Courtney B. Vance

Courtney Bernard Vance (born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. Vance started his career on the Broadway stage in the original productions of August Wilson's Fences in 1985, John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation in 1990 and Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy in 2013 for which he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He is known for his roles in films such as Hamburger Hill (1987), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Preacher's Wife (1996), Cookie's Fortune (1999), Terminator Genisys (2015), and Isle of Dogs (2018). Vance is also known for work on television on shows such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where he portrayed Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver. He also guest-starred on Law & Order, Picket Fences, The Closer, Revenge, Scandal, and Masters of Sex. He won acclaim for his portrayal of Johnnie Cochran in the FX limited series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016) for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He recently appeared in the HBO television film, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017), National Geographic's limited series Genius: Aretha (2020), and the HBO drama series Lovecraft Country (2020) the latter of which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He has been married to actress Angela Bassett since 1997. Vance is on the Board of Directors for The Actors Center in New York City, and is an active supporter of Boys & ...

2 3

D-Tox (2002)

A disgraced FBI agent with a drinking problem joins nine other troubled law enforcement officers at an isolated detox clinic in the wilds of Wyoming. But the therapeutic sanctuary becomes a nightmarish hellhole when a major snowstorm cuts off the clinic from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Gillespie
CAST:  Sylvester Stallone  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Tom Berenger  •  Polly Walker

A disgraced FBI agent with a drinking problem joins nine other troubled law enforcement officers at an isolated detox clinic in the wilds of Wyoming. But the therapeutic sanctuary becomes a nightmarish hellhole when a major snowstorm cuts off the clinic from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jim Gillespie
CAST:  Sylvester Stallone  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Tom Berenger  •  Polly Walker

Beyond the Law (1993)

Dan Saxon is an undercover cop who infiltrates a biker gang to nail the scum behind a drug-smuggling operation. In order to maintain the trust of the gang's leader, he must commit ever more dangerous and heinous crimes. Just how far 'beyond the law' will Saxon go?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Larry Ferguson
CAST:  Charlie Sheen  •  Linda Fiorentino  •  Michael Madsen  •  Courtney B. Vance

Dan Saxon is an undercover cop who infiltrates a biker gang to nail the scum behind a drug-smuggling operation. In order to maintain the trust of the gang's leader, he must commit ever more dangerous and heinous crimes. Just how far 'beyond the law' will Saxon go?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Larry Ferguson
CAST:  Charlie Sheen  •  Linda Fiorentino  •  Michael Madsen  •  Courtney B. Vance

Dangerous Minds (1995)

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John N. Smith
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  George Dzundza  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Robin Bartlett

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John N. Smith
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  George Dzundza  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Robin Bartlett

Hamburger Hill (1987)

The men of Bravo Company are facing a battle that's all uphill… up Hamburger Hill. Fourteen war-weary soldiers are battling for a mud-covered mound of earth so named because it chews up soldiers like chopped meat. They are fighting for their country, their fellow ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Irvin
CAST:  Anthony Barrile  •  Michael Boatman  •  Don Cheadle  •  Michael Dolan

The men of Bravo Company are facing a battle that's all uphill… up Hamburger Hill. Fourteen war-weary soldiers are battling for a mud-covered mound of earth so named because it chews up soldiers like chopped meat. They are fighting for their country, their fellow ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Irvin
CAST:  Anthony Barrile  •  Michael Boatman  •  Don Cheadle  •  Michael Dolan

In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992)

In this gritty cops-and-crooks drama, two detectives hunt a gang leader suspected of murdering a New York cop. The detectives enlist the help of the dead cop's partner, who is also the brother of the gangster. There's nothing civil about this war that has two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lowry
CAST:  Peter Boyle  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Michael Boatman

In this gritty cops-and-crooks drama, two detectives hunt a gang leader suspected of murdering a New York cop. The detectives enlist the help of the dead cop's partner, who is also the brother of the gangster. There's nothing civil about this war that has two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lowry
CAST:  Peter Boyle  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Morris Chestnut  •  Michael Boatman

Panther (1995)

Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mario Van Peebles
CAST:  Kadeem Hardison  •  Bokeem Woodbine  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Joe Don Baker

Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mario Van Peebles
CAST:  Kadeem Hardison  •  Bokeem Woodbine  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Joe Don Baker

Space Cowboys (2000)

Frank Corvin, ‘Hawk’ Hawkins, Jerry O'Neill and ‘Tank’ Sullivan were hotdog members of Project Daedalus, the Air Force's test program for space travel, but their hopes were dashed in 1958 with the formation of NASA and the use of trained chimps. They blackmail ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Donald Sutherland  •  James Garner

Frank Corvin, ‘Hawk’ Hawkins, Jerry O'Neill and ‘Tank’ Sullivan were hotdog members of Project Daedalus, the Air Force's test program for space travel, but their hopes were dashed in 1958 with the formation of NASA and the use of trained chimps. They blackmail ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Donald Sutherland  •  James Garner

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

IntenseSuspensefulClassicClever

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. A lone CIA analyst has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John McTiernan
CAST:  Sean Connery  •  Alec Baldwin  •  Scott Glenn  •  Sam Neill

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. A lone CIA analyst has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John McTiernan
CAST:  Sean Connery  •  Alec Baldwin  •  Scott Glenn  •  Sam Neill

The Last Supper (1995)

A group of idealistic, but frustrated, liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering rightwing pundits for their political beliefs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stacy Title
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Ron Eldard  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Bill Paxton

A group of idealistic, but frustrated, liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering rightwing pundits for their political beliefs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stacy Title
CAST:  Cameron Diaz  •  Ron Eldard  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Bill Paxton

The Preacher's Wife (1996)

Good natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from property developer Joe Hamilton. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Penny Marshall
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Whitney Houston  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Gregory Hines

Good natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from property developer Joe Hamilton. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Penny Marshall
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Whitney Houston  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Gregory Hines

The Boys Next Door (1996)

Jack Palmer is a social worker whose job has taken precedence over his personal life. Mainly, his job is to help four mentally challenged men live regular lives in a home. They consist of: Norman, who works at a donut shop and has a thing for keys; Barry, who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Erman
CAST:  Nathan Lane  •  Robert Sean Leonard  •  Tony Goldwyn  •  Michael Jeter

Jack Palmer is a social worker whose job has taken precedence over his personal life. Mainly, his job is to help four mentally challenged men live regular lives in a home. They consist of: Norman, who works at a donut shop and has a thing for keys; Barry, who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Erman
CAST:  Nathan Lane  •  Robert Sean Leonard  •  Tony Goldwyn  •  Michael Jeter

Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003)

When the Civil War ended in 1865, more than four million slaves were set free. Over 70 years later, the memories of some 2,000 slave-era survivors were transcribed and preserved by the Library of Congress. These first-person anecdotes, ranging from the brutal to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Lennon  •  Ed Bell
CAST:  Roscoe Lee Browne  •  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Ruby Dee  •  LaTanya Richardson Jackson

When the Civil War ended in 1865, more than four million slaves were set free. Over 70 years later, the memories of some 2,000 slave-era survivors were transcribed and preserved by the Library of Congress. These first-person anecdotes, ranging from the brutal to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Lennon  •  Ed Bell
CAST:  Roscoe Lee Browne  •  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Ruby Dee  •  LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Joyful Noise (2012)

G.G. Sparrow faces off with her choir's newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill, over the group's direction as they head into a national competition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Graff
CAST:  Queen Latifah  •  Dolly Parton  •  Keke Palmer  •  Kris Kristofferson

G.G. Sparrow faces off with her choir's newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill, over the group's direction as they head into a national competition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Todd Graff
CAST:  Queen Latifah  •  Dolly Parton  •  Keke Palmer  •  Kris Kristofferson

Love and Action in Chicago (1999)

Just when covert assassin Eddie Jones decides to ditch his dangerous job to settle down with his girlfriend, his superiors convince him to kill a renegade drug cartel hit man -- leading to nothing but trouble. Complicating matters is Eddie's vow of celibacy and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dwayne Johnson-Cochran
CAST:  Courtney B. Vance  •  Regina King  •  Jason Alexander  •  Kathleen Turner

Just when covert assassin Eddie Jones decides to ditch his dangerous job to settle down with his girlfriend, his superiors convince him to kill a renegade drug cartel hit man -- leading to nothing but trouble. Complicating matters is Eddie's vow of celibacy and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dwayne Johnson-Cochran
CAST:  Courtney B. Vance  •  Regina King  •  Jason Alexander  •  Kathleen Turner

Terminator Genisys (2015)

BrainyCharmingFantasticalAdventurous

The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Taylor
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  Emilia Clarke  •  Jason Clarke  •  Jai Courtney

The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Taylor
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  Emilia Clarke  •  Jason Clarke  •  Jai Courtney

Ben Is Back (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben's mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hedges
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Lucas Hedges  •  Kathryn Newton  •  Courtney B. Vance

19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben's mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Hedges
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Lucas Hedges  •  Kathryn Newton  •  Courtney B. Vance

Let It Shine (2012)

A young teenage rapper must use his musical talent to help his friend out and win the girl of his dreams by going through several events of betrayal, trust and agreement while his religious parents have strictly dislike his interests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Hoen
CAST:  Tyler James Williams  •  Coco Jones  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Dawnn Lewis

A young teenage rapper must use his musical talent to help his friend out and win the girl of his dreams by going through several events of betrayal, trust and agreement while his religious parents have strictly dislike his interests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Hoen
CAST:  Tyler James Williams  •  Coco Jones  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Dawnn Lewis

Naked City: A Killer Christmas (1998)

An ambitious reporter gets in the way of two cops assigned to investigate a serial killer who becomes active around Christmas time..  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Scott Glenn  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Laura Leighton  •  Barbara Williams

An ambitious reporter gets in the way of two cops assigned to investigate a serial killer who becomes active around Christmas time..  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Bogdanovich
CAST:  Scott Glenn  •  Courtney B. Vance  •  Laura Leighton  •  Barbara Williams

Final Destination 5 (2011)

In this fifth installment, Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and is unleashed after one man’s premonition saves a group of coworkers from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But this group of unsuspecting souls was never supposed to survive, and, in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Quale
CAST:  Emma Bell  •  Nicholas D'Agosto  •  Tony Todd  •  Miles Fisher

In this fifth installment, Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and is unleashed after one man’s premonition saves a group of coworkers from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But this group of unsuspecting souls was never supposed to survive, and, in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Quale
CAST:  Emma Bell  •  Nicholas D'Agosto  •  Tony Todd  •  Miles Fisher

The Affair (1995)

A black soldier in World War II England begins an affair with a white woman whose husband is a soldier currently overseas in battle and in doubts of her relationship with him as she discovered he had been having an affair with his secretary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Seed
CAST:  Courtney B. Vance  •  Kerry Fox  •  Leland Gantt  •  Ned Beatty

A black soldier in World War II England begins an affair with a white woman whose husband is a soldier currently overseas in battle and in doubts of her relationship with him as she discovered he had been having an affair with his secretary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Seed
CAST:  Courtney B. Vance  •  Kerry Fox  •  Leland Gantt  •  Ned Beatty
2 3