Wendell Pierce
Actor
Birth Date: December 8, 1963
Age: 60 years old
Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana
A fluid and protean character actor of the first order, Wendell Pierce brought palpable charm and presence to his vast array of film and television roles, which were capped by his five seasons as the cagey Detective Bunk Moreland on "The Wire" (HBO, 2002-07). A powerfully built man who could generate laughs and tension with equal ease, Pierce began his career in theater before moving into features and television in the late 1980s. His versatility earned him roles in films by such significant directors as Spike Lee with "Get on the Bus" (1996), Woody Allen with "Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993) and Barry Levinson with "Sleepers" (1997), but it was his turn as a sweet if inept lover in Forest Whitaker's "Waiting to Exhale" (1995) that put him on the map. "The Wire" became one of his greatest showcases, with Bunk becoming an audience favorite by virtue of his old-school police principles and profane quips. The critically acclaimed series led to greater exposure for Pierce, who used some of his newfound fame to bring attention to his hometown of New Orleans after its devastation by Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, Pierce finally earned top billing in "Treme" (HBO, 2010- ), a drama series set in New Orleans that showed a new audience what Pierce's fans had been saying for over two decades: that he was among the best actors in the business, bar none.
Credits
ElsbethStream
Actor
Captain C.W. Wagner
Series
2024
Influential with Katty Kay
Guest
Show
2023
AccusedStream
Guest Star
Detective Trent Douglas
Series
2023
A Toast to 2022!
Self
Special
2022
Harriet Tubman: Visions of FreedomStream
Voice
Frederick Douglass
Movie
2022
Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?Stream
Guest
Talk
2022
Inside the Black BoxStream
Self
Talk
2022
Don't Hang Up
Actor
Chris Daniels
Movie
2022
CBS Saturday Morning
Guest
Show
2021
Four
Actor
Joe
Show
2021
The Watch: Extras
Actor
Show
2021
GMA3: What You Need to Know
Guest
Show
2020
Tamron HallStream
Guest
Talk
2019
Before the West Coast: A Sports Civil Rights Story
Narrator
Show
2019
ClemencyStream
Actor
Jonathan Williams
Movie
2019
Burning Cane
Actor
Reverend Tillman
Movie
2019
27 Years: The Exoneration of Valentino Dixon
Narrator
Show
2018
Today 3rd Hour
Guest
Show
2018
Tom Clancy's Jack RyanStream
Actor
James Greer
Series
2018
Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.Stream
Guest Star
Docudrama
2018
One Last ThingStream
Actor
Dylan Derringer
Movie
2018
Piercing
Actor
Doctor
Movie
2018
Live with Kelly and Ryan
Guest
Talk
2017
Rodents of Unusual Size
Narrator
Movie
2017
Harry
Guest
Talk
2016
Christmastime in New Orleans
Guest
Show
2016
ConfirmationStream
Actor
Clarence Thomas
Movie
2016
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
Guest
Talk
2015
The Odd Couple: Extras
Actor
Show
2015
The Odd CoupleStream
Actor
Teddy
Series
2015
The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream
Guest
Talk
2015
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
Voice
Andy Kirk
Movie
2015
Foreclosure
Actor
Movie
2015
The GiftStream
Actor
Detective Mills
Movie
2015
The Runner
Actor
Frank Legrand
Movie
2015
The Night ShiftStream
Guest Star
Walt
Series
2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
Guest
Talk
2014
Chicago P.D.Stream
Guest Star
Ray Price
Series
2014
Elsa & Fred
Actor
Armande
Movie
2014
Runaway Hearts
Actor
Paul
Movie
2014
The Michael J. Fox ShowStream
Actor
Harris Green
Series
2013
The Arsenio Hall Show
Guest
Show
2013
The Real
Guest
Talk
2013
Ray DonovanStream
Guest Star
Series
2013
Exhale
Guest
Show
2013
ParkerStream
Actor
Carlson
Movie
2013
Möbius
Actor
Bob
Movie
2013
Four
Actor
Joe
Movie
2012
SuitsStream
Guest Star
Robert Zane
Series
2011
The Mortician
Actor
Clinger
Movie
2011
Overheard With Evan Smith
Guest
Show
2010
The Talk
Guest
Talk
2010
TremeStream
Actor
Antoine Batiste
Series
2010
ArcherStream
Guest Voice
Verl
Series
2010
Night Catches UsStream
Actor
David Gordon
Movie
2010
Love Ranch
Actor
Naasih Mohammed
Movie
2010
Drop Dead DivaStream
Guest Star
Neal David
Series
2009
HawthoRNe
Guest Star
Show
2009
Fear Itself
Actor
Wiilbur Orwell
Show
2008
In Plain SightStream
Guest Star
Dr. Warren McBride / Warren Morris
Series
2008
Women's Murder Club
Guest Star
Show
2007
The Drexel InterView
Guest
Show
2007
Life Support
Actor
Slick
Movie
2007
Close to Home
Guest Star
Show
2005
NUMB3RSStream
Guest Star
Series
2005
Tavis Smiley
Guest
Talk
2004
Mitchellville
Actor
Movie
2004
Land of Plenty
Actor
Henry
Movie
2004
RayStream
Actor
Wilbur Brassfield
Movie
2004
A Hole in One
Actor
Dan
Movie
2004
Real Time With Bill MaherStream
Guest
Talk
2003
The WireStream
Actor
Det. William "Bunk" Moreland
Series
2002
The Wire FREE
Actor
Det. William "Bunk" Moreland
Show
2002
HARDtalk
Guest
Show
2002
Brown Sugar
Actor
Simon
Movie
2002
The Date
Actor
Show
2001
My Wife and KidsStream
Guest Star
Series
2001
The Gilded Six Bits
Actor
Movie
2001
The Weber Show
Actor
Wendell Simms
Show
2000
GirlfriendsStream
Guest Star
Series
2000
God, the Devil and Bob
Guest Voice
Show
2000
City of Angels
Guest Star
Show
2000
Third WatchStream
Guest Star
Series
1999
Judging Amy
Guest Star
Series
1999
The 24-Hour Woman
Actor
Roy Labelle
Movie
1999
Abilene
Actor
Reverend Tillis
Movie
1999
The Brian Benben Show
Actor
Show
1998
BulworthStream
Actor
Fred
Movie
1998
The Gregory Hines Show
Actor
Carl Stevenson
Show
1997
413 Hope St.
Guest Star
Series
1997
The Advocate's Devil
Actor
Justin
Movie
1997
Moloney
Actor
Asst. D.A. Calvin Patterson
Show
1996
Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story
Actor
John Saunders
Movie
1996
Get on the BusStream
Actor
Wendell
Movie
1996
The Last Days of Russell
Actor
Show
1995
HackersStream
Actor
S.S. Agent Richard Gill
Movie
1995
Waiting to ExhaleStream
Actor
Michael Davenport
Movie
1995
New York UndercoverStream
Guest Star
Series
1994
It Could Happen to YouStream
Actor
Bo Williams
Movie
1994
A Matter of Degrees
Actor
Wells Dennard
Movie
1991
Law & OrderStream
Guest Star
Series
1990
This Morning
Guest
Show
1988
Vietnam War Story
Actor
French
Movie
1987
The Equalizer
Guest Star
Dr. Wolff
Series
1985
Good Morning America
Guest
News
1975
Today
Guest
News
1952
Meet the Press
Guest
News
1947
Photos
News aboutWendell Pierce
‘Elsbeth’ Renewed for Season 2 at CBS
Q&A
‘Elsbeth’: Why Gloria Reuben Loves Her Introduction as Wagner’s Wife
Review
Roush Review: ‘Elsbeth’ and the Art of the Light Mystery
Spoiler Alert
‘Elsbeth’ Team on Mystery About Wagner & Elsbeth’s Tough Search for the Truth
Wendell Pierce on ‘Suits’ Spinoff Cameo Hopes & Streaming Success
Exclusive
‘Elsbeth’ Adds Gloria Reuben as Wendell Pierce’s Wife
‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Season 3 Premiere Revealed With First Look at Wendell Pierce & New Cast
Preview
Michael Kelly & ‘Jack Ryan’ Cast Promise Classic ‘Thrill Ride’ in Final Season
From Binge-Watch to Broadway: 17 TV Stars Up for Tony Awards This Year
CBS Fall 2023: Watch Trailers for New Dramas ‘Elsbeth’ & ‘Matlock’ (VIDEO)
Exclusive
Wendell Pierce on ‘Jack Ryan’ Season 4 Thrill Ride & ‘Good Wife’ Spinoff ‘Elsbeth’
Exclusive
Wendell Pierce Shares His Defining ‘The Wire’ Memory With Michael K. Williams
Exclusive
‘Accused’ Sneak Peek: Kendall Worries a Detective Is Neglecting His Daughter’s Case (VIDEO)
‘Jack Ryan’ Stars Share Behind-the-Scenes Stories About Season 3 Stunts (VIDEO)
‘Jack Ryan’ Cast on How Season 3 Mirrors Current World Conflicts (VIDEO)
Review
Roush Review: Always Trust ‘Jack Ryan’ to Save the Day
‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’: John Krasinski on the Run in Explosive Season 3 Trailer (VIDEO)
‘Accused’: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Wendell Pierce & Karen LeBlanc Join Fox Drama
Q&A
‘The Watch’ Finale: Adam Hugill Shares the Carrot-Angua Moment That Almost Happened
Preview
‘Chicago P.D.’ Boss on Voight & Jay’s ‘Battle for Hailey’s Soul’
Preview
‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ Is Back in Action! The Cast Previews Season 2
‘Suits’: Perjury, Blackmail & More Morally Questionable Moments
Review
Roush Review: ‘Jack Ryan’ Comes to Amazon, ‘Ozark’ Returns to Netflix
Preview
John Krasinski & ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ Cast on Why the Series Is Unlike Anything on TV
Preview
‘Suits’ Star Dulé Hill Teases Some Law Firm Drama for Alex and Harvey
Amazon Greenlights ‘Jack Ryan’ Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere This Summer
All of the TV Specials Celebrating the Wedding of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle’s ‘Suits’ Costars React to Her Royal Engagement
Roush Review: ‘Confirmation’ Revisits a Scandalous Chapter of Politlcal History