---
name: "Salli Richardson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/salli-richardson-whitfield"
fi1m_id: "salli-richardson-whitfield"
imdb_id: "nm0724757"
tmdb_id: 53918
wikidata_id: "Q237273"
roles: ["Director","Actor"]
born: "23 November 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_as: "director"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-05T04:52:07.665677+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."
---

# Salli Richardson

## Identity

Salli Richardson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/salli-richardson-whitfield
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** salli-richardson-whitfield
- **IMDb ID:** nm0724757
- **TMDB ID:** 53918
- **Wikidata ID:** Q237273
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salli_Richardson-Whitfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237273, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724757/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53918

Director and actor. Born 23 November 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Actor
- **Born:** 23 November 1967, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Also known as:** Salli Richardson-Whitfield,  Salli Richardson Whitfield, Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield, سالی ریچاردسون-ویتفیلد
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 3 acting, 2 directing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as director, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 70 (2), 2000s 65 (1), 2010s 68 (1), 2020s 67 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salli_Richardson-Whitfield, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237273, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0724757/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53918

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*All American*](https://film.one/tv/all-american.md) (68)
- **HBO Max:** [*Task*](https://film.one/tv/task.md) (67)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*I Am Legend*](https://film.one/film/i-am-legend.md) (65)
- **Tubi:** [*Posse*](https://film.one/film/posse.md) (58)

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

## Fi1m on Salli Richardson

> Salli Richardson-Whitfield is a patient ensemble director whose care with actors is worth watching for. We are less convinced by the sustained gloom of *Task*, where troubled households begin to feel too much alike.

In *Task* (2025), the family troubles around Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey are given time to become worth caring about. Richardson-Whitfield and fellow director Jeremiah Zagar also make room for the supporting players, keeping the series from narrowing to a contest between its leads. We were drawn into these families because the supporting performances made their tensions feel shared, rather than supplied simply to explain the central characters. This is where we find her most persuasive: allowing several people to matter within the same drama. It also makes the slow investigation frustrating, since there are people here we want to follow.

Her move from acting to directing began on *Eureka* in 2011, with encouragement from Ava DuVernay. *Queen Sugar* (2016) helped establish that second career, before directing and executive-producing work on *The Gilded Age* (2022) and *Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty* (2022). In *The Gilded Age*, her preference for a moving camera gives the period setting a contemporary treatment. She prepares by storyboarding extensively and speaking to actors in advance about how far they can be pushed. That combination suggests a director who plans carefully without treating performers as people hired merely to fulfil the plan.

On *Task*, written by Brad Ingelsby, the attention to performance has a credible setting. Keith P. Cunningham’s production design gives the households a lived-in feel, while cinematographers Elie Smolkin and Alex Disenhof maintain the surrounding gloom. The consistency becomes a problem: one troubled household begins to feel too much like another. There is care in the way these family tensions are established, but too little change of mood to distinguish them. The shortage of humour makes the wait for the investigation to gather pace feel longer.

Richardson-Whitfield wants to combine large action sequences with character drama, an ambition that suits her attention to ensembles. On the evidence of *Task*, we would follow her work for the supporting performances, with a reservation about the pacing. Patience is useful when it lets actors establish something that a brisker scene might miss. We would welcome another ensemble under her direction, preferably one allowed an occasional lighter moment.

## Biography

Salli Richardson-Whitfield is an American actress and television director. Born in Chicago, she began her career in theatre before moving into film and television acting in the early 1990s. Her acting credits include roles in *A Low Down Dirty Shame* (1994), *Antwone Fisher* (2002) and *I Am Legend* (2007), as well as the series *Eureka* (2006–2012) and voice work as Elisa Maza in *Gargoyles* (1994–1996).

She transitioned to directing in the 2010s, with early credits including episodes of *Queen Sugar*. Richardson-Whitfield has directed and executive produced multiple seasons of *The Gilded Age* (2022–) and directed episodes of *Task* (2025). She received Emmy nominations for directing *Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty* and for episodes of *Task* and *The Gilded Age*, becoming the first Black woman nominated in the Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series category.

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

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (3)

- *I Am Legend* (2007), Fi1m 65, as Zoe Neville — [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-legend.md)
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), Fi1m 82, as Bobbi Kingston — [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *Posse* (1993), Fi1m 58, as Lana — [page](https://film.one/film/posse.md)

### Directed (2) — the average rests on these

- *Task* (2025), Fi1m 67, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/task.md)
- *All American* (2018), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/all-american.md)

## Complete filmography (85)

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

- *Task* (2025), series, as Deputy D.A. Anne Pressman · Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/task.md)
- *Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *The Gilded Age* (2022), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *The Wheel of Time* (2021), series, Director
- *Reprisal* (2019), series, Director
- *See* (2019), series, Director
- *Treadstone* (2019), series, Director
- *Pearson* (2019), series, Director
- *Doom Patrol* (2019), series, Director
- *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina* (2018), series, Director
- *All American* (2018), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-american.md)
- *Love Is___* (2018), series, Director
- *Altered Carbon* (2018), series, as Commission Leader · Director
- *Black Lightning* (2018), series, as Rebecca Montez · Director
- *Marvel's The Punisher* (2017), series, Director
- *I'm Dying Up Here* (2017), series, Director
- *American Gods* (2017), series, Director
- *Dear White People* (2017), series, Director
- *Marvel's Luke Cage* (2016), series, Director
- *Lethal Weapon* (2016), series, Director
- *Queen Sugar* (2016), series, Director
- *Underground* (2016), series, Director
- *Shadowhunters* (2016), series, Director
- *The Magicians* (2015), series, Director
- *The Sin Seer* (2015), as Nia
- *Rosewood* (2015), series, as Dr. Aubrey Joseph
- *Stitchers* (2015), series, as Maggie Baptiste · Director
- *Playin' for Love* (2015), as Talisa McCoy
- *black-ish* (2014), series, Director
- *Saving Westbrook High* (2013), as Christine
- *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2013), series, Director
- *Being Mary Jane* (2013), series, as Valerie, Valerie (voice)
- *The Newsroom* (2012), series, as Jane Barrow
- *We the Party* (2012), as Principal Reynolds
- *Scandal* (2012), series, Director
- *The Finder* (2012), series, as Athena Brookes
- *House of Lies* (2012), series, as Sandra Joy
- *I Will Follow* (2010), as Maye
- *Black Dynamite* (2009), as Gloria
- *Pastor Brown* (2009), as Jessica 'Jesse' Brown · Producer
- *Castle* (2009), series, as Elizabeth Weston — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/castle.md)
- *I Am Legend* (2007), as Zoe Neville — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/i-am-legend.md)
- *Eureka* (2006), series, as Allison Blake · Director
- *Criminal Minds* (2005), series, as Tamara Barnes — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-minds.md)
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Kurland — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *The War at Home* (2005), series, as Vanessa
- *House* (2004), series, as Sharon — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Second Time Around* (2004), series, as Amanda
- *Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid* (2004), as Gail Stern
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Carrie Clark — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Missing* (2003), series, as Kelly
- *Biker Boyz* (2003), as Half & Half
- *Antwone Fisher* (2002), as Berta Davenport
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Laura
- *Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs* (2002), as Karen
- *Secret Agent Man* (2000), series, as Rachel
- *Family Law* (1999), series, as Viveca Foster
- *Butter* (1998), as Blusette Ford
- *Mercy Point* (1998), series, as Lt. Salisaw
- *Rude Awakening* (1998), series, as Nancy Adams
- *Between Brothers* (1997), series, as Vanessa
- *Stargate SG-1* (1997), series, as Drey'auc
- *True Women* (1997), series, as Martha
- *The Pretender* (1996), series, as Cynthia Sloan
- *The Jamie Foxx Show* (1996), series, as Camille Turner
- *The Great White Hype* (1996), as Bambi
- *Soul of the Game* (1996), as Lahoma
- *Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored* (1996), as Miss Alice
- *Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken* (1995), as Elisa Maza (voice)
- *Lily in Winter* (1994), as Ada Covington
- *A Low Down Dirty Shame* (1994), as Angela
- *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Elisa Maza (voice)
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Tammy Barrett
- *Sioux City* (1994), as Jolene Buckley
- *I Spy Returns* (1994), as Nicole Scott
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), series, as Bobbi Kingston — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *Posse* (1993), as Lana — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/posse.md)
- *Space Rangers* (1993), series, Actor
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Fenna / Nidell — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md)
- *How U Like Me Now* (1992), as Valerie
- *Mo' Money* (1992), as Pretty Customer
- *Prelude to a Kiss* (1992), as Bridesmaid #2
- *Silk Stalkings* (1991), series, as Shelley
- *Roc* (1991), series, as Diane Hubbard
- *Up Against the Wall* (1991), as Denise

## Gallery

- ![Salli Richardson](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-dcea741cbd1b.jpg) Salli Richardson — Genevieve, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Salli_Richardson-Whitfield.jpg/1280px-Salli_Richardson-Whitfield.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-8144413eed63.jpg) Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277885570%29.jpg/1280px-Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277885570%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-d0c4f6eb385d.jpg) Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277890118%29.jpg/1280px-Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277890118%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-a5edec5428cb.jpg) Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277892352%29.jpg/1280px-Colin_Ferguson_%26_Salli_Richardson-Whitfield_%287277892352%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Colin Ferguson speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-a8e9fe933c0e.jpg) Colin Ferguson speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Colin_Ferguson_%287277890754%29.jpg/1280px-Colin_Ferguson_%287277890754%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The cast of Eureka speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/40317/gallery-b014bf9cb30b.jpg) The cast of Eureka speaking at the 2012 Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Eureka_cast_%287277888220%29.jpg/1280px-Eureka_cast_%287277888220%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/salli-richardson-whitfield