Quick Info→
Hometown: Cleveland
Age: 70 Years
Wife: Gina Taylor
Some Lesser Known Facts About James Pickens Jr.
- James Pickens Jr.’s first acting role was in the Bowling Green State University’s campus production of ‘Matters of Choice’ by the American film producer Chuck Gordone.
- James Pickens Jr. began acting at Cleveland’s Karamu House which was distinguished as the oldest African-American theater in the United States at that time. Initially, he worked as a stage manager with a little play called ‘Devil Mas’ which was written by a playwright named Lennox Miller. James then started working in the children’s theatre and doing small productions for younger audiences.
- James Pickens Jr. worked at Cleveland’s Karamu House for about 2.5 years.
- In the late 1970s, he moved to New York to pursue acting full-time.
- James started his professional acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City playing Walter Lee in the American play titled ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’
- In 1981, he was selected to play a character in the Negro Ensemble Company’s production of the American play titled ‘A Soldier’s Play.’
- In 1986, James was cast in the American action thriller film titled ‘F/X’ in which he played the character of the ambulance driver.
- In 1990, James Pickens moved to the West Coast.
- In 1991, he was cast in the American teen drama television series titled ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ in which he played the character of Henry Thomas.
James Pickens Jr (right) in a still from the American teen drama TV series titled ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ (1991)
- In 1993, he was cast in the American teen crime drama film titled ‘Menace II Society.’
James Pickens Jr in a still from the American teen crime drama film titled ‘Menace II Society’ (1993)
- In 1994, James Pickens Jr. was cast in the American drama television film titled ‘A Child’s Cry for Help’ which was telecast on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
- James Pickens Jr. never wanted to become a professional actor. He actually wanted to become a cartoonist and illustrator.
- One day during his senior year of college, he happened to be part of the student union and there was a man in his college who was working on his doctorate in directing and he was looking for an actor to cast in a play that he was planning to direct and he was not able to find anybody. On all of his friends’ requests to give it a shot, James decided to give it a try and that’s how he got into theatre and acting.
- In 1998, James was cast in the American romantic comedy-drama film titled ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ which was adapted from the novelist Terry McMillan’s best-selling 1996 novel of the same title. He played the character of Walter Payne in the film.
- In 2005, James Pickens Jr. was cast in the American medical drama television series titled ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in which he played the character of Richard Webber.
James Pickens Jr. (centre) in a still from season 19 of the American medical drama TV series titled ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2022)
- In 2006, James Pickens Jr. worked as an executive producer of the musical review ‘Gospel, Gospel, Gospel.’
- In 2008, James Pickens Jr. was cast in the American drama film titled ‘Ball Don’t Lie’ which was an adaptation of the novel of the same name which was written by the American writer Matt de la Peña.
James Pickens Jr in a still from the American drama film titled ‘Ball Don’t Lie’ (2008)
- In 2018, James Pickens Jr. was cast in the American television sitcom titled ‘The Conners’ which was telecast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).
James Pickens Jr (left) in a still from the American television sitcom titled ‘The Conners’ (2018)
- In 2019, he was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Texas.
- James Pickens Jr. is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in cattle roping events across the country.
- James owns an American Quarter Horse named Smokey.
- James Pickens Jr. has been part of many American films and some of them include ‘Jimmy Hollywood’ (1994), ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’ (1996), ‘Home Room’ (2002), ‘Just Wright’ (2010), and ’42’ (2013).
James Pickens Jr in a still from the American drama film titled ‘Ghosts of Mississippi’ (1996)
- In 2022, James lent his voice to the character of Charles in the American animated television series titled ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.’
- James Pickens Jr. has been part of many American TV series and some of them include ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose’ (1992), ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ (1997), ‘The West Wing’ (2004), ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (2005), and ‘Yellowstone’ (2018).
James Pickens Jr in a still from the American drama TV series titled ‘Yellowstone’ (2018)
- James Pickens Jr. has been part of many American television films and some of them are ‘Lily in Winter’ (1994), ‘Trail by Fire’ (1995), ‘Little Girl Fly Away’ (1998), ‘A Slight Case of Murder’ (1999), and ‘Semper Fi’ (2001).
- James Pickens Jr. owns a foundation named ‘James Pickens Jr. Foundation Charity Roping’ which selects, supports and/or partners with individuals and community groups that work tirelessly to strengthen local communities.
- James Pickens Jr. has been on the covers of various magazines.
James Pickens Jr. (standing, left) on the cover of Essence Magazine (2015)
- James Pickens Jr. occasionally consumes alcohol.
James Pickens Jr drinking champagne at a party
