Obba Babatundé, also known as Donald Cohen, is an American actor born in Jamaica, Queens, New York. He has an impressive acting resume that includes several roles for which he's received various acting nominations, including: an Emmy-nominated performance in the TV movie Miss Evers' Boys, a NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the TV movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and a Tony Award-nominated performance in the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. He also directed an Ohio production of Dreamgirls in the late 80s.
In addition to having had roles in a variety of well-known movies like Multiplicity, The Notebook, and Silence of the Lambs, Babatundé has appeared in several daytime shows like All My Children (ex-Rusty Bennett), One Life to Live (ex-Clay), and The Young and the Restless (ex-Carter Campbell).
Babatundé is an American sign language expert, having used his skills for many roles, and also has a passion for music, having recorded a song with New York pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs (which appears on the 2007 album Sack Full of Dreams). The actor/producer is also a highly regarded horse rider and trainer in the Rodeo Circuit.
Additionally, Babatundé heads a mentorship program and frequently holds his seminar "show-BUSINESS" at universities across the country.
The Bold and the Beautiful
Julius Avant
July 9, 2015 to present [recurring]
Hand of God
Bishop Bruce Congdon
2015
Kingdom
Detective Gaines
2014
Enlisted
General Murray
2014
Winx Club: Beyond Believix
King Teredor
2012-2013
LA Live the Show
Honoree
2013
Cult
Quentin Yarrow
2013
Love That Girl!
Jim
2011
Private Practice
Dr. Larry Cannon
2011
Winx Club: Enchantix
King Teredor
2011
Criminal Minds
Sheriff Sanders
2010
Grey's Anatomy
Dan Gates
2009
NCIS
Joe Banks
2009
Saving Grace
Doc
2008
Psych
David Gaffney
2008
Girlfriends
Attendant
2007
Boston Legal
Dr. Stanley Rivers/Dr. Victor Rivers
2007
The Young and the Restless
Carter Campbell
2007
Cold Case
Dr. Octavius Leroy
2007
Half & Half
Charles Thorne
2002-2006
Everwood
Jason
2005
One Life to Live
Clay
2005
Karen Sisco
Daniel Burden
2003-2004
Rocket Power
Conroy/Townsperson #1/Newscaster #2
1999-2004
Static Shock
Scientist/Singer/Watch Store Salesman
2001-2003
NYPD Blue
Kevin Dupree
2002
Soul Food
Benjamin Chadway
2001-2002
The Beast
Mr. Lowry
2001
Family Law
Phillip Hamilton
2001
Any Day Now
Judge Richards
2001
Max Steel
Unnamed character
2001
Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family
Sergeant Bonner
2000
The Invisible Man
Allardyce
2000
Outer Limits – The Unknown Dimension
Dr. Joseph Lennox
2000
Dawson's Creek
Principal Howard Green
1999-2000
Linc's
Army Vet
1999
Xyber 9: New Dawn
Unnamed character
1999
Spy Game
Lieutenant Wardell
1997
Sparks
Mr. Kirby
1997
The Burning Zone
Vince, Police Lieutenant
1997
Friends
The Director
1997
Chicago Hope
Charles Ellis
1995
Sliders
Cezanne Brown
1995
Under One Roof
Ben
1995
Touched By An Angel
Carter Evans
1994
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Gordy Berry
1994
Thunder in Paradise
Carl
1994
Tom
Tanner
1994
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
Jameson Parker
1994
Getting By
Unnamed character
1994
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
Mongoose
1993
Sisters
Ben
1992
Tales From the Crypt
Deputy Jameson
1992
The Human factor
Unnamed character
1992
A Different World
Frank Benning
1990
Heart and Soul
Al Taylor
1989
CBS Summer Playouse
Terrence Quimby
1988
Matlock
Backstage Man
1988
All My Children
Rusty Bennett
1987
America's Musical Theater
Zodzetrick
1986
The Choir Director
Mr. Wilcox
2016
Revival!
Nicodemus
2016
If I Tell You I Have to Kill You
Jonathan Black
2015
Death's Door
Mesmer
2015
American Bad Boy
Pastor Lovely
2015
Lap Dance
Roscoe
2014
The Dead Sea
Mayor
2014
Dolls of Voodoo
Iklif
2013
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups
Mayor Denny
2012
The Last Fall
Larry Armstrong
2012
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
Vampire Actor #4
2012
The Trap Door (video)
Mesmer
2011
Go Beyond the Lens (short)
Host
2011
All-Star Superman (video)
Judge/Bibliobot
2011
Trapped: Haitian Nights
Ikliff
2010
The Fallen Faithful
Rev. Emannuel
2010
I Do... I Did!
Mr. Johnson
2009
Why Am I Doing This?
Cliff
2009
Black Dynamite
Osiris
2009
The Eye
Dr. Haskins
2008
April Fools (video)
Detective Combs
2007
Cover
Attorney Miller
2007
Material Girls
Craig
2006
The Celestine Prophecy
Miguel
2006
Flip the Script
Mr. Jones
2005
Joy Road
Dr. Howard Perkins
2004
Kangaroo Jack: G'Day, U.S.A.! (video)
Chief Ankamuti
2004
After the Sunset
Zacharias
2004
The Manchurian Candidate
Senator Wells
2004
The Notebook
Band Leader
2004
The Great Commision
Rev. Jesse
2003
The Wild Thornberrys Movie
Boko
2002
John Q
Sgt. Moody
2002
Redeemer (TV movie)
Charles Henderson
2002
How High
Dean Carl Cain
2001
One Special Moment (TV movie)
Unnamed character
2001
The Visit
Tony
2000
The Apartment Complex (TV movie)
Chett
1999
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (TV movie)
Harold Nicholas
1999
Life
Willie Long
1999
The Temptations (TV movie)
Berry Gordy
1998
Miss Evers' Boys (TV movie)
Willie Johnson
1997
The Cherokee Kid (TV movie)
Isom Dart
1996
That Thing You Do!
Lamarr
1996
The Tomorrow Man (TV movie)
Brian Parish
1996
Carpool
Jeffrey
1996
Multiplicity
Paul
1996
A Reason To Believe
Prof. Thurman
1995
Born to Be Wild
Interpreter
1995
M.A.N.T.I.S. (TV movie)
Cornell
1994
Fatal Pursuit
Trinidad
1994
Philadelphia
Jerome Green
1993
Necronomicon: Book of Dead
Paul
1993
Undercover Blues
Sawyer
1993
The Importance of Being Earnest
Lane
1992
Dead Again
Syd
1991
The Silence of the Lambs
TV Anchor Man
1991
Miami Blues
Blink Willie, Informant
1990
Married to the Mob
The Face of Justice
1988
Leonard Part 6
Bongo Drummer
1987
Mystery Disc: Many Roads to Murder (video)
1983
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Special Guest Performer (
2016; for
The Bold and the Beautiful)
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (2000)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Miss Evers' Boys (1997)
Tony Award Nomination for Best Actor for
Dreamgirls (1982)
DATE OF BIRTH: December 1, 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH: Queens, New York
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Brown
CHILDREN: Two sons
