hamilton, "Planting Seeds," Family Law, CBS, 2001
Benjamin Chadway, "Lovers and Other Strangers," Soul Food, Showtime, 2002
Kevin Dupree, "Maya Con Dios," NYPD Blue, ABC, 2002
Mr. Singer, "The Philadelphia Chromosome," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2002
Voice of singer, "Brother-Sister Act," Static Shock (animated), The WB, 2002
Daniel Burden, "Dumb Bunnies," Karen Sisco, ABC, 2003
Daniel Burden, "The One That Got Away," Karen Sisco, ABC, 2003
Voice of scientist, "Trouble Squared," Static Shock (animated), The WB, 2003
Daniel Burden, "Dog Day Sisco," Karen Sisco, USA Network, 2004
Jason, "Giving Up the Girl," Everwood, The WB, 2005
Pilots
Terrence G. Quimby, "Fort Figueroa," CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, 1988
Alfonso "Al" Taylor, Heart and Soul (also known as It Will Stand), ABC, 1989
Tanner, Tom, CBS, 1994
Ben, Under One Roof, CBS, 1995
Brian Parish, The Tomorrow Man, CBS, 1995
Charles Thorne, "The Big Pilot Episode," Half & Half, UPN, 2002
Stage Appearances
The Secret Place, off-Broadway production, 1970
The chabaka (stiltwalker), the orange merchant, an antelope, and a citizen of Timbuktu, Timbuktu! (musical), Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1978
Sing Happy! (tribute concert), Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall,New York City, 1978
Liza Minnelli in Concert (concert), Carnegie Hall, New York City,1979
Dancer, Baryshnikov on Broadway, Broadway production, 1980
Rockets and understudy for Esau, Reggae: A Musical Revelation (musical; also known as Reggae), Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 1980
Sharky, It's So Nice to Be Civilized (musical), Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1980
C. C. White, Dreamgirls (musical), Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1981-85
Golden Boy (musical), off-Broadway production, beginning c. 1984,also produced elsewhere, including the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, FL, 1989
Leroy, Grind (musical), Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1985
Hamlet Hitchcock "Little Ham" Jones (title role), Little Ham (musical), Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, beginning 1987, some sourcescite an off-Broadway production
The Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd (musical), CoconutGrove Playhouse, 1989
Saloon singer, Blues in the Night (musical), Los Angeles Theatre Center, Los Angeles, 1990-91
Jelly Roll Morton, Jelly's Last Jam (musical), Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Music Center, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1990-91, also produced elsewhere, including the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia,PA, c. 1995
Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre's 35th Anniversary Celebrationand Dinner (also known as Catch the Spirit of Black Theatre), TownHall, New York City, 2005
Appeared in the solo show Obba in Concert; appeared as Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. (the title role) in King, Prince Edward Theatre, London; also appeared off-Broadway in The Breakout, Dream on Monkey Mountain, On Toby Time, Scottsboro Boys, Sheba, and Showdown Time.
Major Tours
Musicals
Guys and Dolls, 1976
Curtis Taylor, Jr., Dreamgirls, U.S. cities, between 1985 and 1987
Billy Flynn, Chicago, U.S. cities, 1998
Billy Flynn, Chicago, Japanese cities, 2005
Appeared in other tours, including an international tour with Liza Minnelli, 1978. Some sources cite a tour of Obba in Concert.
Stage Director
Director of one-act plays.
RECORDINGS
Videos
Himself, Before, during, and "After the Sunset," New Line Home Video, 2005
Video Work
Director, Dorothy Dandridge: Singing at Her Best, Koch Vision, 2003
Director and producer, Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Halle, Koch Vision, 2003
Producer, TV in Black: The First Fifty Years, Koch Vision, 2004
Soundtrack Albums
Dreamgirls 1982 original Broadway cast recording), Decca, c. 1990
Singles
"Throw Down," c. 1985
Performer of songs that have appeared in films.
Video Games
Voice of Lando Calrissian, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, LucasArts Entertainment, 2001
Voice of Lando Calrissian, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II (also known as Rogue Leader and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II), LucasArts Entertainment, 2001
Voice of Lando Calrissian, Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, LucasArts Entertainment, 2003
WRITINGS
Writings for the Stage
Author of the solo show Obba in Concert. Also the author of one-act plays and poems.
Writings for Videos
Oscar's Black Odyssey: From Hattie to Halle, Koch Vision, 2003

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 35, Gale, 2002

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