# Marque Richardson

Marque Richardson Jr. (born October 23, 1985) is an American actor.

## Early life

Richardson was born in San Diego, California in the U.S., in a naval hospital. Both parents served in the United States Navy. His father hails from Detroit, Michigan in the U.S., and his mother from Newport News, Virginia in the U.S. The elder of two siblings, he began his acting career starring in commercials at the age of four. Having moved around frequently, he was primarily raised in Bellflower, California in the U.S.
Balancing school life with entertainment, Richardson was a scholar-athlete at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. In 2007, he graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in business, Public Policy, Planning & Management on full scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
After graduation Richardson interned at Overbrook Entertainment to gain insight of life behind the camera.

## Career

One of Richardson's first television roles was a guest appearance on The Bernie Mac Show as Tyrone, aka "Lemon-Lyme". He has also appeared in ER, 7th Heaven, Lincoln Heights and Rules of Engagement. He starred in the web series My Alibi. He had a recurring role on USA Networks' The Starter Wife.
He won a role in Joseph Kahn's horror/comedy film Detention, released by Sony in 2012. He most notably scored recurring roles as Kenneth on Seasons 5 and 6 of HBO's hit True Blood, and, in 2013, as Mark Gage in the HBO series The Newsroom.
In 2014, Richardson starred in the critically acclaimed film Dear White People, a satire that won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize "for the arrival of an exciting new voice in American cinema" at Sundance. The film was theatrically released by Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions. He also reprises his starring role in Dear White People, the "Netflix Original" TV show based on the film.

## Personal life

Richardson is a strong advocate of community service and has been involved with various global service projects. In 2005, he traveled to Khao Lak, Thailand to provide relief after the area's devastating tsunami in December, 2004. He also worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (post Hurricane Katrina) and Retalhuleu, Guatemala. In 2018 he partnered to form The Jordan Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund, an endowment fund that awards scholarships to honor the legacy of Jordan Edwards, a child who was murdered by a police officer in Dallas, Texas.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Flossin | Malik | |
| 2008 | Superhero Movie | Xavier's Older Son | |
| 2009 | Crossing Over | Disparaging Teen #1 | |
| 2010 | The 41-Year-Old Virgin | Blaqguy | |
| 2011 | Detention | Toby T. | |
| 2011 | The Exam | Dr. Wang | Short |
| 2011 | The Blind Side | Ryan (voice) | Short |
| 2011 | The HABO (Help-A-Brotha-Out) Institute | Black Guy | Short |
| 2012 | A Real Black Horror | Justice | Short |
| 2013 | TOO LEGIT | MC Hammer | Short |
| 2013 | Browsers | Gabe Blackman | TV movie |
| 2013 | Wiener Dog Nationals | Dirk | |
| 2014 | Dear White People | Reggie | |
| 2014 | I Like You a Latte | Michael | Short |
| 2014 | Jingle Dead II | Santa Claus | Short |
| 2015 | Strays | JP | Short |
| 2016 | Dating Daisy | Marcus | |
| 2016 | All the Way | Bob Moses | TV movie |
| 2017 | Pick Up | Ben | Short |
| 2017 | Legacy | Floyd | Short |
| 2018 | Step Sisters | Kevin | |
| 2020 | Inheritance | Scott Monroe | |
| 2020 | Antebellum | Nick DeWall | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | 7th Heaven | Todd | Episode: "Got MLK?" |
| 2006 | The Bernie Mac Show | Tyrone | Episode: "What Would Jason Do?" |
| 2007 | Unfabulous | Sailor Waiter | Episode: "The Best Trip Ever: Part 1 & 2" |
| 2008 | ER | Saga | Episode: "The Book of Abby" |
| 2008 | Lincoln Heights | Looter | Episode: "The Ground Beneath Our Feet" |
| 2008 | Chocolate News | Soldier #1 | Episode: "Episode #1.8" |
| 2008 | The Starter Wife | Campbell | Recurring cast |
| 2008–09 | My Alibi | Justin Walker | Main cast |
| 2009 | Rules of Engagement | Catcher | Episode: "Old Timer's Day" |
| 2011 | Community | Special Agent Glenn Keenlan | Episode: "Intro to Political Science" |
| 2011 | N.C.I.S. | Navy Seaman Joey Elson | Episode: "Two-Faced" |
| 2012 | The Middle | Nick | Episode: "Halloween III: The Driving" |
| 2012 | All the Wrong Notes | Kanye | Episode: "Kanye Baby" |
| 2012–13 | True Blood | Kenneth | Recurring cast: season 4-5 |
| 2013 | Anger Management | Logan | Episode: "Charlie Lets Kate Take Charge" |
| 2013 | The Hustle | Cameron | Recurring cast |
| 2013 | Run DMZ | Tito | Episode: "Episode #1.3 & #1.6" |
| 2013 | The Newsroom | Mark Gage | Recurring cast: season 2 |
| 2014 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Brian Jenson | Episode: "Full Boyle" |
| 2016 | Rosewood | Bennie | Episode: "Eddie & the Empire State of Mind" |
| 2017–21 | Dear White People | Reggie Green | Recurring cast: season 1, main cast: season 2-4 |
| 2021 | Tell Me Your Secrets | Tom Johnston | Recurring cast |
| 2021 | Genius: Aretha | King Curtis | Recurring cast: season 3 |
| 2023 | Unprisoned | Mal | Main cast |
| 2024 | Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult | Himself |