Duke, Bill 1943-

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Duke, Bill 1943-

PERSONAL

Full name, William Henry Duke, Jr.; born February 26, 1943, in Poughkeepsie, NY; son of William Henry and Ethel Louise (maiden name, Douglas) Duke. Education: Boston University, School of Fine Arts, B.F.A., theatre, 1966; New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, M.F.A., fine arts, 1968; American Film Institute, M.F.A., 1971. Avocational Interests: Meditation, yoga, reading, music, martial arts.

Addresses:

Office—Duke Media, 7510 Sunset Blvd., Suite 523, Hollywood, CA 90406; Yagya Productions, Inc., P.O. Box 609, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Agent—Agency for the Performing Arts, 405 South Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Manager—Rigberg Entertainment Group, 1180 South Beverly Dr., Suite 601, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Career:

Director, producer, actor, and writer. Weusi Kuumba Troupe, Brooklyn, New York City, former director; Sundance Film Festival, member of the dramatic jury, 1992; Howard University, Washington, DC, Time Warner professor and chair of the radio, television, and film department, beginning c. 2000; Yagya Productions, Inc., Pacific Palisades, CA, founder, c. 2000, and chief executive officer, beginning c. 2000; Duke Media, Hollywood, CA, principal; Rosebud (film production company), founder. Mentor to young African American actors and directors. Teacher of transcendental meditation. Affiliated with organizations for the homeless, including the St. Joseph Center and the Willow Opportunity Center.

Member:

Screen Directors Guild, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, American Film Institute (member of the board of trustees), Artists against Homelessness (founding member).

Awards, Honors:

Winner of a national poetry contest as a student; Audelco Recognition Award, 1977, for Unfinished Women …; Best Young Director Award, American Film Institute, 1979, and Houston Film Festival Gold Award, both for The Hero; Special Jury Prize and nomination for the Grand Jury Prize, both in the dramatic category, both Sundance Film Festival, 1985, for "The Killing Floor," American Playhouse; New Vision Award, Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, 1990; Image Award, special achievement—directing, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1991; Star Bright Award, Black American Society, 1991; Golden Palm Award nomination, Cannes International Film Festival, 1991, for A Rage in Harlem; the American Film Institute held "An Evening with Bill Duke" in 1992 to honor his achievement in film; CableACE Award, best directing, drama special or series, 1996, for America's Dream; Career Achievement Award, Acapulco Black Film Festival, 1997; Black Film Award nomination, best director, Acapulco Black Film Festival, 1998, for Hoodlum; Black Reel Award, television: best director, 2004, for Deacons for Defense; Black Reel Award nomination (with others), best director—television, 2006, for Miracle's Boys.

CREDITS

Film Director:

The Hero (short film), c. 1978.

Flag, 1986.

Maximum Security, 1987.

A Rage in Harlem (also known as Harlem Action, A Rage in Harlem—La reine des pommes, Ei armoa Harlemissa, Harlem Action—Eine schwarze Komoedie, Ont blod i Harlem, Rabbia ad Harlem, and Redada en Harlem), Miramax, 1991.

Deep Cover (also known as Agent double, Az alvilag melyen, Cobertura total, Jenseits der weissen Linie, La cara sucia de la ley, Massima copertura, Melytengeri szoernyeteg, and Piilokyttae), New Line Cinema, 1992.

The Cemetery Club (also known as Looking for a Live One, A vivir que son dos dias, Aelska igen!, Diesieben besten Jahre, Efthymes monahikes gynaikes, Il club delle vedove, Kuolleiden aviomiesten seura, and Les veuves joyeuses), Buena Vista, 1993.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (also known as Apaca-show 2., Cambio de habito 2, Cambio de habito 2: Mas locuras en el convento, Do cabare para o convento 2, En vaersting till syster II, En vaersting till syster 2—Redo att synda igen, Halloj i klosteret 2—Nonnernes hus, Mudanca de habito 2: Mais confusoes no convento, Mudanca de habito 2: Mais loucuras no convento, Nune pojejo 2, Nunnia ja konnia 2: Lisaeae saepinaeae, Rock 'n' nonne 2: De retour au couvent, Sister Act, acte 2, Sister Act 2: de vuelta al convento, Sister Act 2—In goettlicher Mission, and Sister act 2—piu svitata che mai), Buena Vista, 1993.

Hoodlum (also known as Gangster, Harlem, N.Y.C., Hoods, Hampones (Hoodlum), Homens perigosos, Kvodo Shel Gangster, Les seigneurs de Harlem, Os reis do sub-mundo, and Truand), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997.

Angel: One More Road to Cross (also known as Angel), 2001.

Living in the Spirit Revue, 2001.

Cover (also known as Invisible), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2007.

Not Easily Broken, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2007.

Some sources cite work on Blacktime, Whitenoise, c. 2002.

Film Executive Producer:

Sweet Potato Ride (short film), 1995.

Hoodlum (also known as Gangster, Harlem, N.Y.C., Hoods, Hampones (Hoodlum), Homens perigosos, Kvodo Shel Gangster, Les seigneurs de Harlem, Os reis do sub-mundo, and Truand), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1997.

(With others) Living in the Spirit Revue, 2001.

The Pact (documentary), Spark Media/Duke Media, 2006.

Film Producer:

Cover (also known as Invisible), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2007.

Film Appearances:

Duane (Abdullah), 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, Street of No Return (also known as Sam Fuller's "Street of No Return," Rua sem regresso, and Sans espoir de retour), Bac Films, 1988.

Albert Diggs, Bird on a Wire, Universal, 1990.

Detective, Menace II Society (also known as Die Strassenkaempfer, Nella giungla di cemento, Perigo para a sociedade, Uehiskonna nuhtlus, Vakivallan kierre, and Veszelyes elemek), New Line Cinema, 1993.

Mr. Johnson, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (also known as Apaca-show 2., Cambio de habito 2, Cambio de habito 2: Mas locuras en el convento, Do cabare para o convento 2, En vaersting till syster II, En vaersting till syster 2—Redo att synda igen, Halloj I klosteret 2—Nonnernes hus, Mudanca de habito 2: Mais confusoes no convento, Mudanca de habito 2: Mais loucuras no convento, Nune pojejo 2, Nunnia ja konnia 2: Lisaeae saepinaeae, Rock 'n' nonne 2: De retour au couvent, Sister Act, acte 2, Sister Act 2: de vuelta al convento, Sister Act 2—In goettlicher Mission, and Sister act 2—piu svitata che mai), Buena Vista, 1993.

World Beat (documentary), Western Sunrise Communications, 1993.

Detective Scott, Susan's Plan (also known as Die Again, Dying to Get Rich, Delitto imperfetto, El pla de la Susan, El plan de Susan, Petollinen suunnitelma, and Susan a un plan), Kusher-Locke, 1998.

(Uncredited) Head Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent, The Limey (also known as El halcon ingles, Englaenderen, L'anglais, L'inglese, Le limier, The Limey—Kostaja Lontoosta, Limey—Tasuja Londonist, O estranho, O falcao ingles, and Vengar la sangre), Artisan Entertainment, 1999.

Studio producer, Foolish, Artisan Entertainment, 1999.

Detective Hicks, Payback (also known as Porter, Arved klaariks, La revancha, Le reglement, Payback—La rivincita di Porter, Payback—Zahltag, Revancha, and Visszavago), Warner Bros., 1999, director's cut released as Payback: Straight Up—The Director's Cut.

Detective Glass, Fever (also known as Atrapado en la oscuridad, Febre a medo, and Instinto sombrio), 1999, Lions Gate Films/Cowboy Book International, 2001.

Hinges, Exit Wounds (also known as Blessures fatales, Dengeki, Exit Wounds—Die Copjaeger, Ferite mortali, Herida abierta, Hors limites, Izlazne rane, Kuulihaavad, Red de corrupcion, and Rede de corrupcao), Warner Bros., 2001.

Mysterious voice on the telephone, Love and a Bullet (also known as Love & Bullet, De profesion asesino, El ultimo disparo, and Rakkautta luotisateessa), TriStar, 2002.

Police chief, Red Dragon (also known as A Voeroes sarkany, Den rode drage, Dragao vermelho, Dragon rojo, Dragon rouge, El dragon rojo, Punainen lohikaeaerme, Roed drake, and Roter Drache), Universal, 2002.

Earl, Never Again, USA Films, c. 2002.

Lieutenant Washington, National Security (also known as National security—Sei in buone mani, Rahvuslik julgeolek, Securite nationale, Seguranca nacional,Seguridad nacional, and Veijareita vai vartijoita?), Columbia, 2003.

Levar, Get Rich or Die Tryin' (also known as Hustler's Ambition, Locked and Loaded, Untitled 50 Cent Project, and Reussir ou mourir), Paramount, 2005.

Trask, X-Men: The Last Stand (also known as X-Men: Final Decision, X-Men 3, X3, X-mehed—viimane vastuhakk, X-men—Conflitto finale, X-Men—Der letzte Widerstand, X-men—I teliki anametrisi, X-men—L'affrontement final, X-men—L'engagement ultime, X-men—La batalla final, X-Men—O confronto final, X-men—Ostatni bastion, X-men—posledniyat sblasak, X-men—uppgoerelsen, X-men—viimeinen kohtaaminen, X-Men 3—Hamiflat Ha'acharon, X-men 3—La batalla final, and X-men 3—La decision final), Twentieth Century-Fox, 2006.

Liquor supplier, The Go-Getter, Et Cetera Films/Two Roads Entertainment, 2007.

Miles Emory, Yellow, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2007.

Henry Emboli, We're Here to Help, Crossroads Films, c. 2008.

Marble City, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2008.

Television Director; Miniseries:

"Miracle's Song," Miracle's Boys, The N (Noggin), 2005.

Television Director; Movies:

Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI (also known as Agent Gibson: Undercover FBI, Johnnie Gibson F.B.I., The Johnnie Gibson Story, and Tehtaevae Miamissa), CBS, 1986.

(With others) America's Dream (also known as Amerykanski sen), HBO, 1996.

The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery (also known as Golden Spiders), Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Deacons for Defense (also known as Em defesa dos nossos), Showtime, 2003.

Television Director; Specials:

"The Meeting," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989.

"Raisin in the Sun," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989.

Television Director; Episodic:

"Double Trouble," Flamingo Road, NBC, 1982.

"To Catch a Thief," Flamingo Road, NBC, 1982.

Falcon Crest (also known as The Vintage Years), CBS, multiple episodes in 1982.

Knots Landing, CBS, episodes from 1982-87.

"Chop Shop," Cagney & Lacey, CBS, 1983.

"Crash of '83," Dallas (also known as Oil), CBS, 1983.

"Death by Kiki," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1983.

"The Reckoning," Dallas (also known as Oil), CBS, 1983.

"Blues for Mr. Green," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984.

"The Bounty Hunter," Cagney & Lacey, CBS, 1984.

"Episode 4," Emerald Point N.A.S. (also known as Navy), CBS, 1984.

"The Hot Grounder," Hunter, NBC, 1984.

"Dangerous Ground," Berrenger's, NBC, 1985.

"I Will Abide," Hell Town, NBC, 1985.

MacGruder and Loud, ABC, episodes in 1985.

Me & Mom, ABC, episodes in 1985.

"Double Exposure," Fame, syndicated, 1986.

"Fever," Starman, ABC, 1986.

"The Professor," Matlock, NBC, 1986.

"Atomic Fallout," Crime Story, NBC, 1987.

"Frye for the Defense," Amen, NBC, 1987.

"The Junction," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1987.

"The System," Starman, ABC, 1987.

"Baseballs of Death," Miami Vice (also known as Gold Coast and Miami Unworthiness), NBC, 1988.

"Fathers," Blue Skies, CBS, 1988.

"Short Timer," Tour of Duty, CBS, 1988.

"The Siege," Spenser: For Hire, ABC, 1988.

Heartbeat (also known as HeartBeat, Private Practice, and Women's Medical), ABC, episodes beginning c. 1988.

"The Divided Child," A Man Called Hawk, ABC, 1989.

"Kennonite," Gideon Oliver (also known as By the Rivers of Babylon), a segment of the The ABC Mystery Movie (also known as The Mystery Movie, The ABC Monday Mystery Movie, and The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie), ABC, 1989.

"Passing the Bar," A Man Called Hawk, ABC, 1989.

Brewster Place, ABC, episodes in 1990.

The Outsiders, Fox, episodes in 1990.

"Emma," Legacy (also known as Loganin perhe), UPN, 1998.

"The Search Party," Legacy (also known as Loganin perhe), UPN, 1998.

"Bride and Prejudice," City of Angels (also known as Anglarnas stad, Englenes by, Enkelten kaupunki, and Orasul ingerilor), CBS, 2000.

"Compassionate Release," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2002.

"Overkill," Fastlane (also known as Fastlane: Brigada especial), Fox, 2003.

"Partners of the Heart," The American Experience, PBS, 2003.

"Vamonos Chica," Robbery Homicide Division (also known as Metro and R.H.D./LA: Robbery Homicide Division/Los Angeles), CBS, 2003.

"Mr. Nobody," Missing (also known as 1-800-MISSING), Lifetime, 2004.

"Prince among Slaves," American Experience, PBS, 2006.

Directed "Win or Lose," an episode of Trauma Center, ABC.

Television Work; Other; Episodic:

Developer, "You Must Remember This," WonderWorks (also known as WonderWorks: You Must Remember This), PBS, 1992.

Television Director; Pilots:

"The Killing Floor," American Playhouse (also known as American Playhouse: The Killing Floor), PBS, 1984.

New York Undercover (also known as Uptown Undercover), Fox, 1994.

Television Appearances; Series:

Luther Freeman, Palmerstown, U.S.A. (also known as Kings of the Hill and Palmerstown), CBS, 1980-81.

Himself, Champlin on Film (also known as American Directors: The Next Wave and Champlin on Film: American Directors: The Next Wave), Bravo, beginning c. 1989.

Amos Andrews, Karen Sisco (also known as Ofiter Karen), ABC, 2003, USA Network, 2004.

Television Appearances; 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 (also known as Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned), HBO, 1998.

Jenga, Who Killed Atlanta's Children? (also known as Echo of Murder), Showtime, 2000.

Book of Love (also known as Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs), Black Entertainment Television, c. 2002.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Mr. Sands, "Santiago's Ark," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1972.

Mr. Sands, "Santiago's America," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1975.

Second FBI agent, "The Meeting," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989.

Himself, Frank Capra's American Dream, 1997.

Himself, Roots: Celebrating 25 Years (also known as Roots—Celebrating 25 Years: The Saga of an American Classic), NBC, 2002.

Miracle's Boys: The Making of a Mini-Series, The N (Noggin), c. 2004.

Himself, Ego Trip's Race-O-Rama, VH1, 2005.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The Fourth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1996.

Presenter, The Fifth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1997.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Sylk, "Bad Dude," Kojak, CBS, 1976.

David Pearl, "Angels on the Run," Charlie's Angels, ABC, 1978.

Officer Dryden, "Hutchinson: Murder One (a.k.a. Hutchinson for Murder One)," Starsky and Hutch, ABC, 1978.

Mad Dog, "The Grass Ain't Greener," Benson, ABC, 1981.

Narrator, "Nat King Cole: Loved in Return," Biography (also known as A&E Biography: Nat King Cole), Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

Himself, "Good Times," The E! True Hollywood Story (also known as Good Times: The E! True Hollywood Story and THS), E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Himself, "Redd Foxx: Say It Like It Is," Biography (also known as A&E Biography: Redd Foxx), Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Himself, Intimate Portrait: Robin Givens, Lifetime, 2000.

Himself, "African Americans in Television," Inside TV Land (also known as Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television), TV Land, 2002.

Captain Bob Parish, "Get Your Mack On," Fastlane (also known as Fastlane: Brigada especial), Fox, 2002.

Captain Bob Parish, "Ryde or Die," Fastlane (also known as Fastlane: Brigada especial), Fox, 2002.

Voice of detective, "The Brave and the Bold: Part 1," Justice League (animated; also known as JL, JLA, Justice League of America, and Justice League Unlimited), Cartoon Network, 2002.

Captain Bob Parish, "Iced," Fastlane (also known as Fastlane: Brigada especial), Fox, 2003.

Captain Bob Parish, "Simone Says," Fastlane (also known as Fastlane: Brigada especial), Fox, 2003.

Himself, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC, 2005.

Phelan, "Black Market," Battlestar Galactica (also known as Galactica, Galactica—Estrella de combate, and Taisteluplaneetta Galactica), Sci-Fi Channel, 2006.

Warden Harris, "Every Man for Himself," Lost, ABC, 2006.

Also appeared in other programs, including Maddox.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

(Uncredited) Hit man, New York Undercover (also known as Uptown Undercover), Fox, 1994.

Ivor "Max" Maxwell, Black Jaq, ABC, 1998.

Police officer, R.U.S./H., CBS, c. 2002.

Stage Director:

The Secret Place, Playwrights Horizons, New York City, 1972.

Unfinished Women …, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theater, Mobile Theater, New York City, 1977.

Sonata, Theatre of the Arts, Los Angeles, 1985.

No Place to Be Somebody, Matrix Theatre, 1987.

Dutchman, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 2007.

Directed other stage productions.

Stage Appearances:

Akano, Slave Ship, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York City, c. 1969-70.

First man, industrialist, and Rastus, Day of Absence (produced as part of a double-bill with Brotherhood), Negro Ensemble Company, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1970.

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1971, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1971-72.

Also appeared in other productions, including Barefoot in the Park, The Emperor Jones, Look Back in Anger, Macbeth, Othello, Plaza Suite (also known as Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite"), and Richard III.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Himself, If It Bleeds We Can Kill It: The Making of "Predator" (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Himself, Predator: Character Design (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Himself, Predator: Classified Action (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Himself, Predator: The Life Inside (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Himself, Predator: Old Painless (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Himself, Predator: The Unseen Arnold (short), Twentieth Century-Fox Home Entertainment, 2001.

Music Videos:

Busta Rhymes, "Dangerous," 1997.

Common, "Testify," 2005.

WRITINGS

Writings for the Stage:

An Adaptation: Dream (one-act), Negro Ensemble Company, New York City, 1971.

Sonata, Theatre Genesis, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1975, later at produced at Theatre of the Arts, Los Angeles, 1985.

Teleplays; Episodic:

"Cousin Raymond," Good Times, CBS, 1979.

Poetry:

Duke's poetry published in various books.

Nonfiction:

(With Danny Glover) Black Light: The African American Hero, Thunder's Mouth Press, 1993.

Writings; Other:

Author of Heroes: A Black Family Picture Album, Thunder's Mouth Press, 1991. Also wrote Bill Duke's 24-Hours L.A. Contributor of articles and poems to magazines and newspapers, including Black Creation.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 3, Gale, 1992.

Periodicals:

Ebony, January, 1991, p. 128.

Essence, February, 1994, p. 52; October, 2000, p. 78.

Jet, April 12, 1999, p. 24.

New York Times, April 10, 1980.

Premiere, April, 1991, pp. 40-42.

Shock Cinema, issue 27, 2005, pp. 3-6, 30.

US, October, 1991.

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