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Carl Lumbly

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Carl Lumbly
Lumbly in 2022
Born
Carl Winston Lumbly

(1951-08-14) August 14, 1951 (age 72)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationMacalester College
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1987; died 2010)​
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2019)​
[1]
Children1

Carl Winston Lumbly (born August 14, 1951)[2] is an American actor. He is known for his role as television's first black superhero in M.A.N.T.I.S., Dick Hallorann in Doctor Sleep, NYPD detective Marcus Petrie on the CBS police drama Cagney & Lacey, CIA agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC espionage drama series Alias, and as the voice of J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter in the animated series Justice League, Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited, all part of the DC Animated Universe.[3] As a reference to his voice work as J'onn, Lumbly portrayed J'onn J'onnz's father, M'yrnn, on The CW's Arrowverse on Supergirl from 2017 until 2019. He also plays Isaiah Bradley, the first Black super-soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installments The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and the forthcoming Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

Early life

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A black and white photo of a boy in a suit, tie, and thick-rimmed glasses, at bust length, staring to the left of the camera
Lumbly in his senior year of high school, 1969

Lumbly was born to Jamaican immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[4] He graduated from South High School there and Macalester College in nearby St. Paul.

Lumbly's first career was as a journalist in Minnesota. While on assignment for a story about a workshop theatre, he was cast as an actor. He stayed with the improvisational company for two years and later moved to San Francisco where he discovered a newspaper ad seeking “two black actors for South African political plays.” He went to the audition and landed one of the parts (along with then-unknown Danny Glover). Lumbly and Glover toured in productions of Athol Fugard's Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Island.[5][6]

Career

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Lumbly's first major role was Detective Marcus Petrie on the television series Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988), where his character was paired with Detective Victor Isbecki (Martin Kove). In 1985, he appeared as Theseus in The Gospel At Colonus, an African-American musical iteration of the Oedipus legend on PBS' Great Performances series.

In 1987, he garnered positive reviews for his portrayal of Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale in the HBO television film Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8.[7] From 1989 to 1990, he portrayed ongoing character Earl Williams (named for the prisoner in Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's story The Front Page), a teacher falsely accused of the rape/murder of a female student, in the series L.A. Law.[8]

In 1990, he co-starred in Charles Burnett's critically acclaimed film To Sleep with Anger. From 1994 to 1995, Lumbly starred as the main character in the short-lived science fiction series M.A.N.T.I.S.. One of his most visible roles was as Marcus Dixon in the American television series Alias (2001–2006).[9]

Other prominent roles include providing the voice for Martian Manhunter in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited,[10] as well as the character's father, M'yrnn J'onzz, in the series Supergirl. In Superman: The Animated Series, Lumbly voiced the mayor of Metropolis in the episode "Speed Demons" and alien military general Alterus in the episode "Absolute Power". He additionally voiced the villain Stalker on Batman Beyond, and hero Anansi in two episodes of Static Shock.

In 2000, Lumbly portrayed activist and Congressman Ron Dellums in the Disney Channel original film The Color of Friendship.[11] Although the film was focused on Dellums' daughter's friendship with a white South African girl, the film also discussed Dellums' role in ending apartheid in South Africa.

Also in 2000, Lumbly guest starred in the season one The West Wing episode "Six Meetings Before Lunch" as Jeff Breckenridge, a nominee for U.S. Assistant Attorney General who supports reparations for slavery.[12] Lumbly appeared as Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek in the 2004 television series Battlestar Galactica. He also plays a role in the Kane's Wrath expansion pack for the video game Command and Conquer 3. More recently, he played police captain Joe Rucker on TNT's Southland.

In 2021, Lumbly guest starred in several episodes of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) as Isaiah Bradley, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and will reprise his role in the feature film Captain America: Brave New World (2024).[10][13]

He was also cast as the father of Beth Pearson, Abraham Clarke, in the series, This Is Us.[14]

In 2024, Lumbly portrayed C. Auguste Dupin, a major character in Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher.[15]

Personal life

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Lumbly has been married twice and has one son. He was married to actress Vonetta McGee from 1987 until her death in 2010.[4] Together they had one son, born in 1988. Lumbly married author Deborah Santana in 2015 and the couple divorced in 2019.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Escape from Alcatraz Inmate
1981 Caveman Bork
Lifepod Keshah
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension John Parker
1987 The Bedroom Window Detective Quirke
1988 Coming to America Stadium Janitor
Judgement in Berlin Edwin Palmer
Everybody's All-American Narvel Blue
1990 To Sleep with Anger Junior
Pacific Heights Lou Baker
1992 South Central Ali
1998 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Additional voices Direct-to-video[16]
How Stella Got Her Groove Back Judge Spencer Boyle
1999 Nightjohn Nightjohn
2000 Men of Honor Mac Brashear
9mm of Love Cue Short film
2002 Just a Dream J.M. Hoagland
2003 Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property Nat Turner – Gray Documentary
2007 Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation Sam Nujoma
2008 The Alphabet Killer Ellis Parks
Immigrants Splits Jackson Voice, English dub[16]
2010 Nominated Ray Cowan [17]
2012 Justice League: Doom J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter, Ma'alefa'ak Voice, direct-to-video[16]
2012 99% Carl Westen Short film
2015 Justice League: Gods and Monsters Silas Stone Voice, direct-to-video[16]
Quitters Dr. Weiss
2016 Gilpin's Nightmare Charles Gilpin Short film
Love Twice Rodrigo
A Cure for Wellness Wilson
2019 Doctor Sleep Dick Hallorann [18]
2022 I'm Charlie Walker Willie
2024 The Life of Chuck Sam Yarbrough Post-production
2025 Captain America: Brave New World Isaiah Bradley Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Emergency! Beutel Episode: "What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing...?"
Undercover with the KKK Reverend Lowell Television film
1980 Lou Grant Beutel Episode: "Hazard"
Taxi Customer #2 Episode: "Fantasy Borough"
1981 The Jeffersons Jimmy Episode: "And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds"
B. J. and the Bear Telephone Representative Episode: "Intercepted Pass"
1981–1988 Cagney & Lacey Marcus Petrie Main role
1985 Great Performances Theseus Episode: "The Gospel at Colonus"
1987 Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 Bobby Seale Television film
1989–1990 L.A. Law Earl Williams 6 episodes
1991 Eyes of a Witness Mambulu Television film
Brother Future Denmark Vesey Television film
American Experience Narrator Episode: "Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind"
1992 Back to the Streets of San Francisco Charlie Walker Television film
1992–1993 Going to Extremes Dr. Norris Main role
1993 Tribeca Ernest Episode: "The Box"
1994–1995 M.A.N.T.I.S. Miles Hawkins Main role
1994 Out of Darkness Addison Television film
SeaQuest 2032 Lamm Episode: "The Last Lap of Luxury"
On Promised Land Floyd Ween Television film
1994 Cagney & Lacey: The Return Marcus Petrie
1996 America's Dream Cal Television film; segment: "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black"
Chicago Hope Michael Johnson Episode: "Life Lines"
Nightjohn John Television film
Touched by an Angel Willis Thompson Episode: "Sins of the Father"
The X-Files Marcus Duff Episode: "Teliko"
1996–1997 EZ Streets Christian Davidson 9 episodes
1997 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest William Marcus Voice, episode: "Other Space"
The Ditchdigger's Daughters Donald Thornton Television film
Buffalo Soldiers John Horse
1997–1998 Superman: The Animated Series Alterus, Mayor of Metropolis Voice, 2 episodes[16]
1998 The Wedding Lute McNeil Television film
1999 Any Day Now Nathan 2 episodes
Border Line Detective Mollo Television film
ER Graham Baker 2 episodes
Strange World Kevin Manus Episode: "Eliza"
1999–2000 Batman Beyond Stalker Voice, 2 episodes[16]
The Wild Thornberrys Red Colobus, Tumbulu Voice, 2 episodes[16]
2000 The Color of Friendship Ron Dellums Television film
Little Richard Bud Penniman
The West Wing Jeff Breckenridge Episode: "Six Meetings Before Lunch"
The Magnificent Seven Obediah Jackson Episode: "The Trial"
Family Law Tom Calloway Episode: "Affairs of the State"
2001 American Experience Frederick Douglass Episode: "The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry""
Kate Brasher Jackson Turner Episode: "Jackson Turner"
Night Visions Dan Episode: "A View Through the Window"
2001–2004 Justice League J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter Voice, main role[16]
2001–2006 Alias Marcus Dixon Main role
2002 Toonami Swayzak Episode: "Trapped in Hyperspace"
2003 The Wonderful World of Disney The Father Episode: "Sounder"
Static Shock J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter, Anansi Voice, 3 episodes[16]
2004–2006 Justice League Unlimited J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter Voice, 18 episodes[16]
2005 Slavery and the Making of America Salomon Northup Episode: "Seeds of Destruction"
2006 Battlestar Galactica Danny 'Bulldog' Novacek Episode: "Hero"
2008 Cold Case Cordell Baker '08 Episode: "Wednesday's Women"
Grey's Anatomy Kurt Walling Episode: "There's No 'I' in Team"
Chuck Ty Bennett Episode: "Chuck Versus the Sensei"
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Tornado Champion, Tornado Tyrant Voice, episode: "Hail the Tornado Tyrant!"[16]
2010 Black Panther Uncle S'Yan, additional voices Voice, 6 episodes[16]
Trauma Special Agent Reynolds Episode: "Tunnel Vision"
Criminal Minds James "Jay-Mo" Morris Episode: "Devil's Night"
2011 NCIS Beau Hindley Episode: "Tell-All"
2012 Southland Joel Rucker 3 episodes
2014 Family Guy Loan Officer Voice, episode: "Baking Bad"
Hope: The Last Paladin Robert Danforth Episode: "Pilot"
2015 The Returned Leon Wright 5 episodes
Zoo Delavenne 6 episodes
2016 UnREAL Henry Carter Episode: "Infiltration"
2017 Six Robert Chase Sr. Episode: "Confession"
Doubt Walter Don Burkes Episode: "#2.5"
2017–2018 NCIS: Los Angeles Charles Langston 4 episodes
2017–2019 Supergirl M'yrnn J'onzz Recurring role; 15 episodes
2018 Bunnicula Lead Prison Guard, Vampire Bat Voice, episode: "Prism Prison"[16]
2019, 2022 This Is Us Abe Clarke 2 episodes[19]
2020 God Friended Me Alphonse Jeffries Episode: "BFF"
Altered Carbon Lukas Imani 2 episodes
2021 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Isaiah Bradley 3 episodes
Young Justice M'aatt M'orzz Voice, 3 episodes
2021–2022 S.W.A.T. Saint 3 episodes
2023 The Fall of the House of Usher C. Auguste Dupin 8 episodes[20]
2023 Obliterated James Langdon 6 episodes[21]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title
1980 Eden
1997 Macbeth
2013 The Motherfucker with the Hat
Storefront Church
2015 Let There Be Love
Between Riverside and Crazy
2016 Red Velvet

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Alias Agent Marcus Dixon
2008 Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath Brother Marcion
2010 BioShock 2: Minerva's Den Charles Milton Porter
2012 Diablo III Witch Doctor – Male [16]
2013 Injustice: Gods Among Us J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter Uncredited
2014 Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Witch Doctor – Male [16]
2015 Heroes of the Storm Nazeebo
2017 Tacoma Odin [16]

Awards and nominations

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  • 1980: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Lead Performance – Eden[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Carl Lumbly". deborahsantana.com. January 1, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019.
  2. ^ According to the State of Minnesota. Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002. At Ancestry.com.
  3. ^ Hillard, Kyle (July 14, 2013). "Martian Manhunter Coming To Injustice: Gods Among Us". Game Informer. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Berkeley stage star Carl Lumbly used his art to overcome real-life grief". The Mercury News. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  5. ^ "Carl Lumbly - About this Artist". LA Phil. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Carl Lumbly: The Man Behind the Martian Manhunter (DCAU, MCU, and Beyond)". YouTube. March 5, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "HBO'S 'TRIAL OF CHICAGO 8' ACQUITS ITSELF WELL". Chicago Tribune. 1987-05-15. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  8. ^ Pergament, Alan (1990-02-22). "'L.A. LAW' MAKES GOOD CASE FOR A VERY ENTERTAINING SEASON". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  9. ^ Wallenberg, Christopher (2023-01-12). "'Alias' Stars Reflect on 'Phase One' Episode, 20 Years Later". TV Insider. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  10. ^ a b Betancourt, David (2021-04-29). "Superhero veteran Carl Lumbly returns for a crucial role in 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  11. ^ Heffley, Lynne (2000-02-05). "A Compelling 'Friendship'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  12. ^ Beavers, Staci L. (2002). ""The West Wing" as a Pedagogical Tool". PS: Political Science and Politics. 35 (2): 213–216. doi:10.1017/S1049096502000537. ISSN 1049-0965. JSTOR 1554721. S2CID 154392253.
  13. ^ "In good Marvel news, Liv Tyler and Carl Lumbly will star in Captain America 4". The A.V. Club. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  14. ^ Petski, Nellie Andreeva,Denise; Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (2019-02-07). "'This Is Us' Casts Young & Teen Beth; Carl Lumbly To Play Her Father". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Before the fall: Meet the power players of Netflix's 'House of Usher'". EW.com. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Carl Lumbly (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.
  17. ^ "Nominated (2010)". IMDb.
  18. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 1, 2018). "'Doctor Sleep' Gets Carl Lumbly For Dick Halloran, Alex Essoe For Wendy Torrance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 7, 2019). "'This Is Us' Casts Young & Teen Beth; Carl Lumbly To Play Her Father". Deadline Hollywood.
  20. ^ Romanchick, Shane (January 31, 2022). "Mike Flanagan's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' Officially Begins Production". Collider. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  21. ^ Lash, Jolie (October 5, 2022). "Carl Lumbly, David Costabile Join Netflix Series Obliterated". TheWrap. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "1980-1989 Awards". Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. United States. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
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