Cleavant Derricks

• Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee
• Birthday: May 15, 1953

An imposing African-American character player with a strong singing voice, Derricks first made his mark on the Broadway and off-Broadway stages in a series of soul, gospel and blues-flavored musical dramas and revues before trying his hand briefly at features and later as a cast regular on series TV. He studied voice in college and began pursuing a career writing gospel music, but seeing his twin brother Clinton performing onstage steered him toward acting. At the proverbial eleventh hour of desperation, Derricks won a chance to audition for a …more