← Back to explore

Don Cheadle

Acting

Born November 29, 1964 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Also known as Donald Frank Cheadle Jr.

Biography

Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received multiple accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and 11 Primetime Emmy Awards. He is among a few actors who have received nominations for the EGOT. Cheadle's career started with supporting roles in Hamburger Hill (1987), Colors (1988), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Rosewood (1997), Boogie Nights (1997), and Bulworth (1998). He collaborated with director Steven Soderberghacting in Out of Sight (1998), Traffic (2000), The Ocean's Trilogy (2001–2007), and No Sudden Move (2021). Cheadle was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying Paul Rusesabagina in the historical drama film Hotel Rwanda (2004). He was the co-producer of Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2005. Cheadle joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe portraying James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine, beginning with Iron Man 2 (2010). On television, Cheadle earned nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his roles as Marty Kaan in House of Lies (2012–2016) and Maurice Monroe in Black Monday (2019–2021). He was further Emmy-nominated for The Rat Pack (1998), A Lesson Before Dying (1999), Things Behind the Sun (2001), ER (2002), and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). In 2016, he received his first Grammy Award, winning Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for Miles Ahead's soundtrack. In 2022, he received a second Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his narration of the audiobook Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis; he also received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Awards
  • Golden Globe Awards
  • Academy AwardBest Actor · 2005 · nominated
  • Golden Globe AwardBest Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film · 1998 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

The Topdog Diaries

2002as Self

Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene

2008as Narrator (voice)

Avengers: Endgame

2019as James Rhodes / War Machine

Avengers: Infinity War

2018as James Rhodes / War Machine

What If...?

2021as Rhodey (voice)

Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King

2020as Self - Actor, "Avengers: Endgame"

I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac

2012as Self

King Leopold's Ghost

2006as Narrator (voice)

The Simpsons

1989as Brother Faith (voice)

Freedom Writers

2007Thanks

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990as Ice Tray

DuckTales

2017as Donald Duck (voice)

ER

1994as Paul Nathan

Hotel Rwanda

2004as Paul Rusesabagina

Big Mouth

2017as Don Cheadle (voice)

Boogie Nights

1997as Buck Swope

Hill Street Blues

1981

30 Rock

2006as Don Cheadle

Ocean's Eleven

2001as Basher Tarr

Picket Fences

1992as John Littleton

China Beach

1988

Marvel Studios: Legends

2021as James Rhodes / War Machine (archive footage) (uncredited)

Captain America: Civil War

2016as Lieutenant James Rhodes / War Machine

Dave

2020as Don Cheadle

Avengers: Age of Ultron

2015as James Rhodes / War Machine

Night Court

1984as Jack

Diabolical

2022as Nubian Prince (voice)

Conan

2010as Self

The People Speak

2009as Self

Reign Over Me

2007as Alan Johnson

Crash

2004as Det. Graham Waters

Marvel Studios Assembled

as Self - James Rhodes / Rhodey

St. Vincent

2014Executive Producer

Traffic

2000as Montel Gordon

Mad TV

1995as Perry

L.A. Law

1986as Julian Tatoon

Hart to Heart

as Self - Interviewee

Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics

2024as Self

The Wonder Years

2021as Narrator

The Guard

2011as FBI agent Wendell Everett

Agent Elvis

2023as The Commander (voice)

Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special

2021as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (archive footage)

Running Wild with Bear Grylls

2014as Self

Iron Man 3

2013as Colonel James Rhodes

Flight

2012as Hugh Lang

A Man's Story

2011as Self

Iron Man 2

2010as Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes

Fail Safe

2000as Lt. Jimmy Pierce

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Host

Don't Look Deeper

as Martin