James Pickens Jr.
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
James Pickens Jr. was born October 26, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio. While
attending college at Bowling Green State University, Pickens began
pursuing an interest in acting. He graduated from BGSU with a Bachelor
of Fine Arts in 1976. Afterwards, Pickens began work on the stage at
the Roundabout Theatre in New York City. During his time on the stage,
he starred in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of "A Soldier's
Play" with famous Black American actors
Denzel Washington and
Samuel L. Jackson. Ten years since
graduating and beginning his career in acting, Pickens first came to
the screen as an ambulance driver in
F/X (1986). In that same year, he appeared on
the soap opera
Another World (1964) from
1986-1990. Pickens also made several appearances on the popular romance
drama
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990),
and the comedy series
Roseanne (1988) among a steady
line-up of work during the 1990s.
Throughout his extensive work on television, Pickens is best known to audiences as Dr. Richard Webber, on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2005). It is also the same role in which he would reprise on the spin-off series Private Practice (2007) two years later. In later years, namely beginning in the 2010s, Pickens could also be seen in the sports drama 42 (2013) starring Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman. Outside of acting, Pickens spends much of his time around horses and often indulges in horseback riding roping cattle. As a competitive roper, Pickens is part of the United States Championship Roping team and often travels across country to various events. He is married to Gina Pickens (nee Taylor) and is father of two sons Carl and Gavyn who both are into the entertainment business.
Throughout his extensive work on television, Pickens is best known to audiences as Dr. Richard Webber, on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2005). It is also the same role in which he would reprise on the spin-off series Private Practice (2007) two years later. In later years, namely beginning in the 2010s, Pickens could also be seen in the sports drama 42 (2013) starring Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman. Outside of acting, Pickens spends much of his time around horses and often indulges in horseback riding roping cattle. As a competitive roper, Pickens is part of the United States Championship Roping team and often travels across country to various events. He is married to Gina Pickens (nee Taylor) and is father of two sons Carl and Gavyn who both are into the entertainment business.
