
Wendell Pierce
ActingAbout Wendell Pierce
Wendell Edward Pierce (born December 8, 1963) is an American actor and businessman. Having trained at Juilliard School, Pierce rose to prominence as a character actor portraying roles on both stage and screen. He first gained recognition portraying the role of Detective Bunk Moreland in the acclaimed HBO drama series The Wire from 2002 to 2008. His other notable television roles include the trombonist Antoine Batiste in Treme (2010–2013), James Greer in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018–2023), the attorney Robert Zane in Suits (2013–2019), and Clarence Thomas in Confirmation (2016). He earned Independent Spirit Awards nominations for his film roles in Four (2012) and Burning Cane (2019), on which he also served as a producer. Other notable film roles include Malcolm X (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995), Ray (2004), Selma (2014), The Gift (2015), and Clemency (2019). Pierce made his Broadway debut in John Pielmeier's 1985 play The Boys of Winter, followed by Caryl Churchill's Serious Money in 1988. As a theatrical producer, he earned a Tony Award for Best Play nomination for August Wilson's Radio Golf (2007), then won for Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park (2012). He performed the lead role of Willy Loman in the revival of Death of a Salesman on the West End in London in 2019 and on Broadway in New York in 2022, for which he earned Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award nominations. Description above from the Wikipedia article Wendell Pierce, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Wendell Pierce reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Wendell Pierce's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 54% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Wendell Pierce remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Adventures in the Making of Superman, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Wendell Pierce Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Wendell Pierce's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Wendell Pierce.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Highest 2 Lowest | Gabe | Average | Similar → |
| 2025 | Adventures in the Making of Superman | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | Superman | Perry White | Hit | Similar → |
| 2025 | Thunderbolts* | Congressman Gary | Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Becoming Frederick Douglass | Frederick Douglass (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | Between the World and Me | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Clemency | Jonathan Williams | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | Burning Cane | Reverend Tillman | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | Piercing | The Doctor | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | One Last Thing | Dylan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Rodents of Unusual Size | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Bad Moms | Principal Daryl Burr | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Confirmation | Clarence Thomas | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Grease Live | Coach Calhoun | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | The Gift | Detective Mills | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band | Andy Kirk (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Runaway Hearts | Paul | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Selma | Rev. Hosea Williams | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Elsa & Fred | Armande | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | Möbius | Bob | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | Parker | Carlson | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 | J. Jenks | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Horrible Bosses | Detective Hagan | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Night Catches Us | David Gordon | Flop | Similar → |
| 2010 | Love Ranch | Naasih Mohammed | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | Beyond All Boundaries | Sgt. Thomas McPhatter | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Wire Odyssey | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Tapping the Wire | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Life Support | Slick | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Stay Alive | Detective Thibodeaux | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Ray | Wilbur Brassfield | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Land of Plenty | Henry | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Fighting Temptations | Reverend Lewis | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Brown Sugar | Simon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | Roy Labelle | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Bulworth | Fred | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Advocate's Devil | Justin | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Sleepers | Little Caesar | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Wendell | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale | Michael | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Hackers | S.S. Agent Richard Gill | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Bye Bye Love | Hector | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | It Could Happen to You | Bo Williams | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Strapped | District Attorney | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Manhattan Murder Mystery | Policeman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Ben Thomas | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | A Rage in Harlem | Louis | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Family Business | Prosecutor | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Casualties of War | MacIntire | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | The Money Pit | Paramedic | Hit | Similar → |
Wendell Pierce - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Wendell Pierce?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Wendell Pierce is "Adventures in the Making of Superman" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has Wendell Pierce acted in?
Wendell Pierce has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Wendell Pierce?
Other notable films include "Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band", "Between the World and Me", and "Sleepers".




