Bill Duke

Biography

Bill Duke is an American actor and director from Poughkeepsie, New York, who started out as a theater actor and appeared on Broadway before making his film debut in the comedy Car Wash (1976). As a character actor he became a fixture in action and crime movies, often as law enforcement figures, with roles in American Gigolo (1980), Commando (1985) and Predator (1987) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, and later in Bird on a Wire (1990), Payback (1999) and Mandy (2018). He moved into directing with the television film The Killing Floor (1984), which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and went on to direct A Rage in Harlem (1991), nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, Deep Cover (1992) and Sister Act 2 (1993). His television work includes directing episodes of Dallas, Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice, and he played Agent Percy Odell in Black Lightning.

83years old

Turns 84 on February 26in 137 days

Born February 26, 1943Poughkeepsie
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as William Henry Duke Jr.

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 45 years1976 to 2021

Genres

Crime58%, 14 films
Action50%, 12 films
Drama42%, 10 films
Comedy33%, 8 films
Thriller33%, 8 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
In the early 1980s, a clerical or secretarial mistake at AFI Conservatory got Duke a directing job on Knots Landing by accident. The producers were happy with his work, so he stayed and directed 10 episodes.
Early training
Duke continued his education at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts after graduating. In 1971, he took a Broadway role in Melvin Van Peebles' musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.
Behind the camera
Duke started and owns the Duke Media Foundation. It helps young people get ready for careers in every part of film, video and TV production.

Bill Duke movies on Netflix

No Sudden Move2021IMDb rating 6.4as Aldrick Watkins
High Flying Bird2019IMDb rating 6.2as Spence
Hollow Point2019IMDb rating 4.3as Senior Guard James
In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Mandy2018IMDb rating 6.5as Caruthers
American Satan2017IMDb rating 5.7as Gabriel
Bad Country2014IMDb rating 5.8as John Nokes
Battledogs2013IMDb rating 3.6as President Donald Sheridan
Freaky Deaky2012IMDb rating 5.6as Wendell Robinson
Henry's Crime2010IMDb rating 5.9as Frank
The Big Bang2010IMDb rating 5.4as Drummer
Get Rich or Die Tryin'2005IMDb rating 5.6as Levar
National Security2003IMDb rating 5.6as Lieutenant Washington
Exit Wounds2001IMDb rating 5.6as Chief Hinges
Payback1999IMDb rating 7.0as Det. Hicks
The Limey1999IMDb rating 6.9as Head DEA Agent
Susan's Plan1998IMDb rating 5.2as Detective Scott
Bird on a Wire1990IMDb rating 6.0as Albert Diggs
Action Jackson1988IMDb rating 5.6as Capt. Earl Armbruster
No Man's Land1987IMDb rating 6.1as Malcolm
Predator1987IMDb rating 7.8as Mac
Commando1985IMDb rating 6.7as Cooke
American Gigolo1980IMDb rating 6.3as Leon
Car Wash1976IMDb rating 6.3as Duane - Abdullah

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Predator1987 Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Mac
IMDb rating 7.8507K votes
Payback1999 Action, Crime, Dramaas Det. Hicks
IMDb rating 7.0155K votes
Commando1985as Cooke
IMDb rating 6.7190K votes
National Security2003as Lieutenant Washington
IMDb rating 5.658K votes
Bird on a Wire1990as Albert Diggs
IMDb rating 6.051K votes
Mandy2018as Caruthers
IMDb rating 6.5100K votes
Exit Wounds2001as Chief Hinges
IMDb rating 5.638K votes
American Gigolo1980as Leon
IMDb rating 6.331K votes

Most often with

Steven Soderbergh directed three of these films. Michael Jai White appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Michael Jai White

Eric Roberts

Stephen Tobolowsky

Mel Gibson

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Vernon Wells

Steven SoderberghDirector, 3 films

Films together

Michael Jai White3 films together, 2001 to 2019
Michael Jai White's page
- In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2Duke as HimselfWhite as Himself
- Freaky Deaky2012IMDb rating 5.6Duke as Wendell RobinsonWhite as Donnell Lewis
- Exit Wounds2001IMDb rating 5.6Duke as Chief HingesWhite as Lewis Strutt
Eric Roberts2 films together, 2003 to 2019
Eric Roberts's page
- In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2Duke as HimselfRoberts as Himself
- National Security2003IMDb rating 5.6Duke as Lieutenant WashingtonRoberts as Nash
Stephen Tobolowsky2 films together, 1990 to 2003
Stephen Tobolowsky's page
- National Security2003IMDb rating 5.6Duke as Lieutenant WashingtonTobolowsky as Billy Narthax
- Bird on a Wire1990IMDb rating 6.0Duke as Albert DiggsTobolowsky as Joe Weyburn
Mel Gibson2 films together, 1990 to 1999
Mel Gibson's page
- Payback1999IMDb rating 7.0Duke as Det. HicksGibson as Porter
- Bird on a Wire1990IMDb rating 6.0Duke as Albert DiggsGibson as Rick Jarmin
Arnold Schwarzenegger2 films together, 1985 to 1987
Arnold Schwarzenegger's page
- Predator1987IMDb rating 7.8Duke as MacSchwarzenegger as Dutch
- Commando1985IMDb rating 6.7Duke as CookeSchwarzenegger as John Matrix
Vernon Wells2 films together, 1985 to 2019
Vernon Wells's page
- In Search of the Last Action Heroes2019IMDb rating 7.2Duke as HimselfWells as Himself
- Commando1985IMDb rating 6.7Duke as CookeWells as Bennett
Steven SoderberghDirector, 3 films, 1999 to 2021
All films by Steven Soderbergh
- No Sudden Move2021IMDb rating 6.4Duke as Aldrick Watkins
- High Flying Bird2019IMDb rating 6.2Duke as Spence
- The Limey1999IMDb rating 6.9Duke as Head DEA Agent
Also two films together3 more actors
- Bob MinorAction Jackson (1988) and Commando (1985)
- Carl WeathersAction Jackson (1988) and Predator (1987)
- Henry KingiPredator (1987) and Car Wash (1976)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.