Biography - Ving Rhames

The classically-trained American actor Ving Rhames redefined cool in the 90s, rising to prominence with Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” and the later “Mission: Impossible”. Born in Harlem in 1959, Rhames attended the New York High School of Performing Arts, and afterwards attended the prestigious Julliard Drama School, where he lived with fellow actor Stanley Tucci.

Rhames acted in various Shakespeare in the Park productions after college, and made his Broadway debut in “The Winter Boys” in 1984. The deep-voiced, muscular actor found regular work in soap operas such as “Another World” and in TV shows including “Miami Vice” and “Tour of Duty”. The formidable and talented actor performed in a variety of films as well, working with Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn in Brian De Palma’s “Casualties of War” in 1989, and later appearing in “Flight of the Intruder” and “Dave”.

“Pulp Fiction” proved to be Rhames’ big break, and his effortlessly cool performance as revered drug dealer Marsellus Wallace became instantly iconic, not to mention the framework for many of his following roles. In 1996 Rhames was cast as Tom Cruise’s right-hand man in “Mission: Impossible”, a role he has now reprised twice with the 2000 sequel and the currently playing “Mission: Impossible 3”. Rhames has provided a lightness and sex appeal to the epic action-adventures, and it’s hard to imagine the trilogy without him. “Con Air”, “Rosewood”, and a memorable turn in Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight” followed for the actor. Upon winning a Golden Globe for his fabulous performance in the 1997 TV movie “Don King: Only in America”, Rhames tearfully gifted the award to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon. Truly one of the most touching moments in awards show history, the gesture was in line with Rhames’ personality, which co-stars constantly describe as kind and deferent despite his butt-kicking screen persona.

Rhames has since given a critically acclaimed performance in Martin Scorsese’s “Bringing Out the Dead”, provided voice work for Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch”, and mowed down zombies in the successful 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead”, among other appearances. In 2005 he starred in the USA series “Kojak”, a remake of the classic detective show, and later this year will appear in the gangster drama “Idlewild”.