# Joseph C. Phillips

Joseph Connor Phillips (born January 17, 1962) is an American actor, writer, and conservative Christian commentator. He is best known for his role as Martin Kendall on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, and as Justus Ward on the soap opera General Hospital.

## Career

After graduating from the Professional Theatre Training Program at New York University, Phillips appeared on stage in theatre productions at the Manhattan Bridge Company, Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and a starring role in the world premiere of Toni Morrison's Dreaming Emmett at Capital Repertory Theatre in 1986.
Amid radio and television commercials, Phillips landed a guest role on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow and a second-season appearance on the popular NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. Four years later, he returned to The Cosby Show in his most notable role, that of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Martin Kendall, which he portrayed from 1989 to 1991.
He portrayed attorney Justus Ward on the ABC soap opera General Hospital from 1994 to 1998. Phillips was also a guest political commentator on News & Notes on most NPR radio stations between 2004 and 2009.

## Education and associations

Phillips is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He attended the University of the Pacific as a communications major, but later transferred to the acting conservatory at New York University where he graduated with a BFA in acting in 1983.
Phillips is an ambassador for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. He has spoken extensively about the disease and its effect on the family. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors Equity Association, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, was National Co-Chair of the African American Steering committee for Bush Cheney '04, was named a member of the Republican National Committee's African American Advisory Board, was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the state board of directors of the California African American Museum and was named a 2005 Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow.
In 2022, Phillips joined the faculty of Clark Atlanta University as a professor in the theatre and communications department.

## Conservative activism

Phillips, a Republican, is a television and radio commentator and has written a weekly syndicated column that promotes conservative views. He has been a critic of affirmative action and same-sex marriage in the United States. His book, He Talk Like a White Boy, reflects his thoughts in this regard.

## Personal life

Joseph Phillips' mother died when he was young. After this, he became close to the mother of Duane Evans, his cousin. Phillips is from Colorado. He and his wife Nicole have three sons, Connor, Ellis, and Samuel. In 2006, Phillips published an autobiography, He Talk Like A White Boy, which includes a foreword by Tavis Smiley.

## Filmography

    n.b. for credit listings reference
Film :
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1991 | Strictly Business | Waymon Tinsdale III | |
| 1998 | A Fare to Remember | | Supporting actor |
| 1998 | Let's Talk About Sex | Michael | |
| 2005 | Getting Played | Robert Mitchellson | |
| 2010 | Church | Melvin | |
| 2010 | Boogie Town | Chief Salsbury | |
| Television ||||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Search for Tomorrow | Cruiser McCulla | |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Darryl Marchamp | Episode: "Cliff in Love" (S 2:Ep 4) |
| 1988 | Hothouse | Guest star | Episode: "The Good Family" (S 1:Ep 1 Pilot) |
| 1989–92 | The Cosby Show | Lt. Martin Kendall | Main cast (Seasons 6–8) |
| 1989 | A Raisin in the Sun | George Murchison | TV-movie |
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Matt Johnson | Episode: "Poison" (S 1:Ep 8) |
| 1989 | A Different World | Lt. Martin Kendall | Episode: "Forever Hold Your Peace" (S 3:Ep 5) |
| 1993 | Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the '90s | | Supporting actor |
| 1994–98 | General Hospital | Justus Ward | Main cast |
| 1995 | Martin | Derrick | Episode: "The Ex-Files" (S 3:Ep 17) |
| 1996 | Soul Train | Host | Episode: "Brian McKnight/ Goodie Mob/ Barrio Boyzz" (S 25:Ep 14) |
| 1996 | Living Single | Jeremy Mills IV | Episode: "Not So Silent Partner" (S 4:Ep 4) |
| 1997 | The Larry Sanders Show | James | Episode: "The Book" (S 5:Ep 10) |
| 1999 | Any Day Now | Mark Sanborn | Episode: "Family Is Family" (S 2:Ep 8) |
| 2000 | Midnight Blue | Luke Jordan | TV-movie |
| 2000 | Perfect Murder, Perfect Town | Det. McKinley | TV-movie Alternative title: Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Martin | Episode: "To Have or Halve Not" (S 1:Ep 12) |
| 2000 | Popular | Harrison's Doctor | Episode: "Ur-ine Trouble" (S 2:Ep 7) |
| 2001 | The Parkers | Rev. Reggie Wright | Episode: "Mama, I Want to Sing" (S 2Ep 12) |
| 2001 | The King of Queens | Bill | Episode: "Separation Anxiety" (S 3:Ep 20) |
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Lowry's Attorney | Episode: "Look Closer" S 3:Ep 5) |
| 2001 | V.I.P. | Geiger | Episode: 'Kayus Ex Machina" (S 4:Ep 9) |
| 2002 | Family Law | Abram Hatch | Episode: "Children of a Lesser Dad" (S 3:Ep 15) |
| 2002–03 | The District | Mayor Morgan Douglas | Recurring |
| 2004 | E!'s 101 | Interviewee | Episode: "Most Awesome Moments in Entertainment 60 - 41" (S 2:Ep 8) |
| 2004–05 | Las Vegas | Langley | Episodes: "Blood Is Thicker" (S 2:Ep 3) "Centennial" (S 2:Ep 24) |
| 2005 | Jack & Bobby | Coach Braxton | Episode: "Friends with Benefits" (S 1:Ep 18) |
| 2005–06 | Without a Trace | Marcus Johnson | Recurring |
| 2006 | Vanished | J.T. Morse | Recurring |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Richard Vahn | Episode: "No Safe Place" (S 3:Ep 4) |
| 2008 | The Young and the Restless | Agent Jed Paulson | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Bones | Col. Ryan Wolchuck | Episode: "The Con Man in the Meth Lab" (S 4:Ep 9) |
| 2009 | Castle | Mayor | Episodes: "Home Is Where the Heart Stops" (S 1:Ep 7) "Ghosts" (S 1:Ep 8) |
| 2010 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Donnie | Episode: "Loved and Lost" (S 2:Ep 15) |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Alan Knee | Episode: "Blood In, Blood Out" (S 2:Ep 14) |
| 2010 | The Event | Security Guard | Episodes: "I Haven't Told You Everything" (S 1:Ep 1–Pilot) "To Keep Us Safe" (S 1:Ep 2) |
| 2016 | Dispatch | Detective Arnold |
| 2017-2020 | 13 Reasons Why | Greg Davis | Recurring |
| 2018 | The Rookie | Lawyer Jephson Green | "Homefront" (S 1:Ep 18) |
| 2020 | The Resident | Talk Show Host | "Last Shot" (S 3:Ep 15) |
| 2020 | Criminal Minds | Deputy Director James Barbour | Recurring; 3 episodes |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominated work | Association | Category | Result |
| 1997 | General Hospital | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Nominated |
| 1998 | General Hospital | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Nominated |
| 1999 | General Hospital | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Nominated |