James Pickens Jr.. - Wikipedia James Pickens Jr.. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. ( February 2012 ) James Pickens Jr. Pickens in 2007 ( 1954 - 10 - 26 ) October 26, 1954 ( age 63 ) Cleveland, Ohio, United States Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S. Spouse ( s ) Gina Pickens Children James Pickens Jr. ( born October 26, 1954 ) is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama television series Grey 's Anatomy, and for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series The X-Files. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 5 References 6 External links Early life Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He began acting while a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of Matters of Choice by Chuck Gordone. Pickens earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from BGSU in 1976. Career Pickens started his professional acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City 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 1986, 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 `` X-Files '' as Deputy Director Kersh, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under. He also served a role in 42. In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film Red Dragon. 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 sought 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 play Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama Grey 's Anatomy. Personal life Pickens married Gina Taylor, a former member of Musique, on May 27, 1984 and has two children. In his spare time Pickens can be found riding horseback and roping cattle. He is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in roping events across the country. He owns an American Quarter Horse named Smokey. James 's two children, Carl Tharps and Gavyn Pickens, are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is working on a Hip - Hop career and can be seen in various television appearances, including Hangin ' with Mr. Cooper where he appeared alongside his long - time friend Omar Gooding. His father James Pickens Sr. worked for the City of Cleveland. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 F / X Ambulance Driver Hotshot N / A 1992 Trespass Police Officer Reese 1993 Boiling Point Prison Officer 1993 Menace II Society Man 1994 Hostile Intentions Capt. Connor 1994 Jimmy Hollywood Cook 1995 Dead Presidents Mr. Curtis 1995 Nixon Black Orator Power 98 Det. Wilkinson Sleepers Marlboro Ghosts of Mississippi Medgar Evers 1997 Gridlock 'd Supervisor 1997 RocketMan Ben Stevens 1998 Sphere O.S.S.A. Instructor 1998 Bulworth Uncle David 1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back Walter Payne 1999 Liberty Heights Sylvia 's Father 2000 Traffic Ben Williams 2002 Home Room Principal Robbins 2003 White Rush Denny 2005 Venom Sheriff 2008 Ball Do n't Lie Roberto Just Wright Lloyd Wright 2013 42 Mr. Brock Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 -- 1990 Another World Zack Edwards Unknown episodes 1990 -- 1996 Roseanne Chuck Mitchell 19 episodes 1991 -- 1992 Beverly Hills, 90210 Henry Thomas 10 episodes 1992 Blossom Vinnie Episode : `` The Letter '' 1992 Parker Lewis Ca n't Lose Fred Episode : `` Hungry Heart '' 1992 L.A. Law Joseph Russell Episode : `` Zo Long '' 1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Jerry Episode : `` Roommate with a View '' 1992 Exclusive Jonathan Heglin Television film 1993 Murder, She Wrote Sonny Greene Episode : `` The Survivor '' 1994 Renegade Lieutenant Pete Calloway Episode : `` Hostage '' 1994 Coach Rick Williams Episode : `` Blue Chip Blues '' 1994 Me and the Boys Coach Episode : `` Black Dads Ca n't Jump '' 1994 Sodbusters Isaac Television film 1994 Child 's Cry for Help, AA Child 's Cry for Help Brad Currie Television film 1994 Lily in Winter Chick Television film 1995 Trail by Fire Television film 1995 Sharon 's Secret Ashmore Television film 1995 Touched by an Angel George Episode : `` The Driver '' In the House Russell Episode : `` My Crazy Valentine '' Lazarus Man, The The Lazarus Man N / A Episode : `` The Conspirator '' One West Waikiki N / A Episode : `` Allergic to Golf '' Dangerous Minds Coach Butch Kelly Episode : `` Moonstruck '' Bloodhounds Agent John DeGraf Television film 1996 -- 1997 Something So Right Jim 5 episodes 1997 Pacific Palisades Josh Smith Episode : `` Past & Present Danger '' 1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Staff Sgt. Luther Parrish Episode : `` The Fighting McLains '' 1997 -- 1998 Brooklyn South Detective 4 episodes 1997 -- 2000 Practice, The The Practice Detective Mike McKrew 15 episodes 1998 Pretender, The The Pretender Clark Thomas Episode : `` Crash '' 1998 Seinfeld Detective Hudson Episode : `` The Finale '' 1998 Little Girl Fly Away Detective Walter Engelhart Television film 1998 -- 2000 Any Day Now Judge Lucius Pearl 3 episodes 1998 -- 2002 X-Files, The The X-Files FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh 19 episodes Nominated -- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 1999 Vengeance Unlimited Mr. Hobbs Episode : `` Friends '' 1999 JAG Commander Wallace Burke 2 episodes 1999 A Slight Case of Murder Det. Larry Gray Television film 2000 City of Angels Wilson Patterson 3 episodes 2000 Daddio Doug Grayson Episode : `` The Premium Also Rises '' 2000 District, The The District Mr. Lane Episode : `` The Real Terrorist '' 2000 Family Law N / A Episode : `` Family Values '' 2000 NYPD Blue Lt. Joe Abner 3 episodes 2001 Semper Fi Mr. Maddox Television film 2001 -- 2002 Philly Clyde Coleman 7 episodes 2002 Strong Medicine Dr. Everett Sloane Episode : `` Outcomes '' 2002 Crossing Jordan Agent Hawkins Episode : `` Bombs Away '' 2002 MDs Mr. Farrell Episode : `` Cruel and Unusual '' 2002 -- 2003 Six Feet Under Roderick Charles 2 episodes 2002 -- 2003 Becker Cliff Bennett 2 episodes 2003 CSI : Miami Prison Warden Episode : `` Body Count '' 2003 Lyon 's Den, The The Lyon 's Den Terrance Christianson 3 episodes Line of Fire Kenneth Stevens Episode : `` The Senator '' West Wing, The The West Wing Mayor Episode : `` Full Disclosure '' Jack & Bobby Marcus Ride Episode : `` Pilot '' 2005 Curb Your Enthusiasm Doctor 2 episodes 2005 -- present Grey 's Anatomy Richard Webber Main Cast ( Season 1 -- present ) NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Satellite Award for Best Cast -- Television Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated -- Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( 2006 -- 11 ) Nominated -- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series ( 2006, 2008 ) 2007 -- 2009 Private Practice Richard Webber 2 episodes References ^ Jump up to : Anatomy of an Actor, BGSU Magazine, 8 ( Summer 2007 ) : 12 - 13. Jump up ^ `` H.R. 808 - Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act, 110th Congress ( 2007 - 2008 ) ''. Retrieved 9 August 2016. Jump up ^ Martino, Stacey. `` The Gift of Peace ''. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2016. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Pickens, Jr... James Pickens Jr. on IMDb Satellite Award for Best Cast -- Television Series 2000 The West Wing Alan Alda Stockard Channing Kristin Chenoweth Dulé Hill Allison Janney Moira Kelly Rob Lowe Joshua Malina Mary McCormack Janel Moloney Richard Schiff Martin Sheen Jimmy Smits John Spencer Bradley Whitford 2001 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Amber Benson Marc Blucas David Boreanaz Nicholas Brendon Charisma Carpenter Emma Caulfield Sarah Michelle Gellar Seth Green Alyson Hannigan Anthony Stewart Head James Marsters Michelle Trachtenberg 2005 Rescue Me Denis Leary John Scurti Daniel Sunjata Mike Lombardi Steven Pasquale Andrea Roth Callie Thorne Adam Ferrara Larenz Tate James McCaffrey Dean Winters 2006 Grey 's Anatomy Justin Chambers Eric Dane Patrick Dempsey Katherine Heigl T.R. Knight Sandra Oh James Pickens Jr. Ellen Pompeo Sara Ramirez Kate Walsh Isaiah Washington Chandra Wilson 2007 Mad Men Bryan Batt Anne Dudek Michael Gladis Jon Hamm Christina Hendricks January Jones Vincent Kartheiser Robert Morse Elisabeth Moss Kiernan Shipka Maggie Siff John Slattery Rich Sommer Aaron Staton 2009 True Blood Chris Bauer Mehcad Brooks Anna Camp Nelsan Ellis Michelle Forbes Mariana Klaveno Ryan Kwanten Todd Lowe Michael McMillian Stephen Moyer Anna Paquin Jim Parrack Carrie Preston William Sanderson Alexander Skarsgård Sam Trammell Rutina Wesley Deborah Ann Woll 2012 The Walking Dead Andrew Lincoln Sarah Wayne Callies Laurie Holden Norman Reedus Steven Yeun Lauren Cohan Chandler Riggs Melissa McBride Scott Wilson Danai Gurira Michael Rooker David Morrissey 2013 Orange Is the New Black Taylor Schilling Laura Prepon Michael J. Harney Michelle Hurst Kate Mulgrew Jason Biggs 2014 The Knick Clive Owen André Holland Jeremy Bobb Juliet Rylance Eve Hewson Michael Angarano Chris Sullivan Cara Seymour Eric Johnson David Fierro Maya Kazan Leon Addison Brown Grainger Hines Matt Frewer 2015 American Crime Felicity Huffman Timothy Hutton W. Earl Brown Richard Cabral Regina King Caitlin Gerard Benito Martinez Penelope Ann Miller Elvis Nolasco Johnny Ortiz 2016 Outlander Caitriona Balfe Sam Heughan Tobias Menzies Lotte Verbeek Laura Donnelly Steven Cree Duncan Lacroix Grant O'Rourke Gary Lewis Graham McTavish Stephen Walters Simon Callow Nell Hudson Dominique Pinon Stanley Weber Richard Rankin Sophie Skelton Andrew Gower Rosie Day Clive Russell Frances de la Tour Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series ( 2000 -- 2009 ) 2000 : The West Wing, season 1 / season 2 Hill Janney Kelly Lowe Moloney Schiff Sheen Spencer Whitford 2001 : The West Wing, season 2 / season 3 Hill Janney Lowe Moloney Schiff Sheen Spencer Whitford 2002 : Six Feet Under, season 2 Ambrose Conroy Griffiths Hall Krause Rodríguez St. Patrick 2003 : Six Feet Under, season 3 Ambrose Conroy Foster Griffiths Hall Krause Macdissi Machado Rodríguez St. Patrick Taylor Wilson 2004 : CSI : Crime Scene Investigation, season 4 / season 5 Dourdan Eads Fox Guilfoyle Hall Helgenberger Petersen Szmanda 2005 : Lost, season 1 / season 2 Akinnuoye - Agbaje Andrews de Ravin Fox Garcia Grace Holloway Kelley D.D. Kim Y. Kim Lilly Monaghan O'Quinn Perrineau Rodriguez Somerhalder Watros 2006 : Grey 's Anatomy, season 2 / season 3 Chambers Dane Dempsey Heigl Knight Oh Pickens Pompeo Ramirez Walsh Washington Wilson 2007 : The Sopranos, season 6, part II Antonacci Bracco Falco Gandolfini Grimaldi Iler Imperioli Nascarella Schirripa Servitto Sigler Sirico Turturro Van Zandt Vincent 2008 : Mad Men, season 2 Batt Brie Gladis Hamm Hart Hendricks Jones Kartheiser Moses Moss Shipka Slattery Sommer Staton 2009 : Mad Men, season 3 Alemanni Batt Gilmore Gladis Hamm Harris Hendricks Jones Kartheiser Morse Moss Shipka Slattery Sommer Stanley Staton Complete list ( 1994 -- 1999 ) ( 2000 -- 2009 ) ( 2010 -- present ) VIAF : 19330100 LCCN : no2001055272 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Pickens_Jr.&oldid=800937188 '' Categories : 1954 births Male actors from Cleveland American male film actors African - American male actors American male television actors Bowling Green State University alumni Living people 20th - century American male actors 21st - century American male actors Roping ( rodeo ) Hidden categories : BLP articles lacking sources from February 2012 All BLP articles lacking sources Articles with hCards Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Italiano עברית ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 16 September 2017, at 17 : 11. 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Question: who plays richard webber on grey's anatomy
Answer: James Pickens Jr.