---
name: "Courtney B. Vance"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/courtney-b-vance"
fi1m_id: "courtney-b-vance"
imdb_id: "nm0005524"
tmdb_id: 24047
wikidata_id: "Q710169"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 March 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-23T04:09:08.860264+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Courtney B. Vance

## Identity

Courtney B. Vance

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/courtney-b-vance
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** courtney-b-vance
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005524
- **TMDB ID:** 24047
- **Wikidata ID:** Q710169
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_B._Vance, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710169, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24047

Actor. Born 12 March 1960 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 March 1960, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Also known as:** Courtney Bernard Vance
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 62 (2), 2010s 67 (3), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 68 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Action 2, Comedy 2, Science Fiction 2, Thriller 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,932m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_B._Vance, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710169, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/24047

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Lovecraft Country*](https://film.one/tv/lovecraft-country.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Lilo & Stitch*](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md) (58)
- **Apple TV:** [*Terminator Genisys*](https://film.one/film/terminator-genisys.md) (45)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Courtney B. Vance

> Courtney B. Vance brings dignity to the lawyers, officers and officials he so often plays. We value his steadiness, though his softened Cobra Bubbles in *Lilo & Stitch* is a reminder that being reassuring is not always enough.

In *Lilo & Stitch* (2025), Courtney B. Vance makes Cobra Bubbles a government man whose soft centre is easy to find. That is a familiar use of an actor often cast as lawyers, officers and other people entitled to give instructions. We like the dignity he brings to such parts, though here we were disappointed: his agreeable Bubbles makes a tamer remake less fun. Dean Fleischer Camp gets the warmth, but the character could do with more bite.

His film work began with *Hamburger Hill* (1987), followed by Petty Officer Ronald ‘Jonesy’ Jones in *The Hunt for Red October* (1990). John McTiernan’s submarine thriller gives professional competence a proper dramatic purpose: people have to understand one another under pressure. We recommend it with a caveat about the explanations and thinly written characters. Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin make the thinking compelling, while Vance takes his place in the supporting ensemble.

The sustained television role was ADA Ron Carver in *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001–06). Johnnie Cochran in *The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story* (2016) brought greater attention after years of steady supporting work. The part’s need for nuance and historical grounding suited him. His stage background helps explain how comfortably he works within an ensemble, giving a character dignity without insisting on being the whole show. We value that restraint, particularly in an actor so often asked to represent authority.

The reservation is about how that authority gets used. *Lilo & Stitch* needs more comedy, and making its government man nicer does little to supply it. We would like directors to risk making Vance less agreeable rather than treating his dependability as sufficient reason to cast him. He need not stop playing professionals; they are allowed to be difficult company. Start with Cochran rather than Cobra Bubbles.

## Biography

Courtney B. Vance is an American actor born in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career on the Broadway stage in the original productions of August Wilson's *Fences* (1985) and John Guare's *Six Degrees of Separation* (1990).

Vance has appeared in films including *The Hunt for Red October* (1990) and *Terminator Genisys* (2015). On television he played Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver in *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* and Johnnie Cochran in the FX limited series *The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story* (2016), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award. He won a second Emmy for his guest role in the HBO series *Lovecraft Country* (2020). In 2025 he portrayed Cobra Bubbles in the live-action film *Lilo & Stitch*.

Vance has been married to actress Angela Bassett since 1997.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Lilo & Stitch* (2025), Fi1m 58, as Cobra Bubbles — [page](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md)
- *Lovecraft Country* (2020), Fi1m 74, as George Freeman — [page](https://film.one/tv/lovecraft-country.md)
- *Isle of Dogs* (2018), Fi1m 78, as Narrator (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/isle-of-dogs.md)
- *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, as Johnnie Cochran — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Terminator Genisys* (2015), Fi1m 45, as Miles Dyson — [page](https://film.one/film/terminator-genisys.md)
- *Dangerous Minds* (1995), Fi1m 42, as Mr. George Grandey — [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-minds.md)
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Petty Officer Ronald 'Jonesy' Jones (USS Dallas) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Girl Dad* (2026), Actor
- *Lilo & Stitch* (2025), as Cobra Bubbles — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/lilo-and-stitch-2025.md)
- *Death Wish* (2024), as Pilot (voice)
- *Grotesquerie* (2024), series, as Marshall Tryon · Executive Producer
- *Percy Jackson and the Olympians* (2023), series, as Zeus
- *Heist 88* (2023), as Jeremy Horne · Executive Producer
- *61st Street* (2022), series, as Franklin Roberts
- *Lovecraft Country* (2020), series, as George Freeman — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/lovecraft-country.md)
- *Project Power* (2020), as Captain Craine
- *Uncorked* (2020), as Louis
- *The Photograph* (2020), as Louis Morton
- *Ben Is Back* (2018), as Mr. Beeby
- *Isle of Dogs* (2018), as Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/isle-of-dogs.md)
- *The Mummy* (2017), as Colonel Greenway
- *Genius* (2017), series, as C.L. Franklin
- *The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks* (2017), as Sir Lord Keenan Coefield
- *Office Christmas Party* (2016), as Walter Davis
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, as Johnnie Cochran — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Terminator Genisys* (2015), as Miles Dyson — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/terminator-genisys.md)
- *Masters of Sex* (2013), series, as Dr. Charles Hendricks — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md)
- *Graceland* (2013), series, as Sam Campbell
- *Let It Shine* (2012), as Jacob
- *Scandal* (2012), series, as Clarence Parker
- *The Divide* (2012), as Delvin
- *Joyful Noise* (2012), as Pastor Dale
- *Revenge* (2011), series, as Benjamin Brooks
- *Final Destination 5* (2011), as Agent Block
- *Hurricane Season* (2010), as Mr. Randolph
- *Extraordinary Measures* (2010), as Marcus Temple
- *FlashForward* (2009), series, as Stanford Wedeck
- *Nothing But the Truth* (2008), as Agent O'Hara
- *The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays* (2006), as Corey (segment "Fences")
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Chief Tommy Delk, Chief Tommy Delk (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Fight* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson* (2004), as Other Voices (voice)
- *Gary the Rat* (2003), series, Actor
- *Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives* (2003), Actor
- *Partners of the Heart* (2002), as Vivien Thomas (voice)
- *Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story* (2002), as Clarence Brandley
- *D-Tox* (2002), as Reverend Jones
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Ron Carver
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Walter Harrelson
- *Space Cowboys* (2000), as Roger Hines
- *The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story* (2000), Actor
- *Love and Action in Chicago* (1999), as Eddie Jones
- *Cookie's Fortune* (1999), as Otis Tucker
- *Naked City: A Killer Christmas* (1998), as Officer James Halloran
- *Blind Faith* (1998), as John Williams
- *Naked City: Justice with a Bullet* (1998), as Officer James Halloran
- *The Wild Thornberrys* (1998), series, as Makai (voice)
- *Any Day Now* (1998), series, Actor
- *Ambushed* (1998), as Jerry Robinson
- *12 Angry Men* (1997), as Foreman
- *The Preacher's Wife* (1996), as Reverend Henry Biggs
- *The Boys Next Door* (1996), as Lucien P. Singer
- *The Affair* (1995), as Travis Holloway
- *The Last Supper* (1995), as Luke
- *The Tuskegee Airmen* (1995), as Lt. Glenn
- *Dangerous Minds* (1995), as Mr. George Grandey — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-minds.md)
- *Panther* (1995), as Bobby Seale
- *The Piano Lesson* (1995), as Lymon
- *ER* (1994), series, as Russell Banfield — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Holy Matrimony* (1994), as Cooper
- *Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad* (1994), as Thomas
- *Percy & Thunder* (1993), as Wayne 'Thunder' Carter
- *Beyond the Law* (1993), as Conroy Price
- *The Adventures of Huck Finn* (1993), as Jim
- *In the Line of Duty: Street War* (1992), as Justice Butler
- *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Warren Grier
- *Nonsense and Lullabyes: Poems* (1992), as (voice)
- *Nonsense and Lullabyes: Nursery Rhymes* (1992), as (voice)
- *The Emperor's New Clothes* (1992), as Scribe (voice)
- *Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers* (1991), as Reader
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Mayor's Assistant, Benjamin Greer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), as Petty Officer Ronald 'Jonesy' Jones (USS Dallas) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *thirtysomething* (1987), series, Actor
- *Hamburger Hill* (1987), as Spc. Abraham 'Doc' Johnson
- *First Affair* (1983), as Male Student #2
- *NOVA* (1974), series, as Narrator
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Lucien P. Singer

## Gallery

- ![Courtney B. Vance](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-47b47ca7e18c.jpg) Courtney B. Vance — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Courtney_Vance_by_David_Shankbone.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-82831f94725e.jpg) Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007) — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_2_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/1280px-Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_2_by_David_Shankbone.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-dd485c5a4c0c.jpg) Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007) — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_2_by_David_Shankbone_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-471231d1d8b0.jpg) Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007) — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_3_by_David_Shankbone.JPG/1280px-Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_3_by_David_Shankbone.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Courtney B. Vance](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-31e574efa1cb.jpg) Courtney B. Vance — Image via TMDB
- ![Courtney B. Vance](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-a307010ac706.jpg) Courtney B. Vance — Image via TMDB
- ![Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-3760314aa68a.jpg) Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007) — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/1280px-Angela_Bassett_and_Courtney_Vance_by_David_Shankbone.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/8474/gallery-bcbe0e8b072b.jpg) Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance by David Shankbone (2007) — David Shankbone, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Angela_Bassett_and_Vance_promote_Love_Story_book_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/1280px-Angela_Bassett_and_Vance_promote_Love_Story_book_by_David_Shankbone.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2016: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story*

### Other awards — 2 won, 2 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2013: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1991: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Theatre World Award 1987: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1987: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/courtney-b-vance