Early life

Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He began acting while a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of Matters of Choice by Chuck Gordone. Pickens earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from BGSU in 1976.

Career

Pickens started his professional acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City playing Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun. In 1981, Pickens performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of A Soldier's Play, starring alongside Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

In 1990, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on "X-Files" as Deputy Director Kersh, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under.

In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film Red Dragon.

In the February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution, 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget.

In 2005, Pickens was chosen to play Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Personal life

Pickens married Gina Taylor, a former member of Musique, on May 27, 1984 and has two children. In his spare time Pickens can be found riding horseback and roping cattle. He is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in roping events across the country. He owns an American Quarter Horse named Smokey.

James's two children, Carl Tharps and Gavyn Pickens, are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is working on a Hip-Hop career and can be seen in various television appearances, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper where he appeared alongside his long-time friend Omar Gooding. His father James Pickens Sr. worked for the City of Cleveland.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	F/X	Ambulance Driver
1987	Hotshot	N/A
1992	Trespass	Police Officer Reese
1993	Boiling Point	Prison Officer
1993	Menace II Society	Man
1994	Hostile Intentions	Capt. Connor
1994	Jimmy Hollywood	Cook
1995	Dead Presidents	Mr. Curtis
1995	Nixon	Black Orator
1996	Power 98	Det. Wilkinson
1996	Sleepers	Marlboro
1996	Ghosts of Mississippi	Medgar Evers
1997	Gridlock'd	Supervisor
1997	RocketMan	Ben Stevens
1998	Seinfeld	Det Hudson
1998	Sphere	O.S.S.A. Instructor
1998	Bulworth	Uncle David
1998	How Stella Got Her Groove Back	Walter Payne
1999	Liberty Heights	Sylvia's Father
2000	Traffic	Ben Williams
2002	Home Room	Principal Robbins
2003	White Rush	Denny
2005	Venom	Sheriff
2008	Ball Don't Lie	Roberto
2010	Just Wright	Lloyd Wright
2013	42	Mr. Brock

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986-1990	Another World	Zack Edwards	Unknown episodes
1990-1996	Roseanne	Chuck Mitchell	19 episodes
1991-1992	Beverly Hills, 90210	Henry Thomas	10 episodes
1992	Blossom	Vinnie	Episode: "The Letter"
1992	Parker Lewis Can't Lose	Fred	Episode: "Hungry Heart"
1992	L.A. Law	Joseph Russell	Episode: "Zo Long"
1992	Doogie Howser, M.D.	Bert	Episode: "Roommate with a View"
1992	Exclusive	Jonathan Heglin	Television film
1993	Murder, She Wrote	Sonny Greene	Episode: "The Survivor"
1994	Renegade	Lieutenant Pete Calloway	Episode: "Hostage"
1994	Coach	Rick Williams	Episode: "Blue Chip Blues"
1994	Me and the Boys	Coach	Episode: "Black Dads Can't Jump"
1994	Sodbusters	Isaac	Television film
1994	Child's Cry for Help, AA Child's Cry for Help	Brad Currie	Television film
1994	Lily in Winter	Chick	Television film
1995	Trail by Fire		Television film
1995	Sharon's Secret	Ashmore	Television film
1995	Touched by an Angel	George	Episode: "The Driver"
1996	In the House	Russell	Episode: "My Crazy Valentine"
1996	Lazarus Man, TheThe Lazarus Man	N/A	Episode: "The Conspirator"
1996	One West Waikiki	N/A	Episode: "Allergic to Golf"
1996	Dangerous Minds	Coach Butch Kelly	Episode: "Moonstruck"
1996	Bloodhounds	Agent John DeGraf	Television film
1996-1997	Something So Right	Jim	5 episodes
1997	Pacific Palisades	Josh Smith	Episode: "Past & Present Danger"
1997	Walker, Texas Ranger	Staff Sergeant Luther Parrish	Episode: "The Fighting McLains"
1997-1998	Brooklyn South	Detective	4 episodes
1997-2000	Practice, TheThe Practice	Detective Mike McKrew	15 episodes
1998	Pretender, TheThe Pretender	Clark Thomas	Episode: "Crash"
1998	Seinfeld	Detective Hudson	Episode: "The Finale"
1998	Little Girl Fly Away	Detective Walter Engelhart	Television film
1998-2000	Any Day Now	Judge Lucius Pearl	3 episodes
1998-2002	X-Files, TheThe X-Files	FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh	19 episodes Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
1999	Vengeance Unlimited	Mr. Hobbs	Episode: "Friends"
1999	JAG	Commander Wallace Burke	2 episodes
1999	A Slight Case of Murder	Det. Larry Gray	Television film
2000	City of Angels	Wilson Patterson	3 episodes
2000	Daddio	Doug Grayson	Episode: "The Premium Also Rises"
2000	District, TheThe District	Mr. Lane	Episode: "The Real Terrorist"
2000	Family Law	N/A	Episode: "Family Values"
2000	NYPD Blue	Lt. Joe Abner	3 episodes
2001	Semper Fi	Mr. Maddox	Television film
2001-2002	Philly	Clyde Coleman	7 episodes
2002	Strong Medicine	Dr. Everett Sloane	Episode: "Outcomes"
2002	Crossing Jordan	Agent Hawkins	Episode: "Bombs Away"
2002	MDs	Mr. Farrell	Episode: "Cruel and Unusual"
2002-2003	Six Feet Under	Roderick Charles	2 episodes
2002-2003	Becker	Cliff Bennett	2 episodes
2003	CSI: Miami	Prison Warden	Episode: "Body Count"
2003	Lyon's Den, TheThe Lyon's Den	Terrance Christianson	3 episodes
2004	Line of Fire	Kenneth Stevens	Episode: "The Senator"
2004	West Wing, TheThe West Wing	Mayor	Episode: "Full Disclosure"
2004	Jack & Bobby	Marcus Ride	Episode: "Pilot"
2005	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Doctor	2 episodes
2005-present	Grey's Anatomy	Richard Webber	Main Cast (Season 1-present) NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Satellite Award for Best Cast - Television Series Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2007-2009	Private Practice	Richard Webber	2 episodes

[ Source: Wikipedia ]