History of Jeffrey Wright in Timeline
Jeffrey Wright is a celebrated American actor known for his powerful performances on both stage and screen. He gained recognition for his Tony Award-winning role in the Broadway play "Angels in America" and later earned an Emmy Award for the same role in the HBO miniseries adaptation. His illustrious career includes a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination, solidifying his place as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
December 7, 1965: Jeffrey Wright is born
On December 7, 1965, Jeffrey Wright, the acclaimed American actor, was born.
1988: Leaving NYU and Pursuing Acting Full-Time
In 1988, after attending the MFA acting program at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts for a short period, Jeffrey Wright decided to leave to pursue acting professionally. He appeared in "Les Blancs" at Arena Stage and then at the Huntington Theatre Company, marking the start of his full-time acting career.
1990: Film Debut in "Presumed Innocent"
Jeffrey Wright made his film debut in 1990, portraying an attorney in Alan J. Pakula's legal drama "Presumed Innocent".
1991: Joining The Acting Company
In 1991, Jeffrey Wright became a member of John Houseman's esteemed national touring repertory company, The Acting Company. During his time with the company, he performed in notable productions such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Athol Fugard's "Blood Knot".
1992: Appearance in "Jumpin' at the Boneyard"
Jeffrey Wright had a role in the drama film "Jumpin' at the Boneyard" in 1992.
1993: Performing in "Angels in America"
From 1993 to 1994, Jeffrey Wright delivered a powerful performance as Norman "Belize" Arriaga in Tony Kushner's groundbreaking play, "Angels in America". His portrayal of a gay nurse caring for a Roy Cohn dying of AIDS was deeply moving and earned him critical acclaim.
1993: Jeffrey Wright's Broadway Debut in "Angels in America"
In 1993, Jeffrey Wright made his Broadway debut in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", earning critical acclaim for his performance.
1994: Tony Award Win for "Angels in America"
In 1994, Jeffrey Wright's performance in "Angels in America" earned him the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, solidifying his talent and presence in the theater world.
1996: Starring Role in "Basquiat"
In 1996, Jeffrey Wright landed his first starring film role as the renowned painter Jean-Michel Basquiat in the biopic "Basquiat".
1996: Role in "Faithful"
Jeffrey Wright appeared in the dark comedy-crime film "Faithful" in 1996.
1997: Appearance in "Critical Care"
Jeffrey Wright had a role in the satirical comedy-drama film "Critical Care" in 1997.
1998: Role in Woody Allen's "Celebrity"
Jeffrey Wright was part of the ensemble cast in Woody Allen's satirical comedy "Celebrity" in 1998.
1999: Performance in "Ride with the Devil"
In 1999, Jeffrey Wright appeared in Ang Lee's Civil War-era Western film "Ride with the Devil".
August 2000: Wright Marries Carmen Ejogo
Jeffrey Wright married actress Carmen Ejogo in August 2000. They later divorced.
2000: Appearance in "Shaft"
Jeffrey Wright appeared in the action crime film "Shaft" in 2000.
2000: Appearances in "Shaft", "Hamlet", and "Crime and Punishment in Suburbia"
Jeffrey Wright had a busy year in 2000, starring in three films: the action crime film "Shaft", the modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", and the dark comedy "Crime and Punishment in Suburbia".
2001: Portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in "Boycott"
Jeffrey Wright took on the challenging role of Martin Luther King Jr. in Clark Johnson's HBO television film "Boycott" in 2001, delivering a powerful performance that earned him an AFI Award.
2002: Return to Broadway in "Topdog/Underdog"
In 2002, Jeffrey Wright returned to Broadway for Suzan-Lori Parks's play "Topdog/Underdog", where his performance as Lincoln earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play.
2004: Appearance in "The Manchurian Candidate"
Jeffrey Wright appeared in Jonathan Demme's remake of the political thriller "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.
2004: Wright Receives Honorary Degree
Jeffrey Wright was awarded an honorary degree from his alma mater, Amherst College, in 2004.
February 2005: Performance in "Lackawanna Blues"
Jeffrey Wright starred in "Lackawanna Blues", an HBO Films production, in February 2005.
2005: Role in "Syriana"
Jeffrey Wright took on the role of Washington attorney Bennett Holiday in the geopolitical thriller "Syriana" in 2005.
2006: Roles in "Lady in the Water" and "Casino Royale"
In 2006, Jeffrey Wright appeared in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller "Lady in the Water" and starred as Felix Leiter in the James Bond film "Casino Royale".
2006: Debut as Felix Leiter in "Casino Royale"
Jeffrey Wright joined the James Bond franchise in 2006, portraying CIA agent Felix Leiter in "Casino Royale".
2007: Starring in "The Invasion"
Jeffrey Wright had a starring role in the science fiction thriller "The Invasion" in 2007.
2008: Portrayals of Colin Powell and Muddy Waters
Jeffrey Wright portrayed Colin Powell in Oliver Stone's biographical drama "W." and Muddy Waters in the musical biopic "Cadillac Records" in 2008.
2008: Portrayal of Muddy Waters in "Cadillac Records"
Jeffrey Wright portrayed the legendary blues musician Muddy Waters in the musical biopic "Cadillac Records" in 2008.
2010: Performance in "A Free Man of Color"
In 2010, Jeffrey Wright starred as Jacques Cornet in the world premiere of the play "A Free Man of Color" at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in Lincoln Center, New York City.
2011: Appearances in "Source Code", "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", and "The Ides of March"
Jeffrey Wright had roles in three films released in 2011: the science fiction thriller "Source Code", the drama "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", and the political thriller "The Ides of March".
2011: Performance in "The Ides of March"
Jeffrey Wright was part of the ensemble cast of the political thriller "The Ides of March", released in 2011.
November 2013: Joining "The Hunger Games" Franchise
Jeffrey Wright joined the cast of "The Hunger Games" film series as Beetee, with his first appearance in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire", released in November 2013.
2014: Conclusion of Role in "Boardwalk Empire"
Jeffrey Wright's time on "Boardwalk Empire" came to an end in 2014 with the conclusion of the series.
2016: Premiere of "Westworld"
"Westworld", the HBO science fiction series featuring Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe, premiered in 2016.
2016: Performance in HBO's "Confirmation"
Jeffrey Wright portrayed Charles Ogletree in the HBO film "Confirmation", which premiered in 2016.
March 2017: Dell Technologies Commercial
In March 2017, Jeffrey Wright appeared in a commercial for Dell Technologies, showcasing his presence beyond film and television.
2018: Wright Produces Documentary and Stars in "O.G."
In 2018, Jeffrey Wright produced the HBO documentary "We Are Not Done Yet," amplifying the voices of veterans healing from PTSD. The same year, he starred in HBO's "O.G.," portraying a long-term inmate preparing for release.
2018: Roles in "Monster", "The Public", "Game Night", "Age Out", "O.G.", and "Hold the Dark"
Jeffrey Wright had a prolific year in 2018, starring in six films: the legal drama "Monster", the drama "The Public", the action comedy "Game Night", the crime drama "Age Out", the HBO film "O.G.", and the Netflix action thriller "Hold the Dark".
February 25, 2019: HBO Film "O.G." Debuts
On February 25, 2019, the HBO film "O.G.", directed by Madeleine Sackler and starring Jeffrey Wright, premiered on HBO. The film, shot entirely in Pendleton Correctional Facility, features Wright as Louis, an inmate nearing release who confronts his past.
2019: Wright Stars in "The Laundromat" and "The Goldfinch"
In 2019, Jeffrey Wright appeared in two films: Steven Soderbergh's "The Laundromat" and John Crowley's "The Goldfinch."
June 19, 2020: Release of "The Last of Us Part II"
On June 19, 2020, "The Last of Us Part II," a video game featuring Jeffrey Wright as the voice of Isaac, was released.
2020: Voice Acting in "The Last of Us Part II"
Jeffrey Wright lent his voice to the character of Isaac Dixon in the critically acclaimed video game "The Last of Us Part II", released in 2020.
2021: Wright Voices the Watcher in "What If...?"
In 2021, Jeffrey Wright lent his voice to the character of the Watcher in the Disney+ animated series "What If...?," set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2021: Wright Stars in "The French Dispatch"
In 2021, Jeffrey Wright took on the role of Roebuck Wright in Wes Anderson's film "The French Dispatch."
2021: Voice Role in "What If...?"
Jeffrey Wright joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, providing the voice for The Watcher in the animated series "What If...?".
2021: Return as Felix Leiter in "No Time to Die"
Jeffrey Wright reprised his role as Felix Leiter in the James Bond film "No Time to Die", released in 2021.
2022: End of "Westworld"
"Westworld", the HBO science fiction series in which Jeffrey Wright played a significant role, concluded in 2022.
2022: Role of Jim Gordon in "The Batman"
In 2022, Jeffrey Wright took on the role of James Gordon, a detective in "The Batman".
2023: Wright Stars in "Rustin" and "American Fiction"
In 2023, Jeffrey Wright starred in two films: "Rustin," a Netflix biographical drama where he portrayed Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and "American Fiction," a satirical comedy-drama in which he played fictional author Thelonious "Monk" Ellison. His performance in "American Fiction" garnered him nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award.
2023: Wright Reunites with Wes Anderson for "Asteroid City"
Jeffrey Wright collaborated again with director Wes Anderson in 2023, portraying General Gibson in the film "Asteroid City."
2023: Academy Award Nomination for "American Fiction"
Jeffrey Wright received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his compelling performance in "American Fiction" in 2023.
