Don Cheadle

Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle, Jr. (pronounced /ˈtʃiːdəl/; born November 29, 1964) is an American actor, film producer, philanthropist, and author. Cheadle rose to prominence in the late 1990s and the early 2000s for his supporting roles in the Steven Soderbergh-directed films Out of Sight, Traffic, and Ocean's Eleven. In 2004, his lead role as Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the genocide film Hotel Rwanda earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. For Television he's best known for his role as John Littleton on Picket Fences. He also campaigns for the end of genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and co-authored a book concerning the issue titled Not On Our Watch: The Mission To End Genocide In Darfur And Beyond. In 2010, Cheadle was named, "U.N. Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador." Cheadle was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Bettye (née North), a bank manager and psychology teacher, and Donald Frank Cheadle, Sr., a clinical psychologist. He has a sister, Dawn, and a brother, Colin. Cheadle graduated in 1982 from East High School in Denver, Colorado. Cheadle went on to graduate from the California Institute of the Arts. He appeared in a late 1980s video (It's The Reel Thing) with Angela Winbush as a dancer. Cheadle acted in Hamburger Hill in 1987. He also played the role of Jack in the April 1, 1988 "Jung and the Restless" episode of Night Court. Although his character was supposed to be 16 years old, Cheadle was 24 at the time.