Biography
He became a part of popular music history when he was cast as the martyred Southern black saint in Madonna's controversial 1989 music video "Like a Prayer". Leon first made an impression on movie audiences as the exuberant captain of the Jamaican bobsled team in "Cool Runnings" (1993).
Born in the Bronx, but raised in the middle class suburb of Mount Vernon, this only son of a transit authority executive and his teacher wife migrated to Los …
Career Milestones
2000 | Portrayed pioneering rock singer Little Richard in an NBC biopic "Little Richard" |
1999 | Featured in the thriller "Bats" |
1997 | Co-produced and starred in "The Price of Kissing" |
1996 | Played roguish womanizer in "Waiting to Exhale" |
1993 | Served as associate producer on the feature "Bad Attitude"; also starred |
1993 | First film in a leading role, "Cool Runnings" |
1989 | Co-starred in the ABC miniseries "The Women of Brewster Place" |
1989 | Appeared as the Saint in Madonna's video "Like a Prayer" |
1987 | Made episodic TV debut in "Hard Copy" (CBS) |
1987 | Changed name from Leon Robinson to Leon |
1983 | Feature acting debut, "All the Right Moves" |
1981 | Made TV acting debut, "Journey to Survival", a "CBS Afternoon Playhouse" production |