Given the question: Facts: - years active: 1978 -- present - birth name: cleavant derricks , jr. - spouse: portia derricks - children: 4 - birth date: 15 may 1953 - name: cleavant derricks - birth place: knoxville , tennessee , u.s. - occupation: actor/singer-songwriter Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of cleavant derricks -lrb- actor -rrb- .
The answer is:
cleavant derricks , jr. -lrb- born may 15 , 1953 -rrb- is an american actor and tony award winning singer-songwriter , who is best known for his role of rembrandt brown on '' sliders '' .