# Clifton Powell

Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956) is an American actor who primarily plays supporting roles in films, such as in Ray (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture nomination.

## Career

Powell has appeared in more than one hundred films, beginning in the 1980s. His credits include Menace II Society (1993), Dead Presidents (1995), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Rush Hour (1998), Next Friday (2000), and its 2002 sequel, Friday After Next, Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004), and Ray (2004). He played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1999 television film Selma, Lord, Selma. Powell also has had many supporting roles in smaller direct-to-video films in 2000s and 2010s.
On television, Powell had the recurring roles on Roc, South Central, and Army Wives, and well as guest-starred on In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote, NYPD Blue, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and House. In 2016, Powell was cast as main antagonist in the Bounce TV first prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway and Gloria Reuben.
Powell is also known for his voice acting role as Big Smoke in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
In 2017, Powell appeared in the second season of My Step Kidz.

## Personal life

Powell was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Mayfair Mansions in Northeast D.C. He attended HD Woodson Senior High School, before he transferred and graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He is the uncle of famed sports broadcaster, James Brown. Powell is married to Kimberly, with whom he has two children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Ephraim McDowell's Kentucky Ride | Tyrone | TV movie |
| 1984 | Alphabet City | Ramon | |
| 1990 | House Party | Sharane's Brother | |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Rioter 1 | TV movie |
| 1992 | Deep Cover | Officer Leland | |
| 1992 | 3 Ninjas | FBI Agent Kurl | |
| 1993 | Conflict of Interest | Detective Oakes | |
| 1993 | Menace II Society | Chauncey | |
| 1994 | Green Dolphin Beat | Armstrong | TV movie |
| 1994 | Nowhere to Hide | Braddock | TV movie |
| 1995 | Divas | Bobby | TV movie |
| 1995 | Dead Presidents | Cutty | |
| 1997 | Riot | Steve | TV movie |
| 1997 | First Time Felon | King | TV movie |
| 1997 | Buffalo Soldiers | - | TV movie |
| 1998 | Phantoms | General Leland Copperfield | |
| 1998 | Deep Rising | Mason | |
| 1998 | Caught Up | Herbert / Frank Lowden | |
| 1998 | The Pentagon Wars | Sergeant Benjamin Dalton | TV movie |
| 1998 | Why Do Fools Fall in Love | Lawrence Roberts | |
| 1998 | Rush Hour | Luke | |
| 1999 | Safe House | Detective Horace Williams | |
| 1999 | The Breaks | Cosmo | |
| 1999 | Foolish | Everette Washington | |
| 1999 | Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years | Frazier Johnson | TV movie |
| 1999 | No Tomorrow | Styles | |
| 2000 | Next Friday | Pinky | |
| 2000 | Hot Boyz | Saint | Video |
| 2000 | A Private Affair | Isaiah | TV movie |
| 2000 | Lockdown | Malachi Young | |
| 2001 | The Brothers | Fred Smith | |
| 2001 | Bones | Jeremiah Peet | |
| 2002 | Civil Brand | Captain Alan Deese | |
| 2002 | Ticker | FBI Agent | Short |
| 2002 | Friday After Next | Pinky | |
| 2002 | Play'd: A Hip Hop Story | Oz | TV movie |
| 2003 | Crime Partners | Kenyatta | |
| 2003 | Love Chronicles | Thomas | |
| 2003 | Tapped Out | Detective Blackman | |
| 2004 | Never Die Alone | Moon | |
| 2004 | Woman Thou Art Loosed | Reggie | |
| 2004 | Ray | Jeff Brown | |
| 2004 | Roscoe's House of Chicken n Waffles | Mo Fro | Video |
| 2004 | Sugar Valentine | Joshua Valentine | |
| 2004 | Da Block Party | Action Jackson | Video |
| 2004 | Pryor Offenss | Bucky | TV movie |
| 2004 | He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? | Satin Jones | Video |
| 2004 | Choices 2 | - | Video |
| 2005 | Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up | Big Man | Video |
| 2005 | White Men Can't Rap | DaRon | |
| 2005 | Golden Empire | Old School | |
| 2005 | The Fabric of a Man | Blair | Video |
| 2005 | Brothers in Arms | Doc | |
| 2005 | The Gospel | Bishop Fred Taylor | |
| 2005 | Knights of the South Bronx | Cokey | TV movie |
| 2006 | Confessions of a Call Girl | Chauncey | |
| 2006 | Who Made the Potato Salad? | Mr. Jenkins | |
| 2006 | It Ain't Easy | Fish | Video |
| 2006 | Faceless | Langdon Fox | TV movie |
| 2007 | Norbit | Earl Latimore | |
| 2007 | Da Block Party 2 | Action Jackson | Video |
| 2007 | Gangsta Rap: The Glockumentary | Tommy Guns | |
| 2007 | Young Cesar | Ali Dean | |
| 2007 | Father of Lies | Bishop Calvin Jacobs | Video |
| 2008 | First Sunday | Officer Eddie King | |
| 2008 | R&B Chick | Benjamin | Video |
| 2008 | Show Stoppers | Coach | |
| 2008 | Street Kings | Sergeant Green | |
| 2008 | Love for Sale | Cinque | |
| 2008 | Block Party Madness | Action Jackson | Video |
| 2008 | Vicious Circle | Freddy | |
| 2008 | 3 Dimensions of a Man | Spencer | Video |
| 2008 | The Rimshop | Joe Joe's Father | |
| 2008 | Internet Dating | Leroy 'The Pimp' | Video |
| 2008 | Jazz in the Diamond District | Blair Morgan | |
| 2008 | Jada | Terrance | |
| 2008 | American Dream | Old Skool | |
| 2009 | Man of Her Dreams | Senator Marcus Gordon | |
| 2009 | There's a Stranger in My House | Mr. John Moore | |
| 2009 | God Send Me a Man | Bishop | |
| 2009 | Steppin: The Movie | Detective Lewis | |
| 2009 | Just Another Day | Bowman | |
| 2009 | Before I Self Destruct | Sean | Video |
| 2009 | Busted | Leroy | |
| 2009 | Contradictions of the Heart | Damien | Video |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Ike | |
| 2010 | Let God Be the Judge | Gabriel | |
| 2010 | When The Lights Go Out | Freddy | Video |
| 2010 | Heaven Ain't Hard to Find | Big Bill Herod | |
| 2010 | Trapped: Haitian Nights | Mike | |
| 2010 | Vigilante: The Hayward Brown Story | Henry Brown | |
| 2010 | Chain Letter | Coach | |
| 2010 | Love Me or Leave Me | Cecil | TV movie |
| 2010 | Something Like a Business | Sexy Silk | |
| 2011 | The Ideal Husband | Daniel | TV movie |
| 2011 | Street Kings 2: Motor City | Detective Tyrone Fowler | Video |
| 2011 | 35 and Ticking | Zane | |
| 2011 | She's Not Our Sister | Rev. Beckley | TV movie |
| 2011 | The Perfect Gift | Michael Sr. | |
| 2011 | He's Mine Not Yours | Walter | |
| 2011 | The Saints of Mt. Christopher | Donald Ray Williams | |
| 2011 | 23rd Psalm: Redemption | Lester Wayne | |
| 2012 | Dead Money | Leon | |
| 2012 | The Marriage Chronicles | Robert McDaniel | |
| 2012 | Nicki: A Hip Hop Love Story | Mr. Jamison | |
| 2012 | Supernatural Swamp Slaughter | - | |
| 2012 | Womack | Gilly Smalls | Short |
| 2012 | Note to Self | Coach Gerald Woodson | |
| 2012 | C'mon Man | Rooselvelt Steele | |
| 2012 | Interludes | Blake | |
| 2012 | Somebody's Child | Dr. Sperry | TV movie |
| 2012 | The House of Malik | Uncle Kyle | |
| 2012 | The Undershepherd | Deacon Roberts | |
| 2012 | One Blood | Winston | |
| 2013 | Coffin Baby | Detective S. Jackson | |
| 2013 | Criminal Behavior | Cedric | |
| 2013 | They Die by Dawn | Deputy Sheriff | |
| 2013 | The Dempsey Sisters | Theo Dempsey | |
| 2013 | Shake | Red | |
| 2013 | Mutumbo the Lost Prince | Oscer | |
| 2013 | God's Precious Jewels | Joe Thomas | |
| 2013 | Forbidden Woman | Randall Trace | |
| 2014 | Blood Ransom | Detective Hobbs | |
| 2014 | 99 North | Uncle P | |
| 2015 | Fear Files | Detective Owen Marsh | TV movie |
| 2015 | A Baby for Christmas | Gavin | TV movie |
| 2015 | The Freight Rider | William | Short |
| 2015 | Love Won't Let Me Wait | Bishop Buckworth | |
| 2016 | The North Star | Mr. Lee | |
| 2016 | A Weekend with the Family | Dingo Stankershet | |
| 2016 | Guns and Grams | Mr. Marshall | |
| 2016 | Banger | Chief Crans | |
| 2016 | Where Hearts Lie | Carl | |
| 2016 | Hunting Season | Thomas Curry | |
| 2016 | Flowers Movie | Mr. Waldell | |
| 2016 | Merry Ex-Mas | Pastor Jordan | TV movie |
| 2016 | King of Newark | Juice | |
| 2017 | Mountain Top | Larry Fletcher | |
| 2017 | The Preacher's Son | Bishop T.K. Wilson | |
| 2017 | The Cheaters Club | Marvin | |
| 2017 | Misguided Behavior | Captain Rogers | |
| 2017 | Love by Chance | Donald | |
| 2017 | The Hills | Captain Pearson | |
| 2017 | Schooling Life | President Adams | Short |
| 2017 | All Eyez on Me | Floyd | |
| 2017 | Chasing Titles Vol. 1 | T Parker | Short |
| 2018 | Fade Away | Eazy | |
| 2018 | The Choir Director | Bishop T.K. Wilson | |
| 2018 | Easy Money | Mr. Miller | |
| 2018 | Couples' Night | Rich | |
| 2018 | Dogstar: High School 2 | - (voice) | |
| 2018 | Sinners Wanted | One Eye | |
| 2018 | A Talent for Trouble | Mr. Wellington | |
| 2018 | 5K1 | Barry | |
| 2018 | Worth | Tony | |
| 2018 | Fatima's Revenge | Lt. Earl Garrison | |
| 2018 | Juug Gone Wrong | Mr. Johnson | |
| 2018 | Everything That Glitters | Fram | |
| 2018 | Sliders | Mr. Miller | |
| 2018 | Gangland: The Musical | Pastor Earl | |
| 2019 | Prodigal | Censear | |
| 2019 | Sins of the Father | Kevin | TV movie |
| 2019 | I Got the Hook Up 2 | Tony Smooth | |
| 2019 | Diamond in the Rough | Pastor Davis | |
| 2019 | The Lick Movie | Richard Jacobson | |
| 2019 | Let Go and Let God | Donald | |
| 2019 | The Probe | Commissioner Davis | TV movie |
| 2020 | The Available Wife | Mitchell | |
| 2020 | Guns and Grams | Mr. Marshall | |
| 2021 | Saints & Sinners Judgment Day | Rex | TV movie |
| 2021 | Fruits of the Heart | Marcus | |
| 2021 | Seven Deadly Sins: Envy | - | TV movie |
| 2021 | The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 | Angry Cop | |
| 2021 | Moonlight Soul | Greg Monaghan | |
| 2022 | Chocolate City 3: Live Tour | Mr. James Williams | |
| 2022 | Boxed In | Witt 'Pa' Scandrick | |
| 2022 | The Next 24 Hours | Max | |
| 2023 | The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation | Sugar Slim | |
| 2023 | The In Law Gang! | John Sr. | |
| 2023 | Recession Proof | Jackson Holloway | |
| 2023 | Player | Donti Player | |
| 2023 | Sebastian | Captain Harris | |
| 2023 | Boxed In 2 | Witt 'Pa' Scandrick | |
| 2023 | Gangster's Daughter 2 | - | |
| 2024 | Skeletons in the Closet | Father Francisco | |
| 2024 | Once in a Valentine | William | |
| 2024 | The Probe | Commissioner Davis | |
| 2024 | Hidden Lies | Hector | |
| 2024 | Negligence | Judge | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Tour of Duty | Luther Fraction | Episode: "Payback" |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Cop | Episode: "Potts Don't Fail Me Now" |
| 1990 | Equal Justice | Mugger | Episode: "Promises to Keep" |
| 1991 | Gabriel's Fire | Admitting Clerk | Episode: "The Great Waldo" |
| 1991 | Matlock | Security Guard | Episode: "The Trial: Part 1" |
| 1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Director | Episode: "Nevertheless" |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Jermaine Watkins | Episode: "Opening Farewell" |
| 1992 | Martin | Younger Cop | Episode: "The Great Payne Robbery" |
| 1992–94 | Roc | Andre Thompson | Recurring Cast |
| 1993 | In the Heat of the Night | Henry Cowen | Episode: "Leftover Man: Part 1 & 2" |
| 1993 | Thea | Ray Singer | Episode: "Dirty Laundry" |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Detective Eddie Flowers | Episode: "Lone Witness" |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue | Lewis Futrel | Episode: "Oscar, Meyer, Weiner" |
| 1993–94 | The Sinbad Show | Eddie | Recurring Cast |
| 1994 | South Central | Bobby Deavers | Recurring Cast |
| 1994 | Renegade | J.J. Corvell | Episode: "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" |
| 1995 | Simon | John Doe | Recurring Cast |
| 1995 | Murder She Wrote | Ralph Danton | Episode: "Big Easy Murder" |
| 1996 | Pacific Blue | Captain Brooks | Episode: "Pilot" & "First Shoot" |
| 1996 | Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal | Bob Williams | Episode: "4 Points" |
| 1997 | High Incident | - | Episode: "Black & Blue" |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Mr. Burns | Episode: "Last Call" |
| 1997 | New York Undercover | Elvin Barnes | Episode: "Is It a Crime?" |
| 1997 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Mazi | Episode: "The Employee Formerly Known as Prince" |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Gerald/Frankie | Episode: "As Flies to Careless Boys..." |
| 1997 | Moesha | Harold Moss/Ray Stokes | Episode: "Mentor" & "Rhythm and Dues" |
| 1998 | In the House | Eddie | Episode: "Working Overtime: Part 1 & 2" |
| 1999 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Martin Luther King Jr. | Episode: "Selma, Lord, Selma" |
| 1999 | Ryan Caulfield: Year One | Lt. Keith Vaughn | Recurring Cast |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | James Jackson | Episode: "Thunderhawk" |
| 2000 | Linc's | Suntza | Episode: "East Meets West" |
| 2000 | The Parkers | Mr. Alexander | Episode: "A Simple Plan" |
| 2001 | Moesha | R.C. | Episode: "Run, Mo, Run" & "Scary Marriage" |
| 2002 | One on One | Coach Guillory | Episode: "I Believe I Can Fly: Part 2" |
| 2002 | The Practice | Earl Johnson | Episode: "The Good Fight" |
| 2003 | Third Watch | Joy's Father | Episode: "10-13" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dempsey Powers | Episode: "Cuba Libre" |
| 2005 | House | Ken Hall | Episode: "Daddy's Boy" |
| 2006 | Eve | Yusef | Episode: "Daddy's Home" & "Daughter Don't Preach" |
| 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Terrance Crowley | Episode: "Burn Out" |
| 2006 | Day Break | Lt. Romero | Episode: "What If They're Stuck?" |
| 2007 | Shark | Ray Tillman | Episode: "Backfire" |
| 2007 | Numb3rs | Max Devane | Episode: "Chinese Box" |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Tom Bernard '08 | Episode: "Glory Days" |
| 2009–10 | Army Wives | Terrence Price | Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4 |
| 2010 | The Boondocks | 1st Prisoner (voice) | Episode: "A Date with the Booty Warrior" |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | C.O. Earls | Episode: "Like a Redheaded Stepchild" |
| 2011 | She's Still Not Our Sister | Rev. Beckley | Main Cast |
| 2011–12 | Black Dynamite | Black Dynamite's Daddy (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2012 | Awake | John Cooper | Episode: "Guilty" |
| 2012 | For Richer or Poorer | Mason | Recurring Cast |
| 2012 | The Garage | Marty P. Silverstein | Recurring Cast |
| 2012 | Unsupervised | Coach Durham (voice) | Recurring Cast |
| 2013 | JD Lawrence's Community Service | Bishop Nixon | Main Cast |
| 2015 | The Soul Man | Gooch | Episode: "Tell It Like It Isn't" |
| 2015 | Murder in the First | Ethan Rydel | Episode: "Schizofrenzy" |
| 2015 | Black Jesus | - | Episode: "False Witness" |
| 2016 | Mann & Wife | Bernard | Episode: "Miracle Mann" |
| 2016–22 | Saints & Sinners | Rex Fisher | Main Cast |
| 2017 | My Step Kidz | Mr. Stan Miller | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2017 | Tales | Bob Davis | Episode: "F*ck the Police" |
| 2018 | Brockmire | Charles Sr. | Episode: "Platoon Player" |
| 2018–19 | Hawaii Five-O | Percy Grover Jr. | Episode: "Lele pu na manu like" & "Hewa ka lima" |
| 2018–19 | Black Lightning | Reverend Jeremiah Holt | Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2018–22 | The Family Business | Uncle Lou | Recurring Cast: Season 1 & 4, Guest: Season 2 |
| 2019 | American Soul | Herschel | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2020 | Chase Street | Earl | Main Cast |
| 2020–21 | The Last O.G. | Big Mike | Recurring Cast: Season 3, Guest: Season 4 |
| 2021 | The Urbans | DJ Frankie Snow | Episode: "The Good Broccoli Part 1 & 2" |
| 2022 | Mortal Truth | Sheriff McFadden | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2023 | Legacy | Willy | Main Cast |
| 2024 | Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist | Mushmouth Rowe | Recurring Cast |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris | |
| 2021 | Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris | Archival recordings Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only |