Jeffrey Wright Pictured here in 2017, American actor Jeffrey Wright is known for his ability to play villains and heroes, supporting characters, and famous historical figures in film, theater, and television. (more) Jeffrey Wright American actor Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeffrey-Wright Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Apr 8, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts Born: December 7, 1965, Washington, D.C., U.S. (age 59) (Show more) Married To: Carmen Ejogo (2001–2014) (Show more) Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In): "Westworld" (2016–2020) "All Day and a Night" (2020) "Rick and Morty" (2019) "Green Eggs and Ham" (2019) "The Goldfinch" (2019) "The Laundromat" (2019) "Hold the Dark" (2018) "O.G." (2018) "Friday's Child" (2018) "The Public" (2018) "Monster" (2018) "She's Gotta Have It" (2017) "BoJack Horseman" (2016) "The Venture Bros." (2016) "The Good Dinosaur" (2015) "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2" (2015) "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" (2014) "Boardwalk Empire" (2013–2014) "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" (2013) "Only Lovers Left Alive" (2013) "A Single Shot" (2013) "The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete" (2013) "Broken City" (2013) "Ernest et Célestine" (2012) "House" (2012) "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2011) "The Ides of March" (2011) "Source Code" (2011) "Cadillac Records" (2008) "Quantum of Solace" (2008) "W." (2008) "Blackout" (2007) "The Invasion" (2007) "American Experience" (2007) "Chicago 10" (2007) "Casino Royale" (2006) "Lady in the Water" (2006) "Syriana" (2005) "Broken Flowers" (2005) "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004) "Sin's Kitchen" (2004) "Angels in America" (2003) "D-Tox" (2002) "Ali" (2001) "Shaft" (2000) "Cement" (2000) "Crime + Punishment in Suburbia" (2000) "Hamlet" (2000) "Ride with the Devil" (1999) "Meschugge" (1998) "Celebrity" (1998) "Too Tired to Die" (1998) "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1997) "Critical Care" (1997) "Basquiat" (1996) "Faithful" (1996) "New York Undercover" (1994) "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" (1993) "Jumpin' at the Boneyard" (1991) "Separate But Equal" (1991) "Presumed Innocent" (1990) (Show more) See all related content { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Jeffrey Wright known for in his acting career? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jeffrey Wright is known for his versatility in playing villains and heroes, supporting characters, and famous historical figures in film, theater, and television." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What was Jeffrey Wrightu2019s big break in theater? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jeffrey Wrightu2019s big break in theater was in 1993 when he was cast in the original Broadway production of Angels in America, for which he earned a Tony Award in 1994 for best featured actor in a play." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What role did Jeffrey Wright play in the biopic Basquiat? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In the biopic Basquiat, Jeffrey Wright played the title role of Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American painter whose meteoric rise was cut short by a drug overdose." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Which character did Jeffrey Wright portray in the James Bond films? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jeffrey Wright portrayed CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), and No Time to Die (2021)." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What accolade did Jeffrey Wright receive for his role in American Fiction? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jeffrey Wright received his first Oscar nomination for his role in American Fiction, in which he played Thelonious (u201CMonku201D) Ellison, an African American novelist." } } ] } Top Questions What is Jeffrey Wright known for in his acting career? Jeffrey Wright is known for his versatility in playing villains and heroes, supporting characters, and famous historical figures in film, theater, and television.

　　What was Jeffrey Wright’s big break in theater? Jeffrey Wright’s big break in theater was in 1993 when he was cast in the original Broadway production of Angels in America, for which he earned a Tony Award in 1994 for best featured actor in a play.

　　What role did Jeffrey Wright play in the biopic Basquiat? In the biopic Basquiat, Jeffrey Wright played the title role of Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American painter whose meteoric rise was cut short by a drug overdose.

　　Which character did Jeffrey Wright portray in the James Bond films? Jeffrey Wright portrayed CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), and No Time to Die (2021).

　　What accolade did Jeffrey Wright receive for his role in American Fiction? Jeffrey Wright received his first Oscar nomination for his role in American Fiction, in which he played Thelonious (“Monk”) Ellison, an African American novelist.

　　Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965, Washington, D.C., U.S.) is an American actor known for his ability to play villains and heroes, supporting characters, and famous historical figures. His versatility and compelling presence in film, theater, and television, including in the original Broadway production (1993) of the Tony Kushner play Angels in America and in the film American Fiction (2023), a dark comedy about racial stereotypes, have brought him much critical acclaim. In 2005 The New Yorker theater critic Hilton Als wrote of Wright, “It scarcely matters what he appears in: whatever play or film he lends his graceful frame ...(100 of 1106 words)

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