Don Cheadle

Background

Don Cheadle was born on November 29, 1964, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Donald Frank — a psychologist, and Bettye Cheadle — a teacher. Cheadle has two siblings, a brother named Colin and a sister Cindy. Throughout his childhood, his family moved from city to city. He attended Hartley Elementary in Nebraska and graduated from East High School in Denver. He enjoyed playing musicals, singing in the choir, and playing the saxophone. After high school, he attended the California Institute of Arts and graduated in 1986.

He first appeared in the 1985 comedy “Moving Violations” and later played a small role in the 1987 “Hill Street Blues.” He made an appearance in the 1988 movie “Colors.” He gained fame in the 1995 film “Devil in a Blue Dress,” for which he won the best supporting actor. He won a Golden Globe for his performance in the movie “The Rat Pack,” where he portrayed singer Sammy Davis Jr. He was nominated for The Academy Awards for best actor for his portrayal in “Hotel Rwanda” in 2005. In 2009 he performed in a documentary called “The People Speak” which uses the lives of everyday Americans, diaries, and music. In 2010, he replaced Terence Howard as Colonel James Rhoades in “Iron Man 2” and “Iron Man 3.” He continued to play the character in “Age of Ultron,” “Civil War,” “Infinity War,” “End Game,” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” He has starred in the series “House of Lies” and won the Golden Globe as the best actor in a comedy for his role in the series.

In 2008, his family was profiled, his D.N.A. was tested, and it was found he is of Cameroonian descent. He married his long-time partner and actress Bridgit Coulter. They have two children together and have been together for 28 years. He has raised awareness of genocide in Sudan and worked with the United Nations on climate concerns.