Glynn Turman
Biography
Glynn Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer. Born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, he has a career spanning decades. Turman gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." He has also appeared in notable TV shows such as "The Wire" and "A Different World," and films including "Gremlins" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." Turman's talent has been recognized on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for "The Great White Hope." He has a total of 137 known credits in his acting career.
Career overview
Glynn Turman is a renowned American stage, television, and film actor. He began his acting career as a child, appearing in the original 1959 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. Turman's early television work includes a role on the prime-time soap opera Peyton Place from 1968 to 1969, where he played Lew Miles.
Turman gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film Cooley High. His talent shone on Broadway, earning a notable achievement. He is also known for his work in television, including a role as a math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom A Different World. Turman's portrayal of fictional Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series The Wire and House of Lies is also notable.
Turman's filmography includes impactful roles in Gremlins and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. His career spans decades, with a wide range of notable performances in both television and film. With a captivating presence, Turman has become a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
144 titles- When They're Gone (2026) as Calvin “Cece” Carr
- When They're Gone (2026) Executive Producer
- Paradise (2025) as Fred Collins
- STRAW (2025) as Richard
- The Big Cigar (2024) as Walter
- Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 (2024)
- A Hero's Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2024) as Self - Chiron
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023) as Mr. Brunner / Chiron
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023) as Chiron
- 80 for Brady (2023) as Mickey
- Outlaw Johnny Black (2023) as Bullseye Black
- Rustin (2023) as A. Philip Randolph
- Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022) as Sheriff Nate Craven
- The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022) as Pa (voice)
- Women of the Movement (2022) as Mose Wright
- Is That Black Enough for You?!? (2022) as Self
- The Devil You Know (2022) as Lloyd Cowans
- Women of Theatre, New York (2022) Executive Producer
- The Legend of Glynn Turman (2022) as G.T.
- The Legend of Glynn Turman (2022) Writer
- Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist (2021) as Self
- FBI: Most Wanted (2020) as Terry Daniels
- Power Book II: Ghost (2020) as Gabriel
- The Way Back (2020) as Doc
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) as Toledo
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: A Legacy Brought to Screen (2020) as Self - Presenter
- Sextuplets (2019) as Leland
- The Red Line (2019) as Nathan Gordon
- Windows on the World (2019) as Lou
- Justine (2019) as Papa Don
- Justine (2019) Executive Producer
- The Neighborhood (2018) as Otis
- Bumblebee (2018) as General Whalen
- Solace (2018) as Clay (Pastor Davis)
- American Gods (2017) as Reverend Hutchins
- Mr. Mercedes (2017) as Judge Bernard Raines
- August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017)
- Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart (2017) as Self
- The Killing Floor (2017) as Self
- Graves (2016)
- Race (2016) as Harry E. Davis
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Fargo (2014) as Doctor Senator
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014) as Nathaniel Lahey
- black-ish (2014) as Billy Blade
- Dakota's Summer (2014) as Isaac Benson
- John Dies at the End (2013) as Detective Lawrence 'Morgan Freeman' Appleton
- Act Like You Love Me (2013) as David Lofton
- Revolution (2012) as David Kipling
- House of Lies (2012) as Jeremiah Kaan
- Alcatraz (2012) as Emmitt Little
- City Teacher (2012) as Kevin Sawyer
- The Obama Effect (2012) as Slim Sugar
- House of Lies: Fridays at Galweather (2012) Director
- The Pastor's Secret (2012)
- Suits (2011) as Vic
- Super 8 (2011) as Dr. Woodward
- The Defenders (2010) as Judge Bob Owens
- Takers (2010) as Chief Detective Duncan
- Burlesque (2010) as Harold Saint
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) as James Pierce
- FlashForward (2009) as Senator Noland
- Preaching To The Pastor (2009) as Bishop Hightower
- In Treatment (2008) as Alex Prince, Sr.
- Kings of the Evening (2008) as Clarence Brown
- Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery (2008) as Sheriff Bob Monroe
- Uncle P (2007) as Dr. Niles
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Charles Johnson
- Sahara (2005) as Dr. Frank Hopper
- The Seat Filler (2004) as Derrick's Dad
- The Wire (2002) as Clarence Royce
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Roy Hines
- Scrubs (2001) as George
- The Bernie Mac Show (2001) as Carl
- Big Apple (2001) as Ted Olsen
- Air Rage (2001) as Ted Bigelow
- The Visit (2001) as Parole Board Member Reingold
- Fire & Ice (2001) as Robert Aimes Sr.
- Men of Honor (2000) as Chief Floyd
- Freedom Song (2000) as T-Bone Lanier
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Dr. Young
- Light It Up (1999) as Principal Allan Armstrong
- The Magnificent Seven (1998) as Achilles Thompson/Hector Thompson
- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) as Dr. Shakespeare
- Buffalo Soldiers (1997) as Sgt. Joshua 'Joyu' Judges Ruth
- Millennium (1996) as James Glen
- Subterfuge (1996) as Stallworth Hubbs
- Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) as Coach Powell
- Homeboys in Outer Space (1996) Director
- The Wayans Bros. (1995) Director
- The Parent 'Hood (1995) Director
- ER (1994) as Mr. Holmes
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Sheriff Ernie Guthrie
- Someone Else's Child (1994) as Judge Roullard
- The Inkwell (1994) as Spencer Phillips
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992) Director
- Deep Cover (1992) as Russell Stevens Sr.
- Freddy's Nightmares (1988) as Dr. Redman
- A Different World (1987) as Colonel Brad Taylor
- A Different World (1987) Director
- Matlock (1986) as Dennis Orlando
- Out of Bounds (1986) as Lieutenant Delgado
- Ask Max (1986) as Lloyd Lyman
- The Twilight Zone (1985) as (segment "Paladin of the Lost Hour")
- Hail to the Chief (1985) as Secretary of State LaRue Hawkins
- Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom (1985) as Joshua
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Stan Lassiter
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Earl Browder
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Ben Coleman
- Gremlins (1984) as Roy Hanson
- Hot Pursuit (1984) as Mitch Simpson
- Secrets of a Married Man (1984) as Jesse
- The Grand Baby (1983)
- American Playhouse (1982) as Joshua
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Norman Powell
- Penitentiary II (1982) as Charles Johnson
- Dynasty (1981) Director
- Thornwell (1981) as James Thornwell
- Attica (1980) as Raymond Franklin
- Centennial (1978) as Nate Person
- The Paper Chase (1978)
- Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (1978) as Preston de Cordiva
- The Serpent's Egg (1977) as Monroe
- A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1977) as Nigeria
- The Richard Pryor Special? (1977) as Booster Johnson
- Minstrel Man (1977) as Harry Brown Jr.
- The Tony Randall Show (1976)
- The River Niger (1976) as Jeff Williams
- J.D.'s Revenge (1976) as Isaac / 'Ike'
- The Tapestry (1976)
- The Blue Knight (1975) as Edwin Beall
- Cooley High (1975) as Leroy "Preach" Jackson
- Carter's Army (1975) as Pvt. George Brightman
- Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (1975) as Theo
- Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) as Jomo J. Anderson
- Together Brothers (1974) as Dr. Johnson
- The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (1974) as (voice)
- Five on the Black Hand Side (1973) as Gideon
- AWOL (1972) as Mohammed G.
- Honky (1971) as Sailor at Bus Station
- In Search of America (1971) as Bodhi
- Room 222 (1969)
- CBS Playhouse (1966) as Jackson
- You Look Familiar: Vernée Watson Executive Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Glynn Turman best known for?
Glynn Turman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including When They're Gone (2026), When They're Gone (2026), Paradise (2025), STRAW (2025).
When and where was Glynn Turman born?
Glynn Turman was born on January 31, 1947 in New York City, New York, USA.
How many credits does Glynn Turman have?
Glynn Turman has accumulated over 144 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1966 to 2026.
What is Glynn Turman's background in cinema and television?
Glynn Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer. Born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, he has a career spanning decades. Turman gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." He has also appeared in notable TV shows such as "The Wi...