-
Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
-
William Dudley to Gilbert Ernotte
Bill Duke Biography (1943-)
Born William Henry Duke, Jr., February 26, 1943, in Poughkeepsie, NY; son ofWilliam Henry and Ethel Louise Douglas Duke. Addresses: Agent: Writers& Artists Agency, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024-6095.; Office: Yagya Productions Inc., P.O. Box 55306, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Director, actor, producer, writer
- Birth Details
- 1943
- Poughkeepsie, New York, United States
Famous Works
-
CREDITS
-
Film Director
-
Maximum Security, 1987
-
A Rage in Harlem, Miramax, 1991
-
Deep Cover, New Line Cinema, 1992
-
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, 1993
-
The Cemetery Club (also known as Looking for a Live One), 1993
-
America's Dream, 1996
-
Hoodlum, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997
- Also directed The Hero (short).
-
Film Executive Producer
-
Hoodlum, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997
-
Film Appearances
- Duane, Car Wash, Universal, 1976
- Leon James, American Gigolo, Paramount, 1980
- Cooke, Commando, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
- Malcolm, No Man's Land, Orion, 1987
- Sergeant Mac Eliot, Predator, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
- Captain Armbruster, Action Jackson, Lorimar, 1988
- Lieutenant Borel, Sans espoir de retour (also known as Street of No Return and Rua sem regresso), Bac Films, 1988
- Albert Diggs, Bird on a Wire, Universal, 1990
- Mr. Johnson, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, 1993
-
World Beat, 1993
- Detective, Menace II Society, 1993
- Detective Scott, Susan's Plan (also known as Dying to Get Rich), 1998
- Detective Hicks, Payback, Warner Bros., 1999
- Studio producer, Foolish, Artisan Entertainment, 1999
- (Uncredited) Head DEA agent, The Limey, Artisan Entertainment, 1999
- Detective Glass, Fever, Cowboy Booking International, 1999
-
Book of Love, Artisan Entertainment, 2000
- Earl, Never Again, 2001
- Hinges, Exit Wounds, Warner Bros., 2001
- Lieutenant Washington, National Security, 2001
-
Television Director
-
Movies
-
Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI (also known as The Johnnie Gibson Story,
Johnnie Gibson F.B.I., and Agent Gibson: Undercover FBI),CBS, 1986
-
The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (also known as GoldenSpiders), Arts and Entertainment, 2000
-
Specials
-
Me and Mom, ABC, 1985
-
Hell Town, NBC, 1985
-
Heartbeat (also known as Private Practice and Women's Medical), ABC, 1988
-
Episodic
-
Knot's Landing, CBS, 1979-83
-
Falcon Crest (also known as The Vintage Years), CBS, 1981
-
Flamingo Road, NBC, 1981-82
-
Emerald Point, N.A.S. (also known as Navy), CBS, 1983-84
-
Hunter, NBC, 1984-85
- "The Killing Floor," American Playhouse, PBS, 1985
- "The Junction," The Twilight Zone, 1987
- "Raisin in the Sun," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989
- "The Meeting," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989
-
Brewster Place, ABC, 1990
- Also directed "Bride and Prejudice," City of Angels, CBS; and episodes of McGruder and Loud, ABC; Miami Vice, NBC; Cagney andLacey, CBS; Hill Street Blues, NBC; Dallas, CBS; Fame;
Spenser: For Hire;
Starman;
Matlock;
The Outsiders; and Crime Story.
-
Television Appearances
-
Series
- Luther Freeman, Palmerstown, U.S.A. (also known as Kings of theHill), CBS, 1980-81
-
Movies
- "Happy" Jordan, Love Is Not Enough, NBC, 1978
-
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force, NBC, 1978
- Luther Seth Foster, Dallas: The Early Years, CBS, 1986
- Blackbird Wills, Always Outnumbered, HBO, 1998
- Ivor "Max" Maxwell, Black Jaq, 1998
- Jenga, Who Killed Atlanta's Children, Showtime, 2000
-
Specials
- Sanda, Santiago's Ark, 1972
-
Santiago's America, 1975
- Himself, Frank Capra's American Dream, 1997
- Himself, Intimate Portrait: Robin Givens, Lifetime, 2000
-
Episodic
- Sylk, "Bad Dude," Kojak, 1976
- Officer Dryden, "Hutchison for Murder One," Starsky and Hutch, 1978
- David Pearl, "Angels on the Run," Charlie's Angels, 1978
- Himself, "Redd Foxx: Say It Like It Is," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
- Also appeared in episodes of Benson and Maddox.
-
Stage Director
-
The Secret Place, Playwrights Horizons, New York City, 1972
-
Unfinished Women, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mobile Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977
-
Sonata, Theatre of the Arts, Los Angeles, 1985
-
No Place to Be Somebody, Matrix Theatre, 1987
- Directed more than thirty Off-Broadway plays.
-
Stage Appearances
- Akano, Slave Ship, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY, 1969-70
- First man, industrialist, and Rastus, "Day of Absence," Brotherhood and Day of Absence (double bill), Negro Ensemble Company, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1970
- Garrett Morris, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1971, then Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1971-72
- Also appeared in productions of Barefoot in the Park,
Plaza Suite,
Look Back in Anger,
Emperor Jones,
Macbeth,
Richard III, and Othello.
-
RECORDINGS
-
Music Videos
- Appeared in Busta Rhymes's Dangerous.
-
WRITINGS
-
Plays
-
An Adaptation: Dream (one-act), produced by Negro Ensemble Company, New York City, 1971
-
Sonata, produced by Theatre Genesis, St. Marks Playhouse, New YorkCity, later at Theatre of the Arts, Los Angeles, 1985
-
Television Episodes
-
Good Times, CBS, 1974-79
-
Books
- (With Danny Glover) Black Light: The African American Hero, Thunder's Mouth Press, c. 1994
- Also wrote Bill Duke's 24-Hours L.A. Contributor of articles and poems to magazines and newspapers, including Black Creation.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
-
Contemporary Black Biography, 1992. Volume 3, Gale,
Periodicals
-
Ebony, January, 1991, p. 128.
-
Essence, February, 1994, p. 52; October, 2000, p. 78.
-
Jet, April 12, 1999, p. 24.
-
Premiere, April, 1991, pp. 40-42.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: