Clifton Powell

Character actor Clifton Powell is probably best known for his characterization of Pinky, an outrageous old-school gangster still hanging on in the urban comedy sequels "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next," and for his memorable frequent parts as volatile heavies in films such as the tragic "Menace II Society" and the gritty "Dead Presidents." It was those later-mentioned aggressive performances that particularly marked Powell as a dramatic actor to watch, especially in the eyes of young audiences that could relate to the harrowing, modern-day context his characters provided.

Still, Powell is a versatile performer who has displayed his acting skills beyond crime films and urban comedies, starring as Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Walt Disney-produced television movie "Selma, Lord, Selma" and as music legend Ray Charles's road manager Jeff Brown in the award-winning Taylor Hackford feature "Ray." In addition to appearing in such other culturally charged projects as "The Gospel," "Street Kings," and "Women Thou Art Loosed," he has also done voice work for the animated TV series "The Boondocks," a sometimes controversial social satire.