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Ving Rhames

Ving Rhames

Birthday: 1959-05-12 | Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA

An American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series. Rhames was born in New York City, New York, he entered New York's School of Performing Arts, where he discovered his love of acting. After high school, he studied drama at SUNY Purchase where he met fellow actor Stanley Tucci, who gave him his nickname "Ving". He later transferred to Juilliard, where he began his career in New York theater. Rhames first appeared on Broadway in the play The Winter Boys in 1984. Ving continued his rise to fame through his work in soap operas. He found work as a supporting actor, and came to the attention of the general public by playing the role of Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994). Rhames was also getting public exposure on television as Peter Benton's brother-in-law on the medical drama ER, a recurring role he filled for 3 seasons. Not long after, Rhames was cast with Tom Cruise as the ace computer hacker Luther Stickell in Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible (1996). With solid performances in two of these highly popular productions, his face was now known to moviegoers; the work offers began rolling in more frequently and he can been seen in several popular films such as Con Air and Dawn of the Dead. Rhames won a Golden Globe in 1998 for best actor in a TV miniseries for his performance in HBO's Don King: Only in America. At the ceremony Rhames gave his award to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon (who is White), saying "I feel that being an artist is about giving, and I'd like to give this to you." Lemmon was clearly touched by the gesture as was the celebrity audience who gave Lemmon a standing ovation. Lemmon, who tried unsuccessfully to give the award back to Rhames said it was "one of the sweetest moments I've ever known in my life." The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced later that they would have a duplicate award prepared for Rhames.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2018
Mission: Impossible - Fallout

as    Luther Stickell

2017
Father Figures

as    Rod Hamilton

2017
The Star

as    Thaddeus (voice)

2016
A Sunday Horse

as    Mr. Valentine

2015
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

as    Luther Stickell

2015
Operator

as    Richard

2014
2014
Jamesy Boy

as    Conrad

2014
In Security

as    Officer Hall

2013
Monday Mornings

as    Dr. Jorge Villanueva

2013
Force of Execution

as    Ice Man

2013
Percentage

as    Porter

2013
Death Race: Inferno

as    Weyland

2012
Art of Submission

as    Gene

2012
Soldiers of Fortune

as    Grimaud

2012
7 Below

as    Jack

2012
Won't Back Down

as    Principal Thompson

2011
The River Murders

as    Captain Langley

2011
Zombie Apocalypse

as    Henry

2011
Pimp Bullies

as    Miguel

2011
Mafia

as    Renzo Wes

2011
Julia X

as    The Man

2011
Death Race 2

as    Weyland

2010
The Wrath of Cain

as    Cain

2010
Piranha 3D

as    Deputy Fallon

2010
Gravity

as    Dogg McFee

2010
Operation: Endgame

as    Judgement

2010
2010
King of the Avenue

as    Norman / De'Sha