Roger Guenveur Smith
Biography
Roger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer whose screen work is closely tied to Spike Lee, who directed him in several films. Raised in California and educated at Occidental College, Yale's drama school, and London's Keskidee Arts Centre, he has moved between studio pictures and independent projects. His film credits range from Do the Right Thing (1989) and Deep Cover (1992) to American Gangster (2007), where he played Nate, and The Birth of a Nation (2016), in which he appeared as Isaiah. On television he had recurring parts on A Different World and Oz. In 1996 he wrote and performed the one-man theater work A Huey P. Newton Story, about the Black Panther founder, which won him an Obie Award and was later filmed by Lee. He also wrote and directed the solo show In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
71years old
Turns 72 on July 27in 288 days
- Born Berkeley
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Also credited as Roger G. Smith
Movie Career
- Films
- 28
- Career span
- 36 years1989 to 2025
First and latest
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Behind the camera
Smith wrote and starred in A Huey P. Newton Story, a one-man theater piece about the Black Panther Party founder, and won an Obie Award for it; Spike Lee later filmed the performance for a 2001 release.
Behind the camera
Smith wrote and performed Juan and John, a solo show drawn from the 1965 bat attack by Giants pitcher Juan Marichal on Dodgers catcher John Roseboro, a fight that traumatized him as a child.
Behind the camera
Smith was the writer, director and performer of the solo show In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which paid tribute to the artist and friend Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Early training
Smith studied at Yale University, where he auditioned successfully for the Drama School and gave up his plan for a graduate degree in history.
Roger Guenveur Smith movies on Netflix
Riff Raffas Sandy's Father
Tillas Dr. T.R.M. Howard
Hollow Pointas Detective Chuck Bryant
The Clapperas Dr. Rogers B Hay
Bitchas Steven Sheriff
Marshallas Walter White
The Birth of a Nationas Isaiah
Dopeas Austin Jacoby
Empire Stateas Agent Marichal
They Die by Dawnas Jourdon Anderson
CornerStoreas Earl
The Son of No Oneas Hanky
Fightingas Jack Dancing
American Gangsteras Nate
The Takeas Dr. Phineas
Mercenary for Justiceas Anthony Chapel
All About the Benjaminsas Julian Ramose
Final Destinationas Agent Schreck
Summer of Samas Detective Curt Atwater
He Got Gameas Big Time Willie
Eve's Bayouas Lenny Mereaux
Get on the Busas Gary
Pantheras Pruitt
Tales from the Hoodas Rhodie (segment "KKK Comeuppance")
Poetic Justiceas Heywood
Deep Coveras Eddie
King of New Yorkas Tanner
Do the Right Thingas Smiley
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Dito Montiel directed five of these films, Spike Lee four. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.








Films together
Giancarlo Esposito3 films together, 1989 to 2013
Giancarlo Esposito's page They Die by Dawn2013IMDb rating 5.0Smith as Jourdon AndersonEsposito as Rufus Buck
King of New York1990IMDb rating 6.9Smith as TannerEsposito as Lance
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9Smith as SmileyEsposito as Buggin' Out
James Ransone3 films together, 2011 to 2018
James Ransone's page The Clapper2018IMDb rating 5.2Smith as Dr. Rogers B HayRansone as Darth Guy
Empire State2013IMDb rating 5.2Smith as Agent MarichalRansone as Agent Nugent
The Son of No One2011IMDb rating 5.1Smith as HankyRansone as Officer Thomas Prudenti
De'aundre Bonds3 films together, 1995 to 2015
De'aundre Bonds's page Dope2015IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Austin JacobyBonds as Stacey
Get on the Bus1996IMDb rating 6.9Smith as GaryBonds as Junior, aka 'Smooth'
Tales from the Hood1995IMDb rating 6.6Smith as Rhodie (segment "KKK Comeuppance")Bonds as Ball (segment "Welcome to My Mortuary")
Samuel L. Jackson2 films together, 1989 to 1997
Samuel L. Jackson's page Eve's Bayou1997IMDb rating 7.2Smith as Lenny MereauxJackson as Louis Batiste
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9Smith as SmileyJackson as Mister SeƱor Love Daddy
John Leguizamo2 films together, 1999 to 2007
John Leguizamo's page The Take2007IMDb rating 5.8Smith as Dr. PhineasLeguizamo as Felix De La Pena
Summer of Sam1999IMDb rating 6.7Smith as Detective Curt AtwaterLeguizamo as Vinny
Laurence Fishburne2 films together, 1990 to 1992
Laurence Fishburne's page Deep Cover1992IMDb rating 7.0Smith as EddieFishburne as Russell Stevens Jr. / John Hull
King of New York1990IMDb rating 6.9Smith as TannerFishburne as Jimmy Jump
Dito MontielDirector, 5 films, 2009 to 2025
All films by Dito Montiel Riff Raff2025IMDb rating 5.7Smith as Sandy's Father
The Clapper2018IMDb rating 5.2Smith as Dr. Rogers B Hay
Empire State2013IMDb rating 5.2Smith as Agent Marichal
The Son of No One2011IMDb rating 5.1Smith as Hanky
Fighting2009IMDb rating 5.6Smith as Jack Dancing
Spike LeeDirector, 4 films, 1989 to 1999
All films by Spike Lee Summer of Sam1999IMDb rating 6.7Smith as Detective Curt Atwater
He Got Game1998IMDb rating 6.9Smith as Big Time Willie
Get on the Bus1996IMDb rating 6.9Smith as Gary
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9Smith as Smiley
Also two films together29 more actors
- John TurturroHe Got Game (1998) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Rosario DawsonThey Die by Dawn (2013) and He Got Game (1998)
- Denzel WashingtonAmerican Gangster (2007) and He Got Game (1998)
- John SavageSummer of Sam (1999) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Channing TatumThe Son of No One (2011) and Fighting (2009)
- Bokeem WoodbineThey Die by Dawn (2013) and Panther (1995)
- Frankie FaisonTill (2022) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Gabrielle UnionRiff Raff (2025) and The Birth of a Nation (2016)
- Luke GossHollow Point (2019) and Mercenary for Justice (2006)
- Michael Kenneth WilliamsThey Die by Dawn (2013) and Mercenary for Justice (2006)
- Michael RispoliEmpire State (2013) and Summer of Sam (1999)
- Bill NunnHe Got Game (1998) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- P.J. ByrneRiff Raff (2025) and The Clapper (2018)
- Rosie PerezThe Take (2007) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Tracy MorganThe Clapper (2018) and The Son of No One (2011)
- Harry LennixThey Die by Dawn (2013) and Get on the Bus (1996)
- Yul VazquezAmerican Gangster (2007) and The Take (2007)
- Isaiah WashingtonThey Die by Dawn (2013) and Get on the Bus (1996)
- Ossie DavisGet on the Bus (1996) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Clarence Williams IIITales from the Hood (1995) and Deep Cover (1992)
- Ruby DeeAmerican Gangster (2007) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Hill HarperHe Got Game (1998) and Get on the Bus (1996)
- Nate ParkerThe Birth of a Nation (2016) and They Die by Dawn (2013)
- Joie LeeGet on the Bus (1996) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Thomas Jefferson ByrdHe Got Game (1998) and Get on the Bus (1996)
- Joe TorryTales from the Hood (1995) and Poetic Justice (1993)
- Michael RiveraThe Son of No One (2011) and Fighting (2009)
- Steve WhiteGet on the Bus (1996) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Anthony GriffithPanther (1995) and Tales from the Hood (1995)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Roger Guenveur Smith's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$666 million
22 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 28 films: 22 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 22Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 82% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$270M40.5% of the total
- 2$113M16.9% of the total
- 3$37M5.6% of the total
- 4$32M4.9% of the total
- 5$28M4.1% of the total
- 6$25M3.8% of the total
- 7$22M3.2% of the total
- 8$19M2.9% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.









