Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Biography
Ruben Santiago-Hudson is an American actor, playwright and director whose work across those three fields has earned national honors, including a Tony and three Drama Desk Awards. Born in Lackawanna, New York, he began on Broadway in Jelly's Last Jam (1992) and won the 1996 Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play for August Wilson's Seven Guitars. He wrote Lackawanna Blues, an autobiographical solo piece he performed himself, and adapted it into an HBO film that took the Humanitas Prize. On screen he took supporting parts in The Devil's Advocate (1997), Shaft (2000) and American Gangster (2007), and played Bayard Rustin in Selma. He played Captain Roy Montgomery on Castle from 2009 to 2011. His directing earned a Tony nomination for the Wilson revival Jitney (2017), and he wrote the Netflix adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
69years old
Turns 70 on November 24in 40 days
- Born Lackawanna
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 25 years1994 to 2019
First and latest
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Behind the camera
Santiago-Hudson wrote Lackawanna Blues, a 2001 autobiographical play staged in New York at the Joseph Papp Theatre, where he played himself and about twenty characters from his past. He later adapted it into an award-winning 2005 HBO film.
Behind the camera
In 2013, Santiago-Hudson directed August Wilson's The Piano Lesson Off-Broadway. His work earned him a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director, an Obie Award for Direction, and a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson movies on Netflix
Obsessionas Detective Crawford
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksas Dr. Roland Pattillo
The Invention of Lyingas Landlord
American Gangsteras Doc
Honeydripperas Stokely
Mr. Brooksas Hawkins
Lackawanna Bluesas Freddie Cobbs
Their Eyes Were Watching Godas Joe Starks
Domestic Disturbanceas Sgt. Edgar Stevens
Shaftas Jimmy Groves
The Devil's Advocateas Leamon Heath
Blown Awayas Blanket
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
George C. Wolfe directed two of these films. Four actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.






Films together
Cuba Gooding Jr.2 films together, 1994 to 2007
Cuba Gooding Jr.'s page American Gangster2007IMDb rating 7.8Santiago-Hudson as DocGooding as Nicky Barnes
Blown Away1994IMDb rating 6.3Santiago-Hudson as BlanketGooding as Bomb Squad Class Member
Terrence Howard2 films together, 2005
Terrence Howard's page Lackawanna Blues2005IMDb rating 7.8Santiago-Hudson as Freddie CobbsHoward as Bill Crosby
Their Eyes Were Watching God2005IMDb rating 6.4Santiago-Hudson as Joe StarksHoward as Amos Hicks
Jeffrey Wright2 films together, 2000 to 2005
Jeffrey Wright's page Lackawanna Blues2005IMDb rating 7.8Santiago-Hudson as Freddie CobbsWright as Mr. Paul
Shaft2000IMDb rating 6.0Santiago-Hudson as Jimmy GrovesWright as Peoples Hernandez
Ruby Dee2 films together, 2005 to 2007
Ruby Dee's page American Gangster2007IMDb rating 7.8Santiago-Hudson as DocDee as Mama Lucas
Their Eyes Were Watching God2005IMDb rating 6.4Santiago-Hudson as Joe StarksDee as Nanny
George C. WolfeDirector, 2 films, 2005 to 2017
All films by George C. Wolfe The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks2017IMDb rating 6.4Santiago-Hudson as Dr. Roland Pattillo
Lackawanna Blues2005IMDb rating 7.8Santiago-Hudson as Freddie Cobbs
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1996 to 2013, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1996 | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2013 | Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director | Won | |
| Clarence Derwent Awards | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


