Brian Stokes Mitchell

Brian Stokes Mitchell Headshot

Actor • Singer

Birth Date: October 31, 1957

Age: 66 years old

Birth Place: Seattle, Washington

Endowed with a lung capacity of a champion free driver, graced with a thunderous baritone that makes him a natural for Broadway, and gifted with a versatile handsomeness that only grow more distinguished with age, three-time Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell began lighting up stage and screen early in his career. The son of a Navy engineer who taught radio code to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, Mitchell was born in Seattle on October 31, 1957. He started singing practically before he started talking, and by age six he was training on the piano. His father's job took the family to military bases around the globe, making for a somewhat nomadic childhood before the Mitchells decided to plant roots in San Diego. By then, the burgeoning actor had begun to discover his love of the stage. Mitchell was in junior high when he made his acting debut in "The Taming of the Shrew," and it was around that time that he began to realize his unique racial blend gave him a distinct advantage in landing roles. Part African-American, part American-Indian, part Scottish, and part German, Mitchell's protean combination of physical features allow him the chameleon-like ability to disappear into almost any role. By high school, Mitchell was already a professional performer. A self-professed autodidact, the emerging talent didn't need to be in a classroom to be learning, instead opting to teach himself musical arrangement, composition, and orchestration. Private acting and vocal lessons added a few more wings to his expanding wheelhouse, so when opportunity knocked in the form of a role in 1979's "Roots: The Next Generations" (ABC 1979), Mitchell was well prepared to answer. Mitchell joined the cast of "M*A*S*H" (CBS 1972-83) spinoff "Trapper John, M.D." (CBS 1979-1986) as young doctor Justin "Jackpot" Jackson. Though he appeared regularly in guest roles after the show's end, he began to focus primarily on stage work in New York. In 1998, he earned a Drama Desk award and a Tony nomination for his performance as Coalhouse Walker in the 1987 musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's "Ragtime." Two years later Mitchell took home both awards for his performance in "Kiss Me Kate," with additional roles in "Man of La Mancha" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," earning him the distinction of "the last leading man" by none other than the New York Times. He returned to series TV with a supporting role on the sitcom "Fam" (CBS 2019- ) in 2019.

Credits

ShirleyStream

Actor
Stanley Townsend
Movie
2024
70%

PBS Arts Talk

Guest
Show
2023

East New YorkStream

Guest Star
Dr. Ken Corley
Series
2022
88%

National Memorial Day Concert 2022

Music Performer
Show
2022

Give Me An A

Cinematography
Movie
2022

20 Years of Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir

Host
Show
2021

United in Song: Celebrating the Resilience of America

Music Performer
Show
2020

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Music Performer
Show
2020

A Capitol Fourth

Music Performer
Show
2020

Prodigal SonStream

Guest Star
Everett Sterling
Series
2019
58%

Fam: Extras

Actor
Walt
Show
2019

FamStream

Actor
Walt
Series
2019
40%

My Blood is Red

Producer
Movie
2019

Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

Music Performer
Show
2018

Mapplethorpe

Actor
Father Stack
Movie
2018

VampirinaStream

Voice
Grandpop
Series
2017

The Good FightStream

Guest Star
Series
2017
95%

BullStream

Guest Star
Perry Sinclair
Series
2016

Maya & Marty

Music Performer
Series
2016
38%

Mr. RobotStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
94%

Madam SecretaryStream

Guest Star
Vincent Marsh
Series
2014

A Decade of Christmas

Music Performer
Show
2012

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Dominic Voth
Series
2012
95%

From Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Music Performer
Show
2012

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Salutes Our Armed Forces

Music Performer
Show
2011

Jumping the BroomStream

Actor
Mr. Watson
Movie
2011
57%

The Spirit of Christmas -- Brian Stokes Mitchell

Music Performer
Show
2010

Live Defence Questions

Actor
Show
2010

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Edward Herrmann

Music Performer
Show
2009

A Dream and a Promise

Music Performer
Show
2009

GleeStream

Guest Star
LeRoy Berry
Series
2009
70%

Ugly BettyStream

Guest Star
Don Jones
Series
2006
97%

One Last Thing ...

Actor
Dr. Emerson
Movie
2005

Crossing JordanStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Ruby's Bucket of Blood

Actor
Earl Delacroix
Movie
2001

Call Me Claus

Actor
Cameron
Movie
2001

Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke

Actor
Show
1999

Double Platinum

Actor
Adam Harris
Movie
1999

In Performance at The White House

Music Performer
Special
1998

The Prince of EgyptStream

Actor
Jethro (singing)
Movie
1998
79%

Fox News Sunday

Guest
News
1996

FrasierStream

Guest Star
Cam Winston
Series
1993
95%

Hollyrock-A-Bye Baby

Voice
Additional Voices
Movie
1993

The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

The California Raisin Show

Voice
Series
1989

ALFStream

Guest Star
Congressman Nathan Peal
Series
1986

227Stream

Guest Star
Series
1985

Circus of the Stars

Self
Show
1984

Hotel

Guest Star
Soap
1983

Trapper John, M.D.

Actor
Dr. Justin 'Jackpot' Jackson
Series
1979

The White Shadow

Guest Star
Series
1978

Good Morning America

Music Performer
News
1975

News aboutBrian Stokes Mitchell