The Eddie Murphy film Coming To America is one of the most fondly remembered comedies of the 80's. It's also the first time Vondie Curtis-Hall appeared onscreen. He started, off like most actors do, onstage and paid his dues in both TV and film before graduating to directing. All that work and he's still not a household name and it's a pity because he's always good, he pops up literally everywhere and he has a name that is memorable at the very least. Vondie like. That's a one of a kind.
He's been killed by John McClane and worked for Jack Ryan. He broke our hearts in ER and captured D-Fen's attention in Falling Down. He took a bullet in the head in a John Woo movie and floated upside down in a Spike Lee Joint. He's directed Mariah Carey musicals and South Central based action flicks. Been part of the MCU investigating Matt Murdoch and been a defense attorney in L.A. Law. He's been the face of the law in a modern day Romeo & Juliet and directed the late Tupac Shakur to critical respect. Shared a steam bath with Tony Soprano and faced off with a wacked out Bad Lieutenant in New Orleans. The man does it all and he does it well. A character actor brought in to add that something special to a scene. An actor/director with nearly 100 credits to his name should be known better but c'est la vie, such is the fickleness of Hollywood. Someday he's get the credit he deserves.
Greatest Hits
Falling Down. A cameo role but an effective one. A one scene protest outside a bank. A man looking for a loan only to be told he's not economically viable. A microcosm of the African American experience. Brilliant.
ER. Rena. The transgender woman who's distraught because the aging process is making it harder for her to live her life. A superb guest star in a hard to watch episode.
Romeo & Juliet. Captain Prince. The police chief of Verona Beach. Gets a great scene after tragedy strikes. Based on Prince Escalus in Shakespeare's original play.
Daredevil. Ben Urich. The man out to unmask the blind superhero. Doesn't last as long as his comic book counterpart when he runs afoul of The Kingpin but he does fine work during his tenure.
Previous Heroes
Harris Yulin
Pepe Serna
Udo Kier
Fairuza Balk
Ernie Hudson
Lin Shaye
James Remar
Cloris Leachman
James Hong
David Strathairn
Frankie Faison
Conchata Ferrell
Dick Miller
Veronica Cartwright
Edie McClurg
Barry Shabaka Henley
Raymond Cruz
Reg E.Cathey
Elizabeth McGovern
John Amos
Bruce Greenwood
Mary McDonnell
Gerald McSorley
John Rothman
Margo Martindale
Kurtwood Smith
Paula Malcolmson
Luis Guzman
David Morse
Linda Hunt
Keith David
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr
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