J. D. Williams

J. D. Williams
Born Darnell Williams
(1978-05-22) May 22, 1978
Newark, New Jersey
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1994–present
Known for "Bodie Broadus" in The Wire and Kenny Wangler in Oz

Darnell "J.D." Williams (born May 22, 1978) is an American actor from New Jersey. Best known for his starring roles in the HBO television programs Oz as Kenny Wangler, The Wire as Bodie Broadus and Pootie Tang as Froggy.

Early life

Williams was born in Newark, New Jersey. He attended Newark Arts High School, a performing arts public school in Newark.[1] He portrayed a biracial 15-year-old dealing with racism and his father's infidelity in the play A.M. Sunday in late 2003 at Baltimore's Centerstage theater.[2] He had a number of cameos and leading roles in R&B and hip-hop music videos between 2002 and 2005.[3][4]

Career

Williams appeared in Homicide: Life on the Street, a show based on a book by The Wire creator David Simon, where he guest-starred as Casper in the episode "The Why Chromosome".[5] He had a small guest starring role in The Sopranos episode "46 Long" as Special K, an incompetent stickup man and one of Brendan Filone's goons.[4] He went on to play series regular, inmate Kenny Wangler, in the first four seasons of Oz.[6] He then appeared in HBOs The Wire as Bodie Broadus, a Barksdale Organization drug dealer who slowly rises through the ranks throughout the seasons.[6][7] In preparation for the role, he walked around Baltimore's inner city during the middle of the night a few days before the first taping; talking about this to AllHipHop, Williams stated "it was like 12 or 1:00 in the morning. I just threw on a black hoodie and walked around. I went to one of their hoods and watched that night. I learned not to do that no more, I was lucky I made it back that night."[4] He is older than his character by 8 years.[3]

According to his original HBO bio, he is credited with appearing in the film Graffiti Bridge, but a 2003 interview with AllHipHop revealed that Williams was not in the movie.[4] The page no longer exists, however. Tevin Campbell filled the cameo role with which Williams was credited.

Williams has had leading roles or cameo appearances in a number of R&B and hip-hop music videos. He has appeared as himself, a love interest, and characters resembling his role as a drug dealer on The Wire.[3][4]

In 2012, Williams had a major supporting role in the indie film Surviving Family as the ex-boyfriend of the main character. His character was a wounded veteran of the war in Iraq who had lost an eye in an IED attack and suffered from PTSD.

He has starred in a number of commercials, and played a delivery man in a FedEx commercial.[8] He appeared as Lemond Bishop's Lieutenant "Dexter" in episodes of The Good Wife.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017Served FilmUncle QShort film
2016The ChoirPolice OfficerShort film
Guns and GramsBKCredit only
2014ShelterDrug Dealer
CymbelineQuarry Cop 2
An American in HollywoodDorian
2013The Lost Book Of RapHassenShort film
Chinese PuzzleLe barman
2012Surviving FamilyBobby
ZooRed
2011After Hours: The MovieD.C.
Shanghai HotelThump
Happy New YearJerome
2010Code BlueWicked
2009Falling AwakeD-Money
2008Cash RulesSpike (J.D.)Direct-to-Video
2007The Second LineNattShort film
4 LifePoohDirect-to-Video
2005Two GunsBill
2002Durdy GameLittle Man
Mr. Smith Gets a HustlerAbe
2001SnipesJ.D.
Popcorn ShrimpBubbaShort film
Pootie TangFroggy
1999The 24 Hour WomanToy Store Clerk
1994Death RidersBuzz Saw

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016–presentSaints & SinnersJabari MorrisMain cast
2016The Night OfTrevor Williams4 episodes
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDetective Anton Jefferson2 episodes
2015DeadbeatFrank1 episode; Hulu Original Series
2014Black BoxGeorge3 episodes
The FollowingCarlos3 episodes
2012Blue BloodsBenjamin Banks1 episode
2010–2015The Good WifeDexter Roja6 episodes
2010–2011Detroit 1-8-7Pup Clemmons2 episodes
2009Nite Tales: The SeriesRapper1 episode
2007The Kill PointMr. Cat/Marshall O'Brien, Jr.8 episodes
2002–2006The WirePreston 'Bodie' Broadus42 episodes
2001Big AppleDerrick1 episode
100 Centre StreetWilliam Floyd2 episodes
2000Sex and the CitySweet Sauce1 episode
1999Third WatchPee Wee1 episode
Homicide: Life on the StreetDamon 'Casper' Kelly1 episode
TrinityMalik1 episode
The SopranosSpecial K1 episode
1998Law & Order2nd Kid1 episode
1997–2000OzKenny Wangler23 episodes
1997New York UndercoverVictor1 episode

Video games

YearTitleRole
2008Midnight Club: Los AngelesHenry
2005True Crime: New York CityN/A
The WarriorsAdditional Soldier

References

  1. ↑ Colaneri, Katie (July 5, 2012). ""Super Summer" Arrives In Newark". WBGO. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ Marks, Peter (December 10, 2003). "In 'A.M. Sunday,' an Enigma Wrapped in a Family". The Washington Post. highBeam Research. Archived from the original on 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Yue, Jordan (June 12, 2012). "J.D. Williams: "I Didn't Want to Keep Doing Characters That Were Evil" ana | News". BET. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Dove (September 19, 2004). "JD Williams: Walking The Wire". AllHipHop. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ TV.com. "Homicide: Life on the Street - Season 7, Episode 21: The Why Chromosome". TV.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Bianculli, David (May 29, 2002). "HBO Show Arrives Under 'The Wire' - Baltimore crime drama suffers by comparison". NY Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  7. ↑ Spitz, Marc (June 4, 2012). "Maxim Interrogates the Makers and Stars of The Wire". Maxim. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ Rahman, Ray (September 19, 2011). "Watch The Wire's Bodie Push Weight in a FedEx Commercial". Vulture. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.