Coby Bell
Encyclopedia
Coby Scott Bell is an American actor
and producer
. He is best known for his roles as NYPD officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. on the NBC
drama Third Watch
, and professional football
player Jason Pitts on the CW
/BET
comedy-drama
The Game. He currently stars as Jesse Porter on the USA Network
original series Burn Notice
, and appears on The Game on a recurring basis.
, Bell is the son of Broadway actor Michel Bell. Before he began acting, Bell attended San Jose State University
, where he graduated with honors. He began his career with a few minor roles in various shows including The Parent 'Hood
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ER
and Smart Guy, before landing a thirteen episode stint as Patrick Owen in L.A. Doctors
.
In 1999, Bell landed the role of Officer Ty Davis, Jr. on the NBC
drama
Third Watch. He was one of only five original cast members to remain on the show throughout its entire six-season run on NBC. During the series' run, he co-starred in Safe, a critically acclaimed play co-written by Third Watch co-star Anthony Ruivivar
. The play also starred Third Watch regular Jason Wiles
and Third Watch recurring guest star Yvonne Jung. Bell also appeared in a Third Watch edition of the American version of The Weakest Link
.
In 2005, just months after Third Watch ended its run, Bell landed a recurring role on the UPN comedy series Half & Half
as Glen Stallworth, a San Francisco firefighter who is originally set up on a date with main character Mona, but winds up falling for her mother, Phyllis (played by actress Telma Hopkins
). Despite appearing in only three episodes, Bell's character was mentioned and referenced throughout the show's fourth and final season.
In 2006, Bell starred in and co-produced an independent film called Drifting Elegant. The project marked his debut as a producer. That same year, Bell guest-starred in an episode of the UPN
comedy series Girlfriends
in an episode entitled "The Game", which served as the pilot episode
for the CW
comedy-drama
series of the same name. Bell stars as Jason Pitts, the captain of the fictional San Diego Sabers football team. He will be returning as Jason Pitts, but in a recurring role when The Game, which was cancelled in 2009, returns on BET
in January 2011. In June of 2010, Bell joined the cast of the USA Network
series Burn Notice
as former counter-intelligence agent Jesse Porter.
In addition to acting, Bell is also a musician and songwriter in a reggae band. He also serves as a mentor to underprivileged youths in the Big Brothers of America
.
Bell supported Barack Obama
for president in 2008.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. He is best known for his roles as NYPD officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama Third Watch
Third Watch
Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
, and professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player Jason Pitts on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
/BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
The Game. He currently stars as Jesse Porter on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
original series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
, and appears on The Game on a recurring basis.
Early life and career
Born in Orange County, CaliforniaOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, Bell is the son of Broadway actor Michel Bell. Before he began acting, Bell attended San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, where he graduated with honors. He began his career with a few minor roles in various shows including The Parent 'Hood
The Parent 'Hood
The Parent 'Hood is an American sitcom that aired on The WB airing from January 18, 1995 to July 25, 1999. The series starred Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas....
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
and Smart Guy, before landing a thirteen episode stint as Patrick Owen in L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors was an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.-Premise:...
.
In 1999, Bell landed the role of Officer Ty Davis, Jr. on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
Third Watch. He was one of only five original cast members to remain on the show throughout its entire six-season run on NBC. During the series' run, he co-starred in Safe, a critically acclaimed play co-written by Third Watch co-star Anthony Ruivivar
Anthony Ruivivar
Anthony Michael Ruivivar is an American actor known for his portrayal of FDNY paramedic Carlos Nieto in the TV series Third Watch, and other law-enforcement roles in different TV series.-Background:...
. The play also starred Third Watch regular Jason Wiles
Jason Wiles
Jason Austin Wiles is an American actor known for his role in the TV series Third Watch.Wiles was born in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., and raised in Lenexa, Kansas, where he attended Holy Trinity Catholic School...
and Third Watch recurring guest star Yvonne Jung. Bell also appeared in a Third Watch edition of the American version of The Weakest Link
Weakest Link (US game show)
The Weakest Link is an American game show that aired on NBC from April 16, 2001 to July 14, 2002. It is based on the British show of the same name. Ten episodes were left unaired until appearing on PAX in 2002, with the remainder eventually airing on GSN...
.
In 2005, just months after Third Watch ended its run, Bell landed a recurring role on the UPN comedy series Half & Half
Half & Half
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
as Glen Stallworth, a San Francisco firefighter who is originally set up on a date with main character Mona, but winds up falling for her mother, Phyllis (played by actress Telma Hopkins
Telma Hopkins
Telma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and television actress. A member of the 1970s pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, she later starred in several television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, and Half & Half...
). Despite appearing in only three episodes, Bell's character was mentioned and referenced throughout the show's fourth and final season.
In 2006, Bell starred in and co-produced an independent film called Drifting Elegant. The project marked his debut as a producer. That same year, Bell guest-starred in an episode of the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
comedy series Girlfriends
Girlfriends
Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008...
in an episode entitled "The Game", which served as the pilot episode
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series of the same name. Bell stars as Jason Pitts, the captain of the fictional San Diego Sabers football team. He will be returning as Jason Pitts, but in a recurring role when The Game, which was cancelled in 2009, returns on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
in January 2011. In June of 2010, Bell joined the cast of the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
series Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
as former counter-intelligence agent Jesse Porter.
Personal life
Bell is married to Aviss Pinkney-Bell and has four children; two sets of twins: girls (Serrae and Jaena) and girl/boy (Quinn and Eli).In addition to acting, Bell is also a musician and songwriter in a reggae band. He also serves as a mentor to underprivileged youths in the Big Brothers of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....
.
Bell supported Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for president in 2008.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Dream Street | Credited as Colby Bell | |
| 2006 | Drifting Elegant | Renny Lyles | Producer |
| 2007 | Showdown at Area 51 Showdown at Area 51 Showdown at Area 51 is a 2007 in TV film Sci-Fi directed by C. Roma, starring Jason London and Gigi Edgley.-Cast:As appearing in screen credits :* Jason London as Jake Townsend* Gigi Edgley as Monica Gray... |
Jude | |
| 2008 | Ball Don't Lie Ball Don't Lie Ball Don't Lie is a feature film directed by Brin Hill. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Matt de la Peña. It stars AND1 Mixtape team member Grayson Boucher, a.k.a. The Professor... |
Dreadlock Man | |
| Flowers and Weeds | Tyler | Voice | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | The Parent 'Hood | Devigian | Episode: Father Wendell" |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Young Man | Episode: "Reptile Boy" | |
| ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Brett Nicholson | Episode: "Good Touch, Bad Touch" | |
| 1997–1998 | Smart Guy Smart Guy Smart Guy is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis. The series ran on The WB for three seasons from April 2, 1997 to May 16, 1999.-Premise:The show centers on the misadventures of boy genius T.J... |
Garret Anthony Williams |
Episodes: "The Dating Game" "Most Hated Man on Campus" |
| 1998–1999 | L.A. Doctors L.A. Doctors L.A. Doctors was an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.-Premise:... |
Patrick Owen | 13 episodes |
| 1999 | A.T.F. A.T.F. A.T.F. is a television movie produced for ABC in 1999 in which ATF agents work to infiltrate an armed militia, a group akin to the Branch Davidian group who held off ATF agents and were later set siege to by the FBI in Waco, Texas in 1993.... |
Agent Dinko Bates | Television movie Television movie A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to... |
| 1999–2005 | Third Watch Third Watch Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each.... |
Officer Tyrone "Ty" Davis, Jr. | 130 episodes |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Glen | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Girlfriends Girlfriends Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008... |
Jason | Episode: "The Game" |
| 2006–Present | The Game | Jason Pitts | 64 episodes; Starring seasons 1-3, Recurring season 4-present |
| 2007 | CSI: Miami CSI: Miami CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.... |
Tony Decker | Episode: "Kill Switch" |
| 2010 | Archer Archer (TV series) Archer is an American animated television series created by Adam Reed for the FX network. A preview of the series aired on September 17, 2009. The first season premiered on January 14, 2010. The show carries a TV-MA-LSV rating.... |
Conway Stern | Episode: "Diversity Hire" |
| 2010–Present | Burn Notice Burn notice A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons... |
Jesse Porter | Season 4 - Present: Main cast |