--- name: "Wendell Pierce" canonical: "https://film.one/person/wendell-pierce" fi1m_id: "wendell-pierce" imdb_id: "nm0682495" tmdb_id: 17859 wikidata_id: "Q727730" roles: ["Actor"] born: "8 December 1963" reviewed_on_fi1m: 12 average_fi1m_score: 72 average_as: "actor" average_over: 12 updated: "2026-10-05T12:24:19.205677+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." --- # Wendell Pierce ## Identity Wendell Pierce - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wendell-pierce - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** wendell-pierce - **IMDb ID:** nm0682495 - **TMDB ID:** 17859 - **Wikidata ID:** Q727730 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Pierce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q727730, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0682495/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17859 Actor. Born 8 December 1963 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 8 December 1963, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA - **Active:** 1986–present - **Also known as:** 웬델 피어스, Wendell Edward Pierce, وندل پیرس - **Frequently works with:** [David Platt](https://film.one/person/david-platt.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 12 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 54 (1), 1990s 69 (3), 2000s 80 (2), 2010s 76 (4), 2020s 68 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 70 across 11 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 3, Action 2, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, History 2 - **Screen time:** 22 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $2,302m across 10 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Pierce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q727730, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0682495/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17859 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*The Wire*](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md) (90), [*Treme*](https://film.one/tv/treme.md) (82) - **Tubi:** [*Clemency*](https://film.one/film/clemency.md) (81) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Wendell Pierce > Wendell Pierce is an actor we value for the humanity he brings to men with authority. His grounded work suits an ensemble, but *Thunderbolts\** shows how little he can do with a part made mostly of speeches. In *Thunderbolts\** (2025), Wendell Pierce's Congressman Gary makes speeches while the film takes its time getting started. We grew impatient during the hearings because the first act kept adding set-up instead of getting on with the story. Pierce is caught in that delay, but the part gives us little reason to blame him for it. The film has found someone credible to represent authority and then given him little beyond the official business. We rate him more highly when there is room for the person doing the job. *The Wire* (2002–2008) gave him that opportunity as Detective Bunk Moreland, his breakthrough role. We recommend the programme even to people who usually avoid police dramas, because it gives departmental frustrations the attention other series reserve for gunfire. Pierce's grounded acting suits that approach: a detective needs to seem part of a workplace even when he is not driving the story. His strength in an ensemble is the sense that a supporting character deserves as much consideration as the lead. He followed it with a lead role as Antoine Batiste in *Treme* (2010–2013), returning to work with creator and writer David Simon. Its New Orleans jazz culture and attention to recovery after Katrina connected the work to Pierce's own roots. That change of setting matters in a career so often associated with law-enforcement figures and attorneys. Willy Loman in the stage production of *Death of a Salesman* (2019) offered another substantial departure, and a reminder not to confuse the jobs he is often cast to do with the limits of his acting. We are not against casting him as an official; his credibility is part of what makes those roles useful. The difficulty comes when the writing assumes that credibility will make an underwritten part interesting, as the hearings in *Thunderbolts\** demonstrate. We found the film worth recommending, with reservations, but Gary is not where its pleasures lie. For Pierce, begin with *The Wire*; it is worth the longer commitment. ## Biography Wendell Pierce is an American actor. He trained at the Juilliard School and rose to prominence portraying Detective Bunk Moreland in the HBO series *The Wire* (2002–2008). His other television roles include Antoine Batiste in *Treme* (2010–2013), Robert Zane in *Suits* (2013–2019) and James Greer in *Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan* (2018–2023). Film appearances include *Malcolm X* (1992), *Ray* (2004), *Selma* (2014) and *Thunderbolts** (2025) as Congressman Gary. On stage, Pierce made his Broadway debut in 1985 and later received Tony Award nominations, including for producing *Clybourne Park* (2012). He played Willy Loman in West End and Broadway revivals of *Death of a Salesman* (2019 and 2022). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (12) - *Superman* (2025), Fi1m 66, as Perry White — [page](https://film.one/film/superman.md) - *Thunderbolts** (2025), Fi1m 71, as Congressman Gary — [page](https://film.one/film/thunderbolts.md) - *Clemency* (2019), Fi1m 81, as Jonathan Williams — [page](https://film.one/film/clemency.md) - *Selma* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Rev. Hosea Williams — [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md) - *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2* (2012), Fi1m 55, as J. Jenks — [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2.md) - *Treme* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Antoine Batiste — [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md) - *Ray* (2004), Fi1m 70, as Wilbur Brassfield — [page](https://film.one/film/ray.md) - *The Wire* (2002), Fi1m 90, as Bunk Moreland — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md) - *Sleepers* (1996), Fi1m 57, as Little Caesar — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *Malcolm X* (1992), Fi1m 79, as Ben Thomas — [page](https://film.one/film/malcolm-x.md) - *A Rage in Harlem* (1991), Fi1m 71, as Louis — [page](https://film.one/film/a-rage-in-harlem.md) - *The Money Pit* (1986), Fi1m 54, as Paramedic — [page](https://film.one/film/the-money-pit.md) ## Complete filmography (113) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *They Fight* (2026), as Slim - *Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War* (2026), as James Greer - *The American Revolution* (2025), series, as (voice) - *Highest 2 Lowest* (2025), as Gabe - *Superman* (2025), as Perry White — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/superman.md) - *Thunderbolts** (2025), as Congressman Gary — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/thunderbolts.md) - *Elsbeth* (2024), series, as C.W. Wagner - *Becoming Frederick Douglass* (2022), as Frederick Douglass (voice) - *Don't Hang Up* (2022), as Chris Daniels - *The Watch* (2021), series, as Death (voice) - *Clemency* (2019), as Jonathan Williams — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/clemency.md) - *Harley Quinn* (2019), series, as Lex Luthor (voice) - *Burning Cane* (2019), as Reverend Tillman · Producer - *Piercing* (2019), as The Doctor - *27 Years: The Exoneration of Valentino Dixon* (2018), as Narrator (voice) - *Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan* (2018), series, as James Greer - *One Last Thing* (2018), as Dylan - *Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.* (2018), series, as Detective Lee Tucker - *Rodents of Unusual Size* (2017), as Narrator (voice) - *The Forever Tree* (2017), as Doctor Willow - *Bad Moms* (2016), as Principal Daryl Burr - *Confirmation* (2016), as Clarence Thomas - *Grease Live* (2016), as Coach Calhoun - *The Runner* (2015), as Frank Legrand - *The Gift* (2015), as Detective Mills - *Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band* (2015), as Andy Kirk (voice) - *The Odd Couple* (2015), series, as Teddy - *Runaway Hearts* (2015), as Paul - *Selma* (2014), as Rev. Hosea Williams — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md) - *The Night Shift* (2014), series, as Walt - *Elsa & Fred* (2014), as Armande - *Foreclosure* (2014), as Virgil - *Chicago P.D.* (2014), series, as Ray Price - *The Michael J. Fox Show* (2013), series, as Harris Green - *Four* (2013), as Joe - *Ray Donovan* (2013), series, as Ronald Keith - *Möbius* (2013), as Bob - *Parker* (2013), as Carlson - *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2* (2012), as J. Jenks — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2.md) - *Lay the Favorite* (2012), as Dave the Rave - *Horrible Bosses* (2011), as Detective Hagan - *Suits* (2011), series, as Robert Zane - *The Mortician* (2011), as Clinger - *A Plea for Modernism* (2011), as Narrator (voice) - *Night Catches Us* (2010), as David Gordon - *Love Ranch* (2010), as Naasih Mohammed - *New Orleans: A Living Museum of Music* (2010), as Narrator (voice) - *Treme* (2010), series, as Antoine Batiste — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/treme.md) - *Beyond All Boundaries* (2009), as Sgt. Thomas McPhatter - *Archer* (2009), series, as Verl (voice) - *Drop Dead Diva* (2009), series, as Neal David - *Hawthorne* (2009), series, as Dr. Michael Schilling - *Something with Bite* (2009), as Wilbur Orwell - *Fear Itself* (2008), series, as Wiilbur Orwell - *In Plain Sight* (2008), series, as Dr. Warren McBride / Warren Morris - *2000: Bunk and McNulty* (2007), as Det. William 'Bunk' Moreland - *Women's Murder Club* (2007), series, Actor - *Pariah* (2007), as Arthur - *Life Support* (2007), as Slick - *I Think I Love My Wife* (2007), as Sean - *Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!* (2007), series, as Detective - *Stay Alive* (2006), as Detective Thibodeaux - *Close to Home* (2005), series, as Sam Carter - *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005), series, as Richard Link - *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as William Bradford - *Ray* (2004), as Wilbur Brassfield — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/ray.md) - *Land of Plenty* (2004), as Henry - *A Hole in One* (2004), as Dan - *The Fighting Temptations* (2003), as Reverend Lewis - *Brown Sugar* (2002), as Simon - *The Wire* (2002), series, as Bunk Moreland — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md) - *My Wife and Kids* (2001), series, as Dr. Boucher - *The Gilded Six Bits* (2001), as Otis D. Slimmons - *The Weber Show* (2000), series, as Wendell Simms - *Girlfriends* (2000), series, as Anthony Jackson - *God, the Devil and Bob* (2000), series, as Mike (voice) - *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Officer Conrad 'Candyman' Jones - *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Harry Benton - *Abilene* (1999), as Reverend Tillis - *The 24 Hour Woman* (1999), as Roy Labelle - *The Brian Benben Show* (1998), series, Actor - *Bulworth* (1998), as Fred - *The Advocate's Devil* (1997), as Justin - *The Gregory Hines Show* (1997), series, Actor - *Sleepers* (1996), as Little Caesar — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepers.md) - *Get on the Bus* (1996), as Wendell Perry - *Moloney* (1996), series, as Calvin Patterson - *Never Give Up: The Jimmy V Story* (1996), as John Saunders - *Waiting to Exhale* (1995), as Michael - *New York News* (1995), series, Actor - *Hackers* (1995), as S.S. Agent Richard Gill - *Bye Bye Love* (1995), as Hector - *New York Undercover* (1994), series, Actor - *It Could Happen to You* (1994), as Bo Williams - *Strapped* (1993), as District Attorney - *Manhattan Murder Mystery* (1993), as Policeman - *Malcolm X* (1992), as Ben Thomas — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/malcolm-x.md) - *Unnatural Pursuits* (1992), as Cabbie - *A Matter of Degrees* (1991), as Wells Dennard - *A Rage in Harlem* (1991), as Louis — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/a-rage-in-harlem.md) - *The 10 Million Dollar Getaway* (1991), as Parnell "Stacks" Edwards - *The General Motors Playwrights Theater* (1991), series, as Sergeant Kelly - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Roger Porter, Civil Rights Attorney Jerome Bryant, Ola-Gimju Nwaka, Mr. Wade — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Capital News* (1990), series, as Conrad White - *Family Business* (1989), as Prosecutor - *Casualties of War* (1989), as MacIntire - *The Money Pit* (1986), as Paramedic — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-money-pit.md) - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Dr. Wolff - *Great Museums*, series, Actor - *The People v. Gorilla Grodd*, series, as Perry White - *King of the South*, Actor - *The Thrill Is On*, as B.B. King - *Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Affair*, as Detective Marcus Hill ## Gallery - ![Stanley Nelson & Wendell Pierce - 2010](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-571abefaba9b.jpg) Stanley Nelson & Wendell Pierce - 2010 — HimmelrichPR, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Stanley_Nelson_and_Wendell_Pierce_-_2010_%2827653040648%29.jpg/1280px-Stanley_Nelson_and_Wendell_Pierce_-_2010_%2827653040648%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Wendell Pierce, 2022](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-2ee7cfabac01.jpg) Wendell Pierce, 2022 — Philip Romano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/WendellPierce.jpg/1280px-WendellPierce.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Wendell Pierce in January 2007.](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-3bd2c5692d10.jpg) Wendell Pierce in January 2007. — Photographer hired by subject, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/WendellPierceJan07.jpg/1280px-WendellPierceJan07.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Actor Wendell Pierce with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake after a Saints loss to the Ravens in Baltimore, December 2010](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-9361cb947bb3.jpg) Actor Wendell Pierce with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake after a Saints loss to the Ravens in Baltimore, December 2010 — «Marylandstater» «reply» Uploaded by Marylandstater at en.wikipedia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Wendell_Pierce.JPG/1280px-Wendell_Pierce.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-1dc2f64e4c09.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-cceaff32a894.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-6d34db265f4c.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB - ![wendell pierce and jesse jackson (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-7dbd86be6713.jpg) wendell pierce and jesse jackson (2012) — Jamelle Bouie from Washington D.C., United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wendell_Pierce_and_Jesse_Jackson_%287946361992%29.jpg/1280px-Wendell_Pierce_and_Jesse_Jackson_%287946361992%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Wendell Pierce on the set of Superman during filming in Cleveland in June 2024. (2026)](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-05b03970cf46.jpg) Wendell Pierce on the set of Superman during filming in Cleveland in June 2024. (2026) — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Wendell_Pierce_as_Perry_White_%2853817793485%29.jpg/1280px-Wendell_Pierce_as_Perry_White_%2853817793485%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-d1c2db5c4e01.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-cf2b6a109666.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB - ![Wendell Pierce](https://film.one/media/person/8552/gallery-e12b6a9baf40.jpg) Wendell Pierce — Image via TMDB --- © 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/wendell-pierce