William Allen Young
| William Allen Young | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 24, 1954 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Patrice Moore (m. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
William Allen Young (born January 24, 1954) is an American actor best known for his role as Frank Mitchell on UPN's Moesha and directing a few episodes of the show, and made a guest appearance on UPN's The Parkers as Frank Mitchell. His other television credits include The Day After, Matlock, Babylon 5, CBS's JAG, Knots Landing, The Jeffersons, and The Women of Brewster Place, among other shows. He portrayed a recurring character on CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and a different recurring character on CBS's CSI: Miami. Young also played Dr. Rollie Guthrie on the CBS medical drama Code Black.
Early life and education
Young was born in Washington, D.C. but grew up in South Central, Los Angeles, during the Civil Rights Movement. One of seven children, he was inspired by his mother, Mother Joan Walker of California Southwest Jurisdiction, a high-school dropout who worked as a maid before returning to school at night to get her diploma and a nursing license, which led to a career in the medical profession.
Career
His acting career includes starring roles in the Academy Award-nominated film, A Soldier's Story, and in Women of Brewster Place, The Atlanta Child Murders, Simple Justice, Sins, Lock Up, and In the Belly of the Beast, and the award-winning Lifetime series Any Day Now. He guest starred in the 6th season episode "Home Court Advantage" of Sister, Sister in 1998. Millions of viewers still recognize him as Frank Mitchell, the tough-but-loving father, on the hit TV show, Moesha, or as Chief Judge Ratner on CSI: Miami. Young has received critical praise for his stage performances in New York City and Los Angeles, and he has performed abroad in Africa, Austria, France, Italy, London, Sri Lanka, and Russia. Young appears in the movie District 9, filmed on location in South Africa, and released in August 2009. He starred as Harry Wentz on the Disney Channel Original Series Good Luck Charlie (2010-2014). In 2013, Young reunited with Moesha co-star Brandy Norwood on the season six episode, "The Blueprint" on the television show The Game.
He is a USC graduate and former #1 College Speaker in the Nation for two consecutive years, when he led the Trojan Debate Squad to a National Championship. He holds a master's degree in Sociolinguistics, a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric & Debate, and has lectured at major colleges and universities nationwide.
He is the founder/president of the non-profit Young Center for Academic and Cultural Enrichment.
He is the recipient of the NAACP Outstanding Social Achievement Award, USC Black Alumni Association Thomas Kilgore, Jr. Service Award, California Lottery Association Hero in Education Award, Black Hollywood Education Resource Center President's Icon Award; Arts Council for the Disabled Humanitarian Service Award, and National Organization of Women at Work Man of the Year Award. He was recently inducted into the African-American Hall of Education and deemed an Ambassador of Goodwill by former President Bill Clinton.
Personal life
He has two children.[1]