Glynn Turman

Biography

Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, is a revered American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, whose career spans decades. He gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." Turman's talent shone on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for "The Great White Hope." He's renowned for TV work in "The Wire," math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom "A Different World," fictional Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series "The Wire" and "House of Lies." His filmography includes impactful roles in "Gremlins" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." With a captivating presence, Turman continues to enthrall audiences, showcasing remarkable versatility and depth in his performances.

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Criminal Minds

Suits

Late Night with Seth Meyers

NCIS: Los Angeles

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Fargo

Scrubs

All Movies (79)

• When They're Gone2026 · as Calvin “Cece” Carr
• STRAW2025 · as Richard
• Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 22024
• A Hero's Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson and the Olympians2024 · as Self - Chiron
• Rustin2023 · as A. Philip Randolph
• Outlaw Johnny Black2023 · as Bullseye Black
• 80 for Brady2023 · as Mickey
• Is That Black Enough for You?!?2022 · as Self
• The Legend of Glynn Turman2022 · as G.T.
• The Devil You Know2022 · as Lloyd Cowans
• Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist2021 · as Self
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: A Legacy Brought to Screen2020 · as Self - Presenter
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom2020 · as Toledo
• The Way Back2020 · as Doc
• Sextuplets2019 · as Leland
• Justine2019 · as Papa Don
• Windows on the World2019 · as Lou
• Bumblebee2018 · as General Whalen
• Solace2018 · as Clay (Pastor Davis)
• The Killing Floor2017 · as Self
• Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart2017 · as Self
• August 28: A Day in the Life of a People2017
• Race2016 · as Harry E. Davis
• Dakota's Summer2014 · as Isaac Benson
• Act Like You Love Me2013 · as David Lofton
• John Dies at the End2013 · as Detective Lawrence 'Morgan Freeman' Appleton
• The Obama Effect2012 · as Slim Sugar
• City Teacher2012 · as Kevin Sawyer
• The Pastor's Secret2012
• Super 82011 · as Dr. Woodward
• Burlesque2010 · as Harold Saint
• Takers2010 · as Chief Detective Duncan
• Preaching To The Pastor2009 · as Bishop Hightower
• Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery2008 · as Sheriff Bob Monroe
• Kings of the Evening2008 · as Clarence Brown
• Uncle P2007 · as Dr. Niles
• Sahara2005 · as Dr. Frank Hopper
• The Seat Filler2004 · as Derrick's Dad
• Air Rage2001 · as Ted Bigelow
• The Visit2001 · as Parole Board Member Reingold
• Fire & Ice2001 · as Robert Aimes Sr.
• Men of Honor2000 · as Chief Floyd
• Freedom Song2000 · as T-Bone Lanier
• Light It Up1999 · as Principal Allan Armstrong
• How Stella Got Her Groove Back1998 · as Dr. Shakespeare
• Buffalo Soldiers1997 · as Sgt. Joshua 'Joyu' Judges Ruth
• Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault1996 · as Coach Powell
• Subterfuge1996 · as Stallworth Hubbs
• Someone Else's Child1994 · as Judge Roullard
• The Inkwell1994 · as Spencer Phillips
• Deep Cover1992 · as Russell Stevens Sr.
• Ask Max1986 · as Lloyd Lyman
• Out of Bounds1986 · as Lieutenant Delgado
• Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom1985 · as Joshua
• Secrets of a Married Man1984 · as Jesse
• Gremlins1984 · as Roy Hanson
• The Grand Baby1983
• Penitentiary II1982 · as Charles Johnson
• Thornwell1981 · as James Thornwell
• Attica1980 · as Raymond Franklin
• Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold1978 · as Preston de Cordiva
• A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich1977 · as Nigeria
• The Serpent's Egg1977 · as Monroe
• The Richard Pryor Special?1977 · as Booster Johnson
• Minstrel Man1977 · as Harry Brown Jr.
• The Tapestry1976
• J.D.'s Revenge1976 · as Isaac / 'Ike'
• The River Niger1976 · as Jeff Williams
• Cooley High1975 · as Leroy "Preach" Jackson
• Carter's Army1975 · as Pvt. George Brightman
• The Blue Knight1975 · as Edwin Beall
• Ceremonies in Dark Old Men1975 · as Theo
• The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat1974 · as (voice)
• Together Brothers1974 · as Dr. Johnson
• Thomasine & Bushrod1974 · as Jomo J. Anderson
• Five on the Black Hand Side1973 · as Gideon
• AWOL1972 · as Mohammed G.
• Honky1971 · as Sailor at Bus Station
• In Search of America1971 · as Bodhi

All TV Shows (52)

• Paradise2025 · as Fred Collins
• The Big Cigar2024 · as Walter
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians2023 · as Mr. Brunner / Chiron
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians2023 · as Chiron
• Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities2022 · as Sheriff Nate Craven
• The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder2022 · as Pa (voice)
• Women of the Movement2022 · as Mose Wright
• Power Book II: Ghost2020 · as Gabriel
• FBI: Most Wanted2020 · as Terry Daniels
• The Red Line2019 · as Nathan Gordon
• The Neighborhood2018 · as Otis
• Mr. Mercedes2017 · as Judge Bernard Raines
• American Gods2017 · as Reverend Hutchins
• Graves2016
• How to Get Away with Murder2014 · as Nathaniel Lahey
• black-ish2014 · as Billy Blade
• Fargo2014 · as Doctor Senator
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• Revolution2012 · as David Kipling
• Alcatraz2012 · as Emmitt Little
• House of Lies2012 · as Jeremiah Kaan
• Suits2011 · as Vic
• The Defenders2010 · as Judge Bob Owens
• FlashForward2009 · as Senator Noland
• NCIS: Los Angeles2009 · as James Pierce
• In Treatment2008 · as Alex Prince, Sr.
• Criminal Minds2005 · as Charles Johnson
• The Wire2002 · as Clarence Royce
• The Bernie Mac Show2001 · as Carl
• Scrubs2001 · as George
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Roy Hines
• Big Apple2001 · as Ted Olsen
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Dr. Young
• The Magnificent Seven1998 · as Achilles Thompson/Hector Thompson
• Millennium1996 · as James Glen
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as Sheriff Ernie Guthrie
• ER1994 · as Mr. Holmes
• Freddy's Nightmares1988 · as Dr. Redman
• A Different World1987 · as Colonel Brad Taylor
• Matlock1986 · as Dennis Orlando
• The Twilight Zone1985 · as (segment "Paladin of the Lost Hour")
• Hail to the Chief1985 · as Secretary of State LaRue Hawkins
• Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Stan Lassiter
• Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Earl Browder
• Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Ben Coleman
• Hot Pursuit1984 · as Mitch Simpson
• T. J. Hooker1982 · as Norman Powell
• Centennial1978 · as Nate Person
• The Paper Chase1978
• The Tony Randall Show1976
• Room 2221969
• CBS Playhouse1966 · as Jackson