Wendell Pierce

Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1962) is an acclaimed American actor and businessman. Having been rigorously trained at the prestigious Juilliard School, he ascended to prominence as a character actor, showcasing his talent through a variety of stage and screen roles. One of his first major recognitions was his portrayal as Detective Bunk Moreland on the acclaimed HBO drama series from 2002 to 2008, The Wire. This was soon followed up with notable roles in Tv series like Treme (2010–2013), Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018–2023), Suits (2013–2019), and Confirmation (2016). Alongside his robust presence on television, he has also featured in several film roles such as Malcolm X (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), Ray (2004), Selma (2014), The Gift (2015), and Clemency (2019), earning Independent Spirit Awards nominations for a few. He's also a Tony-Award winning theatrical producer, making his debut with John Pielmeier's 1985 play The Boys of Winter. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Pierce's early life was influenced by his upbringing in the black middle-class community of Pontchartrain Park, the first African-American post-war suburb.

His acting career has spanned over various mediums, he has also been involved in radio hosting Jazz at Lincoln Center and music projects with artists such as Wynton Marsalis. Apart from his career in the entertainment industry, Pierce has also invested his time and resources into business and philanthropy, being noted as a 'true capitalist' and a 'classic entrepreneur'. He was named one of the '100 Most Creative People in Business' by Fast Company in 2013. One of his significant contributions includes the initiation of the non-profit, Pontchartrain Park Community Development Corp. intending to build affordable solar and geothermal homes in areas affected by Hurricance Katrina.