Wendell Pierce
Encyclopedia
Wendell Pierce is an American actor, best known for his work in HBO dramas, including his portrayal of Detective Bunk Moreland
in The Wire
and trombonist Antoine Batiste in Treme
.
.
as Detective Bunk Moreland
. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
for the role in 2007.
Pierce also played a crooked policeman on Third Watch
named Conrad "Candyman" Jones. Outside of shooting The Wire, Pierce managed to pick up a recurring role as an FBI clinical psychologist in Numb3rs
. An interview with him is featured in Spike Lee
's 2006 HBO documentary When the Levees Broke
, regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
. His latest role is in HBO's Treme
, created by David Simon
, creator of The Wire
. Pierce plays Antoine Batiste, a trombone
player, for which he took lessons in trombone.
, and Forrest Whitaker's Waiting to Exhale
a year earlier. He also appeared with Whitaker as an undertaker's assistant in the 1991 film "A Rage In Harlem", and had a small role in the 1998 film Bulworth
. Pierce also had a part in the 1996 film Sleepers
, playing Rizzo's older brother, Little Caesar. In addition, Pierce played Secret Service Agent Richard Gill in the 1995 film Hackers
and co-starred with Arye Gross
in the film A Matter of Degrees released in 1990. Pierce is also in the 2003 film The Fighting Temptations
as Reverend Lewis, and 2006 horror film Stay Alive
. He played Slick in the 2007 film Life Support
; Slick is the HIV positive husband of the main character Ana (played by Queen Latifah
). The film was co-written by Jim McKay, who has directed for The Wire, and was distributed by HBO. In May 2010, Pierce earned the lead role in the independent horror-thriller film Foreclosure.
Pierce also played band manager Wilbur Brassfield in the 2004 Oscar Award winning blockbuster Ray
, with Jamie Foxx
.
Center, which features live recordings from Jazz at Lincoln Center's House of
Swing. Previous hosts of JALC include Ed Bradley
and Wynton Marsalis
, with whom he attended high school in New Orleans. Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio is produced by Murray Street Production s on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Bunk Moreland
William "Bunk" Moreland is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Wendell Pierce. Bunk's character is based on a retired Baltimore City Police Detective named Rick Requer and nicknamed "the Bunk", an officer who joined the force in 1964 as a Western District patrolman who...
in The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
and trombonist Antoine Batiste in Treme
Treme (TV series)
Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
.
Life and career
Pierce was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended Benjamin Franklin High SchoolBenjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Benjamin Franklin High School is a public magnet high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Commonly nicknamed "Franklin" or "Ben Franklin", this school should not be confused with Franklin High School in Franklin, Louisiana. Ben Franklin was founded in 1957 as a school for gifted children...
.
Television acting career
Pierce starred in all five seasons of the HBO drama The WireThe Wire (TV series)
The Wire is an American television drama series set and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States...
as Detective Bunk Moreland
Bunk Moreland
William "Bunk" Moreland is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Wendell Pierce. Bunk's character is based on a retired Baltimore City Police Detective named Rick Requer and nicknamed "the Bunk", an officer who joined the force in 1964 as a Western District patrolman who...
. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:*Most Wins:**Mehki Phifer, Ice-T, Ossie Davis, Gary Dourdan & Omar Epps- has 2 wins a piece.*Most Nominations:**1. James Pickens Jr.- 6 nominations...
for the role in 2007.
Pierce also played a crooked policeman on Third Watch
Third Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
named Conrad "Candyman" Jones. Outside of shooting The Wire, Pierce managed to pick up a recurring role as an FBI clinical psychologist in Numb3rs
NUMB3RS
Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes...
. An interview with him is featured in Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's 2006 HBO documentary When the Levees Broke
When the Levees Broke
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana due to the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and early September 2005, and premiered at the New Orleans Arena on...
, regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. His latest role is in HBO's Treme
Treme (TV series)
Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
, created by David Simon
David Simon
David Simon is an American author, journalist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years. He wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood with Ed Burns...
, creator of The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. Pierce plays Antoine Batiste, a trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
player, for which he took lessons in trombone.
Film acting career
Pierce appeared in Spike Lee's 1996 film Get on the BusGet on the Bus
Get on the Bus is a 1996 film about a group of African-American men who are taking a cross-country bus trip in order to participate in the Million Man March. The film was directed by Spike Lee and premiered on the one-year anniversary of the march....
, and Forrest Whitaker's Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 romance film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, directed by Forest Whitaker. The movie was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Donald Faison and Mykelti...
a year earlier. He also appeared with Whitaker as an undertaker's assistant in the 1991 film "A Rage In Harlem", and had a small role in the 1998 film Bulworth
Bulworth
Bulworth is a 1998 American film co-written, co-produced and directed by the film's star, Warren Beatty. It was loosely based on the life of Beatty's friend, Tennessee political figure John Jay Hooker. It co-stars Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden, and Isaiah...
. Pierce also had a part in the 1996 film Sleepers
Sleepers (film)
Sleepers is a 1996 legal drama film written, produced, and directed by Barry Levinson, and based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 novel of the same name.-Plot:...
, playing Rizzo's older brother, Little Caesar. In addition, Pierce played Secret Service Agent Richard Gill in the 1995 film Hackers
Hackers (film)
Hackers is a 1995 American thriller film directed by Iain Softley and starring Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Lorraine Bracco and Fisher Stevens...
and co-starred with Arye Gross
Arye Gross
-Biography:Gross was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Sheri and Joseph Gross, who was an aerospace engineer and later worked in business....
in the film A Matter of Degrees released in 1990. Pierce is also in the 2003 film The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical dramedy film produced by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the film's protagonist as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer with whom he...
as Reverend Lewis, and 2006 horror film Stay Alive
Stay Alive
Stay Alive is a 2006 horror film directed by William Brent Bell, who cowrote it with Matthew Peterman. It was produced by McG, co-produced by Hollywood Pictures and released on March 24, 2006 in the US. In the U.S. the film was rated PG-13 for horror violence, disturbing images, language, and brief...
. He played Slick in the 2007 film Life Support
Life Support (film)
Life Support is a 2007 American film starring Queen Latifah. It is loosely based on the real life story of Andrea Williams, an HIV-positive woman....
; Slick is the HIV positive husband of the main character Ana (played by Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
). The film was co-written by Jim McKay, who has directed for The Wire, and was distributed by HBO. In May 2010, Pierce earned the lead role in the independent horror-thriller film Foreclosure.
Pierce also played band manager Wilbur Brassfield in the 2004 Oscar Award winning blockbuster Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
, with Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
.
Radio presence
Pierce is the host of the Peabody Award-winning radio program, Jazz at LincolnCenter, which features live recordings from Jazz at Lincoln Center's House of
Swing. Previous hosts of JALC include Ed Bradley
Ed Bradley
Edward Rudolph "Ed" Bradley, Jr. was an American journalist, best known for twenty-six years of award-winning work on the CBS News television program 60 Minutes...
and Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, with whom he attended high school in New Orleans. Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio is produced by Murray Street Production s on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
External links
- Wendell Pierce Opens Up About 'Treme,' Jazz and New Orleans – Interview with Wendell Pierce.