James R. Black (actor)
Encyclopedia
James Richard Black is an American actor and former professional football
player.
, Ohio
. He played college football
at the University of Akron
and graduated with a bachelors degree in music.
He joined the NFL
's Cleveland Browns
as a running back
. His NFL career was short-lived, however, and he eventually pursued a career as an actor.
science fiction drama The Burning Zone
. He has also had roles in numerous other television series and films. His television appearances include V.I.P.
, Fashion House
, All of Us
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, Strong Medicine
, and Six Feet Under.
In motion pictures, he had the leading role of Victor Erickson in the 1998 direct-to-video
film Cappuccino, the screenplay of which was based upon a story by author Eric Jerome Dickey
. Black has also appeared in The Replacements
, Out of Sight
, Love and a Bullet, and Universal Soldier: The Return
. He portrayed boxer Ernie Shavers in the HBO TV movie Don King: Only in America
.
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.
Early life
Black was born in LimaLima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
and graduated with a bachelors degree in music.
Athletics
In college Black was a standout tailback at the University of Akron, once setting an NCAA record for 52 carries in one game.He joined the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. His NFL career was short-lived, however, and he eventually pursued a career as an actor.
Acting
Black may be best known for his leading role as Agent Michael Hailey on the UPNUPN
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...
science fiction drama The Burning Zone
The Burning Zone
The Burning Zone is a television drama broadcast on the UPN network as part of its 1996–97 lineup. It ran for 19 episodes. The series was rerun on SciFi Channel in the mid to late 90's....
. He has also had roles in numerous other television series and films. His television appearances include V.I.P.
V.I.P. (TV series)
V.I.P. is an American action/comedy-drama series starring Pamela Anderson. Created by J. F...
, Fashion House
Fashion House
Fashion House is an American telenovela that aired at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday on MyNetworkTV stations. The series premiered on September 5, 2006 and concluded on December 5, 2006...
, All of Us
All of Us
All of Us is an American sitcom that premiered on the now-defunct UPN network in the United States on September 16, 2003, where it aired for its first three seasons. October 1, 2006, the show moved to The CW, a new network formed by the merger of UPN and The WB All of Us is an American sitcom that...
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
, and Six Feet Under.
In motion pictures, he had the leading role of Victor Erickson in the 1998 direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film Cappuccino, the screenplay of which was based upon a story by author Eric Jerome Dickey
Eric Jerome Dickey
Eric Jerome Dickey is a New York Times best-selling American author best known for his novels about contemporary African-American life...
. Black has also appeared in The Replacements
The Replacements (film)
The Replacements is a 2000 American film directed by Howard Deutch. It stars Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton and Orlando Jones.-Plot:...
, Out of Sight
Out of Sight
Out of Sight is a 1998 American crime film. The film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. It was the first of several collaborations between Soderbergh and star George Clooney. The film was released on June 26, 1998. It was nominated for two...
, Love and a Bullet, and Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return
Universal Soldier: The Return is a 1999 American science fiction action film directed by Mic Rodgers and starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Jai White, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz, Kiana Tom and Xander Berkeley as Doctor Dylan Cotner...
. He portrayed boxer Ernie Shavers in the HBO TV movie Don King: Only in America
Don King: Only in America
Don King: Only in America is a 1997 television film directed by John Herzfeld and written by Kario Salem...
.