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IMDbPro

Keith David(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Composer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00039
Keith David at an event for The Cape (2011)
When a designer sneaker unwittingly finds himself lost in New York City, he must dig deep into his sole in order to rescue his sister and return to his rightful owner.
Play trailer2:25
Sneaks (2025)
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Keith David is a classically trained actor, winning 3 Emmys out of 6 nominations as well as being nominated for a Tony award. He starred in the recently concluded TV series "Greenleaf" for Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. Upcoming films include "Horizon Line" with Allison Williams ("Get Out") and "Black As Night," for Amazon.

In "Greenleaf" Keith portrayed 'Bishop James Greenleaf', the charismatic and God-fearing leader of the Calvary Fellowship and the patriarch of the family. The series followed the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family, their scandalous secrets and lies, and their sprawling Memphis megachurch. The series was praised for its push and pull dynamic, its hypocrisy, and its compelling characters. Keith's stellar performance was best stated by The Hollywood Reporter, "... Keith David ...is perfectly cast as Bishop Greenleaf. Whether he's playing to the congregation at the altar or getting conspiratorial in a smaller venue, this is an unusually great and meaty role for David."

On the big screen, Keith co-starred with Chadwick Boseman in "21 Bridges". Prior credits include "Night School" with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish and "Tales from the Hood 2". Additional titles include the Academy award-winning films "Crash" and "Platoon." He is widely recognized for appearing in the highly-acclaimed films Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", "Requiem for a Dream", "Men at Work", "They Live", "There's Something About Mary", and "The Thing."

Other recent TV credits include an upcoming appearance on "Creepshow," "NCIS: New Orleans", "Blackish," MacGyver", and "Fresh Off the Boat". Earlier credits include "Community", "Enlisted", "ER", and "Mister Roger's Neighborhood". On Broadway, Keith starred in August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" and "Jelly's Last Jam" for which he garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

Keith's work as a voice actor has made him a household name. His rich and powerful voice has been featured in national commercials, award shows, documentaries, video games, and animation. His work in narration has earned him three Emmys for Ken Burns' "Jackie Robinson", "The War", and "Unforgivable Blackness - The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson". Some of his other voice acting credits include countless fan favorites such as "Adventure Time", "Bojack Horseman," "Rick & Morty", "Spawn", and "Gargoyles". Keith has lent his voice to many video game titles. Recently he portrayed the character "Spawn" in the reboot of the "Mortal Kombat" video game. Other appearances include the "Halo" series (games 2, 3, and 5), the "Saint's Row" series (games 1, 2, and 4), as well as the "Mass Effect" series (games 1,2, and 3).

Born and raised in New York by his parents Lester and Dolores, Keith became interested in the arts at a very young age. After appearing in his school's production of "The Wizard of Oz", he knew this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He enrolled in New York's High School of the Performing Arts and continued his studies at The Juilliard School. After graduation, he was immediately hired by Joseph Papp as an understudy for the role of Tullus Aufidius in William Shakespeare's "Coriolanus." His work with Mr. Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival launched his incredible career.

In addition to his versatile acting and voiceover work, Keith is also a remarkable singer. He's has been touring in 2 shows, "Too Marvelous for Words", in which he portrays the legendary singer Nat King Cole, and a show about the incredible Blues singer Joe Williams, "Here's to Life."

Twitter: @ImKeithDavid Instagram: @SilverThroat Facebook: @ImKeithDavid
BornJune 4, 1956
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJune 4, 1956
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00039
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 20 nominations total

    Photos149

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    Known for

    John Goodman, Oprah Winfrey, Bruno Campos, Terrence Howard, Jim Cummings, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Ritchie Montgomery, Anika Noni Rose, Michael-Leon Wooley, Paul Briggs, Jennifer Cody, and Don Hall in The Princess and the Frog (2009)
    The Princess and the Frog
    7.2
    • Dr. Facilier(voice)
    • 2009
    Jeff Imada and Roddy Piper in They Live (1988)
    They Live
    7.2
    • Frank
    • 1988
    Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck in Armageddon (1998)
    Armageddon
    6.7
    • General Kimsey
    • 1998
    The Thing (1982)
    The Thing
    8.2
    • Childs
    • 1982

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Hazbin Hotel
      • Husk (voice)
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2019
    • The Gray House
      • Henry H. Garnet
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2024
    • Finding Faith
      • Henry
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • The Lowdown
      • Marty
      • In Production
      • TV Series
      • 2025
    • Captain Zero: The Movie
      • The Depression Demon (voice)
      • Pre-production
      • 2027
    • The Ogilvy Fortune
      • Pre-production
    • Where Are the Cocoa Puffs?
      • Dr. MacIntyre (rumored)
      • In Production
    • Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
      • In Production
    • The Price for Freedom
      • Reverend J.W. Bruno
      • Pre-production



    • The Gettysburg Address (2025)
      The Gettysburg Address
      • Frederick Douglass (voice)
      • 2025
    • Josh Holloway in Duster (2025)
      Duster
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Ezra
      • 2025
    • Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2022)
      Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Bass Reeves (voice)
      • 2025
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti, Quinta Brunson, and Janelle James in Abbott Elementary (2021)
      Abbott Elementary
      8.2
      TV Series
      • Frank
      • 2024–2025
    • Sneaks (2025)
      Sneaks
      3.7
      • O.G. (voice)
      • 2025
    • Xosha Roquemore, DomiNque Perry, and Adele Williams in Oh My God, Yes! (2023)
      Oh My God, Yes!
      3.6
      TV Series
      • Toy COD Leader (voice)
      • 2025
    • Portal to Hell (2025)
      Portal to Hell
      8.2
      • Mr. Bobshank
      • 2025
    • Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (2025)
      Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II
      Short
      • The Depression Demon (voice)
      • 2025
    • Kaitlin Olson in High Potential (2024)
      High Potential
      7.6
      TV Series
      • Captain Pacheco
      • 2025
    • Kyla Pratt, Myrna Velasco, Chris Houghton, and Lucy Heavens in Chibiverse (2022)
      Chibiverse
      5.2
      TV Series
      • King Andrias (voice)
      • 2023–2025
    • Invincible Fight Girl (2024)
      Invincible Fight Girl
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Scouter
      • Narrator (voice)
      • 2024
    • John Kani, Seth Rogen, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Billy Eichner, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Blue Ivy Carter, and Aaron Pierre in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
      Mufasa: The Lion King
      6.6
      • Masego (voice)
      • 2024
    • Krapopolis (2023)
      Krapopolis
      6.4
      TV Series
      • Asskill (voice)
      • 2023–2024
    • David Ogden Stiers, David McCullough, and Michael Murphy in American Experience (1988)
      American Experience
      8.6
      TV Series
      • W.E. Henderson
      • Other Voices (voice)
      • 2024
    • Stranded (2024)
      Stranded
      6.6
      Podcast Series
      • Harold
      • 2024

    Producer



    • Good (2020)
      Good
      6.1
      • executive produced by
      • 2020
    • Bewildered (2018)
      Bewildered
      7.8
      Short
      • executive producer
      • 2018
    • Service to Man (2016)
      Service to Man
      6.2
      • associate producer
      • 2016
    • Creature Feature: 60 Years of the Gill-Man (2014)
      Creature Feature: 60 Years of the Gill-Man
      7.8
      • producer
      • 2014
    • The Inheritance (2011)
      The Inheritance
      2.9
      • executive producer
      • 2011
    • Creature Feature: 50 Years of the Gill-Man (2004)
      Creature Feature: 50 Years of the Gill-Man
      7.2
      Video
      • producer
      • 2004

    Composer



    • Chances
      Short
      • Composer
      • 2015

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos164

    "Louis" from The Princess and the Frog
    Clip 1:17
    "Louis" from The Princess and the Frog
    "Mama Odie" from The Princess and the Frog
    Clip 1:22
    "Mama Odie" from The Princess and the Frog
    "Mama Odie" from The Princess and the Frog
    Clip 1:22
    "Mama Odie" from The Princess and the Frog
    The Princess and the Frog: "Kiss the Frog"
    Clip 3:22
    The Princess and the Frog: "Kiss the Frog"
    Gamer: "Play to Live” TV Spot
    Clip 1:02
    Gamer: "Play to Live” TV Spot
    What Goes Around Comes Around
    Clip 1:23
    What Goes Around Comes Around
    Sick As Your Secrets
    Clip 1:55
    Sick As Your Secrets

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
    • Alternative name
      • David Keith
    • Height
      • 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
    • Born
      • June 4, 1956
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Spouses
        Dionne LeaApril 28, 2001 - present (2 children)
    • Children
        Maelee Williams
    • Parents
        Dolores Dickenson
    • Other works
      TV commercial (voiceover): Single White Female (1992) on TNT
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 2 Articles
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Following the film Platoon (1986), Charlie Sheen - who starred in the film - did a TV interview and credits David with saving his life. While shooting in an open-doored Huey gunship, the helicopter banked too hard, and Sheen was thrown towards - and would have gone through - the open door. David grabbed Sheen by the back and pulled him back in.
    • Quotes
      Actually, I wanted to be an actor when I was two years old.
    • Trademarks
        Deep commanding voice, very reminiscent of Orson Welles
    • Salary
      • The Thing
        (1982)
        $50,000

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