Dorsey Wright
Encyclopedia
Dorsey Wright is an American
actor
, best known for his role as Cleon in the 1979 film The Warriors.
Wright was born in The Bronx
, New York City
in 1957 and earned his first acting role in 1979
, in The Warriors, for which he is best remembered. He also co-starred in the film version of Hair
that same year. In 1981, he appeared as a gang member in the film Ragtime
, and played Junior Jones in the 1984
film adaptation of John Irving
's novel The Hotel New Hampshire
. This was his last film role.
Dorsey Wright was once part of a theater group based in Long Island City, Queens called the Theater for the Forgotten. The project was run and funded by producer/director Beverly Rich. The group put on plays for those that were shut in, and traveled throughout New York City and New Jersey. The plays that were done were written in collaboration with the theater group "Dream 76" and "Forever My Earth".
He now works for the New York Transit Authority, but still does voice-overs for television and radio commercials. In 2005, he reprised his role as Cleon in the video game version of The Warriors
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Cleon in the 1979 film The Warriors.
Wright was born in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1957 and earned his first acting role in 1979
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
, in The Warriors, for which he is best remembered. He also co-starred in the film version of Hair
Hair (film)
Hair is a 1979 American film adaptation of the 1968 Broadway musical of the same name about a Vietnam war draftee who meets and befriends a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army induction center...
that same year. In 1981, he appeared as a gang member in the film Ragtime
Ragtime (film)
Ragtime is a 1981 American film based on the historical novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the first decade of the 1900s, and includes fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film was...
, and played Junior Jones in the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
film adaptation of John Irving
John Irving
John Winslow Irving is an American novelist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter.Irving achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of The World According to Garp in 1978...
's novel The Hotel New Hampshire
The Hotel New Hampshire (film)
The Hotel New Hampshire is a 1984 comedy-drama film based on John Irving's 1981 novel of the same name. The film was written and directed by Tony Richardson and stars Jodie Foster, Beau Bridges, Rob Lowe, and Nastassja Kinski. The film also features Wilford Brimley, Amanda Plummer, Matthew Modine,...
. This was his last film role.
Dorsey Wright was once part of a theater group based in Long Island City, Queens called the Theater for the Forgotten. The project was run and funded by producer/director Beverly Rich. The group put on plays for those that were shut in, and traveled throughout New York City and New Jersey. The plays that were done were written in collaboration with the theater group "Dream 76" and "Forever My Earth".
He now works for the New York Transit Authority, but still does voice-overs for television and radio commercials. In 2005, he reprised his role as Cleon in the video game version of The Warriors
The Warriors (video game)
The Warriors is a beat 'em up video game published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 17, 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and February 12, 2007 for PlayStation Portable. The game is based on the 1979 film, The Warriors...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Warriors | Cleon | Co-star |
| 1979 | Hair Hair (film) Hair is a 1979 American film adaptation of the 1968 Broadway musical of the same name about a Vietnam war draftee who meets and befriends a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army induction center... |
Lafayette aka Hud | Co-star |
| 1981 | Ragtime Ragtime (film) Ragtime is a 1981 American film based on the historical novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow. The action takes place in and around New York City, New Rochelle, and Atlantic City in the first decade of the 1900s, and includes fictionalized references to actual people and events of the time. The film was... |
Gang Member #4 | |
| 1984 | The Hotel New Hampshire The Hotel New Hampshire (film) The Hotel New Hampshire is a 1984 comedy-drama film based on John Irving's 1981 novel of the same name. The film was written and directed by Tony Richardson and stars Jodie Foster, Beau Bridges, Rob Lowe, and Nastassja Kinski. The film also features Wilford Brimley, Amanda Plummer, Matthew Modine,... |
Junior Jones | |
| 2005 | The Warriors The Warriors (video game) The Warriors is a beat 'em up video game published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 17, 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and February 12, 2007 for PlayStation Portable. The game is based on the 1979 film, The Warriors... |
Cleon | Voice |