---
name: "William Allen Young"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/william-allen-young"
fi1m_id: "william-allen-young"
imdb_id: "nm0950165"
tmdb_id: 53087
wikidata_id: "Q1754845"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 January 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T06:34:25.902042+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."
---

# William Allen Young

## Identity

William Allen Young

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/william-allen-young
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** william-allen-young
- **IMDb ID:** nm0950165
- **TMDB ID:** 53087
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1754845
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_Young, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1754845, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0950165/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53087

Actor. Born 24 January 1954 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 January 1954, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- **Active:** 1982–2009
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (2), 2000s 81 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Mystery 1, Science Fiction 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $233m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_Young, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1754845, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0950165/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53087

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*District 9*](https://film.one/film/district-9.md) (81), [*A Soldier's Story*](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md) (76)

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

## Biography

William Allen Young is an American actor and director. Born on 24 January 1954 in Washington, D.C., he has appeared in more than 100 television, stage and film projects.

He is known for his role as Frank Mitchell in the UPN sitcom *Moesha* (1996–2001), which he also directed episodes of, and for recurring roles including Judge Joseph Ratner in *CSI: Miami* (2004–2006) and Duane McWane in *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2005–2007). Film credits include *A Soldier's Story* (1984), *Lock Up* (1989) and *District 9* (2009), in which he played Dirk Michaels. Other television work includes *The Day After* (1983), *JAG*, *General Hospital* and *Code Black* (as Dr Rollie Guthrie).

Young trained at the University of Southern California, where he earned degrees in sociolinguistics and rhetoric and debate. He has performed on stage in New York and Los Angeles, as well as internationally. He helped broker the 2000 TV Network Agreement on diversity while serving as co-chair of the African-American Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America.

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

## On Fi1m (3)

- *District 9* (2009), Fi1m 81, as Dirk Michaels — [page](https://film.one/film/district-9.md)
- *A Soldier's Story* (1984), Fi1m 76, as Private Henson — [page](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md)
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), Fi1m 81, as Billy — [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

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

- *Going Home* (2022), series, as Harry Cobb
- *CSI: Vegas* (2021), series, as Professor Gene Morrow
- *9-1-1: Lone Star* (2020), series, as Benjamin Williams
- *Christmas Hotel* (2019), as Carl
- *The Tattooed Heart* (2019), as Director
- *Good Girls* (2018), series, as Lawyer
- *S.W.A.T.* (2017), series, as Coach Howie Kincaid
- *This Is Us* (2016), series, as Councilman Wilkins — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Code Black* (2015), series, as Dr. Rollie Guthrie
- *The Cookie Mobster* (2014), as Grundy
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Steven Cushing
- *Rock the House* (2011), as Blu
- *Good Luck Charlie* (2010), series, as Harry Wentz
- *District 9* (2009), as Dirk Michaels — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/district-9.md)
- *Castle* (2009), series, as Jerry Camden — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/castle.md)
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Matt — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Primal Doubt* (2007), as Detective Ben Riggs
- *Saving Grace* (2007), series, as Robbery Detective
- *Murder 101* (2006), as Lt. Dietrich
- *Commander in Chief* (2005), series, as Senator Kevin Colby
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Morris Haynes — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Wesley Judson
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as Barry Hutchins, Moses McClaine — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, as Mr. Staubeck — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)
- *Fear X* (2003), as Agent Lawrence
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Joseph Ratner
- *The Agency* (2001), series, as Police Interrogator
- *The Proud Family* (2001), series, as Mr. Moody (voice)
- *The District* (2000), series, as Reverend Hamilton
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Duane McWane
- *Soul Food* (2000), series, as Coach John Robinson
- *The Parkers* (1999), series, Director
- *Moesha* (1996), series, as Frank Mitchell · Director
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Henry Kale
- *Fast Company* (1995), as Det. Williams
- *Serving in Silence - The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story* (1995), as Clark
- *Drop Squad* (1994), as George Truelove
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Sgt. Robb (uncredited)
- *Almost Dead* (1994), as Henzes
- *Babylon 5* (1994), series, as Jason Ironheart — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/babylon-5.md)
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Alexander Damon
- *Dave's World* (1993), series, Actor
- *I Can Make You Love Me* (1993), as Chris
- *Love & War* (1992), series, Actor
- *Renegade* (1992), series, as Calvin
- *Spies, Inc.* (1992), as Rob
- *The Waterdance* (1992), as Les
- *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Gus
- *Lies Before Kisses* (1991), as Daniel
- *Cop Rock* (1990), series, as Jerome Hall
- *The Outsiders* (1990), series, as Emmett Sinclair
- *Without Her Consent* (1990), as Keys (uncredited)
- *Lock Up* (1989), as Braden
- *The Women of Brewster Place* (1989), as Eugene
- *The Women of Brewster Place* (1989), series, as Eugene
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, as Coyote 2 / CPT J. T. Slaney, USAF
- *Mariah* (1987), series, Actor
- *Wisdom* (1986), as Agent Williamson
- *Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI* (1986), as Marvin Gibson
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Mitchell Dune
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Roy Stevens, Police Lieutenant
- *Blacke's Magic* (1986), series, as Mark Baker
- *Jagged Edge* (1985), as Greg Arnold
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as John Parker (segment "The Junction")
- *227* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Atlanta Child Murders* (1985), series, as Withers
- *Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story* (1984), Actor
- *A Soldier's Story* (1984), as Private Henson — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/a-soldiers-story.md)
- *The Day After* (1983), as Airman Billy McCoy
- *Women of San Quentin* (1983), as Larry Jennings
- *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, Actor
- *Hotel* (1982), series, Actor
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Billy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Fame* (1982), series, Actor
- *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Cliff Templeman
- *Freedom Road* (1979), as Older Jeff Jackson

---
© 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/william-allen-young