Ving Rhames

Irving Rameses Rhames (born May 12, 1959) is an American stage and screen actor. He is best known for his starring role as Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible film series. He also appeared in Jacob's Ladder (1990), "Dave" (1993), Striptease (1996), Pulp Fiction (1994), Don King: Only in America (1997), Rosewood (1997), Con Air (1997), Bringing Out the Dead (1999), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Day of the Dead (2008), Piranha 3D (2010), and Father Figures (2017). He voiced Cobra Bubbles in the animated film Lilo & Stitch (2002). Rhames is a Golden Globe Award winner, as well as an Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee.
== Early life and education ==
Rhames was born on May 12, 1959 in Harlem, New York City, the son of Reather, a homemaker, and Ernest Rhames, an auto mechanic.[1][2] His parents were raised as sharecroppers in South Carolina.[2][3] He was named after NBCjournalist Irving R. Levine.[4]
He entered New York's High School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. After high school, he studied drama at SUNY Purchase, where fellow acting student Stanley Tucci gave him his nickname "Ving". Rhames later transferred to the Juilliard School's Drama Division (Group 12: 1979–1983)[5]where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1983.[6]
== Career ==
Rhames first appeared on Broadway in the play The Boys of Winter in 1984. He started out in film in Wes Craven's The People Under the Stairs (1991) as Leroy; he watched over Kevin Kline as Secret Service agent Duane Stevensen in Dave (1993); and he played Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994).
Rhames played Dr. Peter Benton's brother-in-law on the TV medical drama ER, a recurring role he filled for three seasons. He played ace computer hacker Luther Stickell opposite Tom Cruise in Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible (1996). In 1997 Rhames portrayed the character of Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones in the popular film Con Air. and Muki in the Ice Cube film Dangerous Ground.
Rhames won a Golden Globe in 1998 for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film in HBO's Don King: Only in America. At the ceremony he gave his award to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon, saying, "I feel that being an artist is about giving, and I'd like to give this to you." Lemmon was clearly touched by the gesture as was the celebrity audience who gave Lemmon a standing ovation. Lemmon, who tried unsuccessfully to give the award back to Rhames, said it was "one of the nicest, sweetest moments I've ever known in my life." The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced later that they would have a duplicate award prepared for Rhames. That moment was #98 on E!'s 101 Awesome Moments in Entertainment.[7][8][9] The New York Times lauded Rhames for the act, writing that in doing so he "demonstrated his capacity for abundant generosity."[9]
Rhames appeared in Striptease (1996) as the wisecracking bodyguard Shad, Bringing Out the Dead (1999), then reprised his Luther Stickell role for Mission: Impossible 2 (2000). He played Johnnie Cochran in American Tragedy (2000), the ex-con boyfriend of Jodie's mother in the John Singleton film Baby Boy, portrayed a gay drag queen in the television movie Holiday Heart, contributed his voice for the character of Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch (2002) and the subsequent TV series, and played a stoic cop fighting zombie hordes in Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Day of the Dead (2008) remakes. Rhames has also appeared in a series of television commercials for RadioShack, usually performing with Vanessa L. Williams.
In March 2005, Rhames played the lead role on a new Kojak series, on the USA Network cable channel (and on ITV4 in the UK). The bald head, lollipops, and "Who loves ya, baby?" catchphrase remained intact, but little else remained from the Savalas original.
Rhames voiced the part of Tobias Jones in the computer game Driver 3.
Reprising his Luther role, Rhames co-starred in Mission: Impossible III (2006), had a cameo appearance in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), and played a major role in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) and Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), the fifth and sixth films, respectively.[10] He is the only actor besides Tom Cruise to appear in all six Mission: Impossible films. It was announced that he would have a role in the Aquaman-based show Mercy Reef, however due to the integration of The WB and UPN for the new network, CW, Mercy Reef was not picked up. Rhames played a homosexual, possibly also homicidal, firefighter who comes out of the closet in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. He narrates the BET television series American Gangster.
In the 2008 film Saving God, he played an ex-con who is released from prison a changed man looking to take over his father's former church congregation in a deteriorating neighborhood. Rhames stars in Phantom Punch, a biopic of boxer Sonny Liston released directly to DVD as well as The Tournament portraying a fighter out to win a no-rules tournament.
Rhames makes an appearance in Ludacris's song "Southern Gangstas" on his album Theater of the Mind. Rappers Playaz Circle and Rick Ross are also featured on the track.
In 2010, he filed a lawsuit against the producer of a film titled Red Canvas,[11]claiming that he had only been paid $175,000 of a $200,000 contract.
He filmed the movie The Red Canvas with Ernie Reyes, Jr. and UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard and Randy Couture.
In 2015, he filmed a series of commercials for The ADT Corporation.
Rhames is one of the narrators for UFC.
Rhames introduced the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 Super Bowl LI (51).
Rhames's deep voice is the center of many recent (2015–present) Arby'scommercials, with the catchline 'Arby's, we have the meats!'
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1984	Go Tell It on the Mountain 	Young Gabriel Grimes 	
1986	Native Son 	Jack 	
1988	Patty Hearst 	Cinque Mtume 	
1989	Casualties of War 	Lt. Reilly 	
1990	The Long Walk Home 	Herbert Cotter 	
1990	Jacob's Ladder 	George 	
1991	Flight of the Intruder 	CPO Frank McRae 	
1991	Homicide 	Robert Randolph 	
1991	The People Under the Stairs 	Leroy 	
1992	Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot 	Mr. Stereo 	
1993	Blood in Blood Out 	Ivan 	
1993	Dave 	Duane Stevenson 	
1993	The Saint of Fort Washington 	Little Leroy 	
1994	Pulp Fiction 	Marsellus Wallace 	
1994	Drop Squad 	Garvey 	
1995	Kiss of Death 	Omar 	
1996	Mission: Impossible 	Luther Stickell 	
1996	Striptease 	Shad 	
1997	Dangerous Ground 	Muki 	
1997	Rosewood 	Mann 	
1997	Con Air 	Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones	
1998	Body Count 	Pike 	
1998	Out of Sight 	Buddy Bragg 	
1999	Entrapment 	Aaron Thibadeaux 	Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actor – Action
1999	Bringing Out the Dead 	Marcus 	Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor
2000	Mission: Impossible 2 	Luther Stickell 	
2001	Baby Boy 	Melvin 	Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor
2001	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 	Ryan Whittaker 	
2002	Undisputed 	George "Iceman" Chambers 	
2002	Lilo & Stitch 	Cobra Bubbles 	Voice
2002	Dark Blue 	Arthur Holland 	Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor
2003	Stitch! The Movie 	Cobra Bubbles 	Voice
2003	Sin 	Eddie Burns 	
2004	Dawn of the Dead 	Sgt. Kenneth Hall 	
2005	Back in the Day 	Joseph "J-Bone" Brown 	
2005	Animal 	James "Animal" Allen 	
2005	Shooting Gallery 	Cue Ball Carl Bridgers 	
2006	Mission: Impossible III 	Luther Stickell 	
2006	Idlewild 	Spats 	
2006	Leroy & Stitch 	Cobra Bubbles 	Voice
2007	I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 	Fred G. Duncan 	
2008	Animal 2 	James "Animal" Allen 	
2008	A Broken Life 	Vet 	
2008	Day of the Dead 	Capt. Rhodes 	
2008	Saving God 	Armstrong Cane 	
2008	Phantom Punch 	Sonny Liston 	
2009	Echelon Conspiracy 	Agent Dave Grant 	
2009	The Bridge to Nowhere 	Nate 	
2009	Evil Angel 	Carruthers 	
2009	The Tournament 	Joshua Harlow 	
2009	The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard 	Jibby Newsome 	
2009	Surrogates 	The Prophet 	
2009	Give 'Em Hell, Malone 	Boulder 	
2010	Operation: Endgame 	Judgement 	
2010	Caged Animal 	Miles "Cain" Skinner 	
2010	Master Harold...and the Boys 	Sam 	
2010	Piranha 3D 	Deputy Fallon 	
2010	Red Canvas 	Himself 	
2010	King of the Avenue 	Norman De'Sha 	
2010	Death Race 2 	R.H. Weyland 	
2011	Julia X 	The Man 	
2011	Pimp Bullies 	Miguel 	
2011	Soldiers of Fortune 	Grimaud Torneur 	
2011	The River Murders 	Captain Langley 	
2011	Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	Luther Stickell 	Uncredited cameo
2011	Zombie Apocalypse 	Henry 	
2012	Mafia 	Renzo Wes 	
2012	Seven Below 	Jack 	
2012	Piranha 3DD 	Deputy Fallon 	
2012	Won't Back Down 	Principal Thompson 	
2013	Death Race 3: Inferno 	R.H. Weyland 	
2013	Force of Execution 	Ice Man 	
2014	Jamesy Boy 	Conrad 	
2015	Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation 	Luther Stickell 	
2017	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 	Charlie-27 	Cameo
2017	The Star 	Thaddeus 	Voice
2017	Father Figures 	Rod Hamilton 	
2018	Mission: Impossible – Fallout 	Luther Stickell 	
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1985 	Miami Vice 	Georges 	Episode: "The Maze"
1986 	Crime Story 	Hector Lincoln 	Episode: "Abrams for the Defense"
1987 	Miami Vice 	Walker Monroe 	Episode: "Child's Play"
1987 	Tour of Duty 	SP4 Tucker 	Episode: "Burn Baby, Burn"
1988 	Spenser: For Hire 	Henry Brown 	Episode: "McAllister"
1989 	Men 	Charlie Hazard 	6 episodes
1989 	The Equalizer 	Luther Paxton 	Episode: "Suicide Squad"
1990 	When You Remember Me 	Leon 	TV film
1994–1996	ER 	Walter Robbins 	8 episodes
1995 	Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning 	Detective Artie Brown 	TV film
1995 	New York Undercover 	Max Villareal 	Episode: "Olde Thyme Religion"
1995 	Deadly Whispers 	Det. Jackson 	TV film
1997 	Don King: Only in America 	Don King 	TV film
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2000 	American Tragedy 	Johnnie Cochran 	TV film
2000 	Holiday Heart 	Holiday Heart 	TV film
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor on Television
2001 	UC: Undercover 	Quito Real 	3 episodes
2002 	Sins of the Father 	Garrick Jones 	TV film
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor on Television
2002 	Little John 	John Morgan 	TV film
2002 	RFK 	Judge Jones 	TV film
2002 	The Proud Family 	Garrett Krebs 	Episode: "A Hero for Halloween"
2002–2003	The District 	Attorney General Troy Hatcher	5 episodes
2003 	Lilo & Stitch: The Series 	Cobra Bubbles 	Voice
2003 	The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius	Chief 	Episode: "Operation: Rescue Jet Fusion"
2005 	Kojak 	Theo Kojak 	9 episodes
Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor on Television
2006 	Aquaman 	McCaffery 	TV pilot
2007 	Football Wives 	Frank Wallingford 	TV pilot
2010 	Gravity 	Dogg McFee 	10 episodes
2011 	Black Jack 	Black Jack 	TV film
2013 	Monday Mornings 	Dr. Jorge Villanueva 	10 episodes
2014 	A Day Late and a Dollar Short 	Cecil Price 	TV film
=== Video games ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
2003	Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma	Luther Stickell	Voice
2004	Driver 3 	Tobias Jones 	Voice
2017	Call of Duty: WWII 	Jefferson Potts	Voice
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Work 	Result 	Ref.
1998	Golden Globe Awards 	Best Actor in Mini-Series or Motion Picture 	Don King: Only in America 	Won 	[12]
1998	Primetime Emmy Awards 	Best Actor in Mini-Series or Movie 	Don King: Only in America 	Nominated	
1998	Acalpulco Black Film Festival 	Best Actor 	Rosewood 	Nominated	
1998	Image Awards 	Outstanding Actor in Motion Picture 	Rosewood 	Nominated	
1998	Image Awards 	Outstanding Actor in Television or Mini-Series	Don King: Only in America 	Nominated	
1998	Satellite Awards 	Best Actor - Mini-Series or TV Film 	Don King: Only in America 	Nominated	
1998	Screen Actors Guild Awards 	Best Actor - Mini-Series or TV Film 	Don King: Only in America 	Nominated	
2000	Blockbuster Entertainment Awards 	Best Supporting Actor - Action 	Entrapment 	Nominated	
2000	Satellite Awards 	Best Supporting Actor - Comedy or Music 	Bringing out the Dead 	Nominated	
2000	ShoWest Convention 	Best Supporting Actor 	 	Won 	[13]
2001	Black Reel Awards 	Best Actor - Network 	Holiday Heart 	Nominated	
2001	Image Awards 	Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture 	Mission: Impossible 2 	Nominated	
2001	Locarno International Film Festival	Special Mention 	Baby Boy 	Won 	
2002	Black Reel Awards 	Best Supporting Actor 	Baby Boy 	Nominated	
2002	Image Awards 	Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 	UC: Undercover 	Nominated	
2002	Image Awards 	Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture 	Baby Boy 	Nominated	
2003	Black Reel Awards 	Best Actor - Mini-Series 	Sins of the Father 	Nominated	
2003	Image Awards 	Best Supporting Actor - Comedy 	The Proud Family 	Nominated	
2003	Image Awards 	Best Actor - Mini-Series or TV Film 	Sins of the Father 	Nominated	
2004	Black Reel Awards 	Best Supporting Actor 	Dark Blue 	Nominated	
2006	Black Reel Awards 	Best Actor - Television 	Kojak 	Nominated	
2015	Black Reel Awards 	Best Actor - Television 	A Day Late and a Dollar Short	Nominated	
2015	Image Awards 	Best Actor - Television 	A Day Late and a Dollar Short	Nominated