Cleavant Derricks

An imposing African-American character player with a strong singing voice, Derricks first made his mark on the Broadway and off-Broadway stages in a series of soul, gospel and blues-flavored musical dramas and revues before trying his hand briefly at features and later as a cast regular on series TV. He studied voice in college and began pursuing a career writing gospel music, but seeing his twin brother Clinton performing onstage steered him toward acting. At the proverbial eleventh hour of desperation, Derricks won a chance to audition for a 1977 Broadway revival of "Hair" when another commitment made his brother unavailable. He won the role and followed up with "But Never Jam Today" (1977), playing four different roles in this funky "Alice in Wonderland" and also providing choral arrangements; "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God" (1980); "Big "Dreamgirls" (1982), where his flashy, exciting work as James Thunder Early won him a supporting Tony; and Bob Fosse's "Big Deal" (1986), which provided him with his first real leading role.