Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born January 31, 1947
Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, is a revered American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, whose career spans decades. He gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." Turman's talent shone on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for "The Great White Hope." He's renowned for TV work in "The Wire," math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom "A Different World," fictional Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series "The Wire" and "House of Lies." His filmography includes impactful roles in "Gremlins" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." With a captivating presence, Turman continues to enthrall audiences, showcasing remarkable versatility and depth in his performances.
When They're Gone
2026
as Calvin “Cece” Carr
MovieSTRAW
2025
as Richard
TVParadise
2025
as Fred Collins
MovieHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
2024
TVThe Big Cigar
2024
as Walter
MovieA Hero's Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
2024
as Self - Chiron
TVPercy Jackson and the Olympians
2023
as Mr. Brunner / Chiron
MovieRustin
2023
as A. Philip Randolph
MovieOutlaw Johnny Black
2023
as Bullseye Black
Movie80 for Brady
2023
as Mickey
TVGuillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
2022
as Sheriff Nate Craven
MovieIs That Black Enough for You?!?
2022
as Self
MovieThe Legend of Glynn Turman
2022
as G.T.
MovieThe Devil You Know
2022
as Lloyd Cowans
TVThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
2022
as Pa (voice)
TVWomen of the Movement
2022
as Mose Wright
MovieChadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist
2021
as Self
MovieMa Rainey's Black Bottom: A Legacy Brought to Screen
2020
as Self - Presenter
MovieMa Rainey's Black Bottom
2020
as Toledo
TVPower Book II: Ghost
2020
as Gabriel
MovieThe Way Back
2020
as Doc
TVFBI: Most Wanted
2020
as Terry Daniels
MovieSextuplets
2019
as Leland
MovieJustine
2019
as Papa Don
MovieWindows on the World
2019
as Lou
TVThe Red Line
2019
as Nathan Gordon
MovieBumblebee
2018
as General Whalen
TVThe Neighborhood
2018
as Otis
MovieSolace
2018
as Clay (Pastor Davis)
MovieThe Killing Floor
2017
as Self
MovieLorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart
2017
as Self
MovieAugust 28: A Day in the Life of a People
2017
TVMr. Mercedes
2017
as Judge Bernard Raines
TVAmerican Gods
2017
as Reverend Hutchins
TVGraves
2016
MovieRace
2016
as Harry E. Davis
TVHow to Get Away with Murder
2014
as Nathaniel Lahey
TVblack-ish
2014
as Billy Blade
MovieDakota's Summer
2014
as Isaac Benson
TVFargo
2014
as Doctor Senator
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
MovieAct Like You Love Me
2013
as David Lofton
MovieJohn Dies at the End
2013
as Detective Lawrence 'Morgan Freeman' Appleton
TVRevolution
2012
as David Kipling
MovieThe Obama Effect
2012
as Slim Sugar
MovieCity Teacher
2012
as Kevin Sawyer
TVAlcatraz
2012
as Emmitt Little
TVHouse of Lies
2012
as Jeremiah Kaan
The Pastor's Secret
2012
TVSuits
2011
as Vic
MovieSuper 8
2011
as Dr. Woodward
MovieBurlesque
2010
as Harold Saint
TVThe Defenders
2010
as Judge Bob Owens
MovieTakers
2010
as Chief Detective Duncan
TVFlashForward
2009
as Senator Noland
TVNCIS: Los Angeles
2009
as James Pierce
MoviePreaching To The Pastor
2009
as Bishop Hightower
TVIn Treatment
2008
as Alex Prince, Sr.
MovieMurder 101: The Locked Room Mystery
2008
as Sheriff Bob Monroe
MovieKings of the Evening
2008
as Clarence Brown
MovieUncle P
2007
as Dr. Niles
TVCriminal Minds
2005
as Charles Johnson
MovieSahara
2005
as Dr. Frank Hopper
MovieThe Seat Filler
2004
as Derrick's Dad
TVThe Wire
2002
as Clarence Royce
TVThe Bernie Mac Show
2001
as Carl
TVScrubs
2001
as George
TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Roy Hines
MovieAir Rage
2001
as Ted Bigelow
MovieThe Visit
2001
as Parole Board Member Reingold
TVBig Apple
2001
as Ted Olsen
MovieFire & Ice
2001
as Robert Aimes Sr.
MovieMen of Honor
2000
as Chief Floyd
MovieFreedom Song
2000
as T-Bone Lanier
MovieLight It Up
1999
as Principal Allan Armstrong
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Dr. Young
MovieHow Stella Got Her Groove Back
1998
as Dr. Shakespeare
TVThe Magnificent Seven
1998
as Achilles Thompson/Hector Thompson
MovieBuffalo Soldiers
1997
as Sgt. Joshua 'Joyu' Judges Ruth
MovieRebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
1996
as Coach Powell
TVMillennium
1996
as James Glen
MovieSubterfuge
1996
as Stallworth Hubbs
Someone Else's Child
1994
as Judge Roullard
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Sheriff Ernie Guthrie
TVER
1994
as Mr. Holmes
MovieThe Inkwell
1994
as Spencer Phillips
MovieDeep Cover
1992
as Russell Stevens Sr.
TVFreddy's Nightmares
1988
as Dr. Redman
TVA Different World
1987
as Colonel Brad Taylor
MovieAsk Max
1986
as Lloyd Lyman
MovieOut of Bounds
1986
as Lieutenant Delgado
TVMatlock
1986
as Dennis Orlando
TVThe Twilight Zone
1985
as (segment "Paladin of the Lost Hour")
TVHail to the Chief
1985
as Secretary of State LaRue Hawkins
MovieCharlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom
1985
as Joshua
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Stan Lassiter
Secrets of a Married Man
1984
as Jesse
TVHot Pursuit
1984
as Mitch Simpson
MovieGremlins
1984
as Roy Hanson
The Grand Baby
1983
MoviePenitentiary II
1982
as Charles Johnson
TVT. J. Hooker
1982
as Norman Powell
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Joshua
MovieThornwell
1981
as James Thornwell
MovieAttica
1980
as Raymond Franklin
MovieKatie: Portrait of a Centerfold
1978
as Preston de Cordiva
TVCentennial
1978
as Nate Person
TVThe Paper Chase
1978
MovieA Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich
1977
as Nigeria
MovieThe Serpent's Egg
1977
as Monroe
MovieThe Richard Pryor Special?
1977
as Booster Johnson
MovieMinstrel Man
1977
as Harry Brown Jr.
MovieThe Tapestry
1976
TVThe Tony Randall Show
1976
MovieJ.D.'s Revenge
1976
as Isaac / 'Ike'
MovieThe River Niger
1976
as Jeff Williams
MovieCooley High
1975
as Leroy "Preach" Jackson
MovieCarter's Army
1975
as Pvt. George Brightman
MovieThe Blue Knight
1975
as Edwin Beall
MovieCeremonies in Dark Old Men
1975
as Theo
MovieThe Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat
1974
as (voice)
MovieTogether Brothers
1974
as Dr. Johnson
MovieThomasine & Bushrod
1974
as Jomo J. Anderson
MovieFive on the Black Hand Side
1973
as Gideon
MovieAWOL
1972
as Mohammed G.
MovieHonky
1971
as Sailor at Bus Station
MovieIn Search of America
1971
as Bodhi
TVRoom 222
1969
CBS Playhouse
1966
as Jackson
