Don Cheadle
Acting • Born 1964-11-29
Biography
Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received multiple accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and 11 Primetime Emmy Awards. He is among a few actors who have received nominations for the EGOT. Cheadle's career started with supporting roles in Hamburger Hill (1987), Colors (1988), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Rosewood (1997), Boogie Nights (1997), and Bulworth (1998). He collaborated with director Steven Soderberghacting in Out of Sight (1998), Traffic (2000), The Ocean's Trilogy (2001–2007), and No Sudden Move (2021). Cheadle was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying Paul Rusesabagina in the historical drama film Hotel Rwanda (2004). He was the co-producer of Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2005. Cheadle joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe portraying James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine, beginning with Iron Man 2 (2010). On television, Cheadle earned nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his roles as Marty Kaan in House of Lies (2012–2016) and Maurice Monroe in Black Monday (2019–2021). He was further Emmy-nominated for The Rat Pack (1998), A Lesson Before Dying (1999), Things Behind the Sun (2001), ER (2002), and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). In 2016, he received his first Grammy Award, winning Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for Miles Ahead's soundtrack. In 2022, he received a second Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his narration of the audiobook Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis; he also received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.
Filmography
165 credits
Ocean's Twelve
Movie • 2004
Basher Tarr
Hotel Rwanda
Movie • 2004
Paul Rusesabagina
Ocean's Thirteen
Movie • 2007
Basher Tarr
Colors
Movie • 1988
Rocket
Out of Sight
Movie • 1998
Maurice 'Snoopy' Miller
Iron Man 2
Movie • 2010
Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes
Crash
Movie • 2005
Det. Graham Waters
The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Movie • 2004
Bonny Simmons
After the Sunset
Movie • 2004
Henri Mooré
Reign Over Me
Movie • 2007
Alan Johnson
Traffic
Movie • 2000
Montel Gordon
Hamburger Hill
Movie • 1987
Pvt. Washburn
Volcano
Movie • 1997
Emmit Reese
Boogie Nights
Movie • 1997
Buck Swope
Rush Hour 2
Movie • 2001
Kenny (uncredited)
The Meteor Man
Movie • 1993
Goldilocks
The Family Man
Movie • 2000
Cash
Talk to Me
Movie • 2007
Petey Greene
Fail Safe
Movie • 2000
Lt. Jimmy Pierce
Darfur Now
Movie • 2007
Self
Devil in a Blue Dress
Movie • 1995
Mouse Alexander
The Rat Pack
Movie • 1998
Sammy Davis Jr.
Rosewood
Movie • 1997
Sylvester Carrier
Bulworth
Movie • 1998
L.D.
Moving Violations
Movie • 1985
Juicy Burgers Worker
Swordfish
Movie • 2001
Roberts
Brooklyn's Finest
Movie • 2010
Det. Clarence 'Tango' Butler
Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast
Movie • 2005
Self - Presenter
Traitor
Movie • 2008
Samir Horn
Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special
Movie • 2021
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (archive footage)
The United States of Leland
Movie • 2003
Pearl Madison
Roadside Prophets
Movie • 1992
Happy Days Manager
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
Movie • 1996
Earl Manigault
Manic
Movie • 2001
Dr. David Monroe
Hotel for Dogs
Movie • 2009
Bernie
The Guard
Movie • 2011
FBI agent Wendell Everett
Iron Man 3
Movie • 2013
Colonel James Rhodes
Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee
Movie • 2019
Self
A Lesson Before Dying
Movie • 1999
Grant Wiggins
Lush Life
Movie • 1993
Jack
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
Movie • 1995
Rooster
A Man's Story
Movie • 2011
Self
Things Behind the Sun
Movie • 2001
Chuck
Unstoppable
Movie • 2024
Coach Shawn Charles
House of Lies Live
Movie • 2013
Self
Inside Traffic: The Making of 'Traffic'
Movie • 2000
Self
Kingdom Come
Movie • 2012
Self
Flight
Movie • 2012
Hugh Lang
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Movie • 2015
James Rhodes / War Machine
The Dog Problem
Movie • 2006
Dr. Nourmand (uncredited)
Miles Ahead
Movie • 2016
Miles Davis
With/In Volume 2
Movie • 2022
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Secret Invasion
Movie • 2023
Self - 'Rhodey'
Don Cheadle is Captain Planet - Part 2
Movie • 2012
Captain Planet
Don Cheadle is Captain Planet - Part 3
Movie • 2012
Captain Planet
Don Cheadle is Captain Planet - Part 4
Movie • 2012
Captain Planet
Captain America: Civil War
Movie • 2016
Lieutenant James Rhodes / War Machine
Punk
Movie • 1986
Ticker
Movie • 2002
Passenger
The People Speak
Movie • 2009
Self
Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics
Movie • 2024
Self
Kevin Hart: What Now?
Movie • 2016
Rival Agent
David Blaine: Beyond Magic
Movie • 2016
Self
Avengers: Infinity War
Movie • 2018
James Rhodes / War Machine
Captain Planet with Don Cheadle
Movie • 2011
Captain Planet
Abby Singer
Movie • 2003
Don Cheadle (uncredited)
King Leopold's Ghost
Movie • 2006
Narrator (voice)
August 28: A Day in the Life of a People
Movie • 2017
Self
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Movie • 2003
Captain Marvel
Movie • 2019
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine (uncredited)
Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene
Movie • 2008
Narrator (voice)
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Movie • 2021
Al G. Rhythm
The Topdog Diaries
Movie • 2002
Self
No Sudden Move
Movie • 2021
Curtis 'Curt' Goynes
Black Stallions
Movie
Avengers: Endgame
Movie • 2019
James Rhodes / War Machine
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
Movie • 2020
Self - Actor, "Avengers: Endgame"
Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times
Movie • 2020
Self
I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac
Movie • 2012
Self
30 for 30: The Bunny & the GOAT
Movie • 2021
Al G. Rhythm
With/In Volume 1
Movie • 2021
(segment "Intersection")
One World: Together at Home
Movie • 2020
Self
White Noise
Movie • 2022
Murray Siskind
Canyon
Movie
The Real Full Monty
Movie • 2024
Self (uncredited)
Ocean's Eleven
Movie • 2001
Basher Tarr (uncredited)
A Home for Everyone: The Making of 'Hotel for Dogs'
Movie • 2009
Self
Inside 'Out of Sight'
Movie • 1998
Self
Saving OurSelves: BET COVID-19 Relief Effort
Movie • 2020
Self
A Message for Peace: Making 'Hotel Rwanda'
Movie • 2005
Self
Ocean's Fourteen
Movie
Basher Tarr
I Love Boosters
Movie • 2026
My Darling California
Movie
John Ashley Cotton
The Last Electric Knight
Movie • 1986
Gang Leader
Mission to Mars
Movie • 2000
Luke Graham
Leading the Electric Revolution and Sustainability
Movie • 2021
Narrator
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Brother Faith (voice)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Julian Tatoon
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
Fame
TV • 1982
The Bernie Mac Show
TV • 2001
Cousin D
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV • 1990
Ice Tray
China Beach
TV • 1988
Hill Street Blues
TV • 1981
The Golden Palace
TV • 1992
Roland Wilson
The Early Show
TV • 1999
Self - Guest
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
TV • 2021
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
TV • 1992
Bennie
MADtv
TV • 1995
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV • 1993
Self - Guest
The Henry Rollins Show
TV • 2006
Himself
The Bronx Zoo
TV • 1987
The Wonder Years
TV • 2021
Narrator
Independent Lens
TV • 1999
Host
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Hart to Heart
TV • 2021
Self - Interviewee
House of Lies
TV • 2012
Marty Kaan
Marvel Studios Assembled
TV • 2021
Self - James Rhodes / Rhodey
What If...?
TV • 2021
Rhodey (voice)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
TV • 2005
Self
The Daily Show
TV • 1996
Self - Guest
DAVE
TV • 2020
Don Cheadle
Marvel Studios Legends
TV • 2021
James Rhodes / War Machine (archive footage) (uncredited)
Secret Invasion
TV • 2023
James 'Rhodey' Rhodes
ER
TV • 1994
Paul Nathan
Chelsea
TV • 2016
Self
The Hire
TV • 2001
Passenger
30 Rock
TV • 2006
Don Cheadle
The Boys Presents: Diabolical
TV • 2022
Nubian Prince (voice)
Big Mouth
TV • 2017
Don Cheadle (voice)
America Beyond the Color Line
TV • 2004
Self
Lip Sync Battle
TV • 2015
Self
The Jennifer Hudson Show
TV • 2022
Self
Black Monday
TV • 2019
Maurice 'Mo' Monroe
MADtv
TV • 1995
Perry
Hollywood Game Night
TV • 2013
Self
DuckTales
TV • 2017
Donald Duck (voice)
Running Wild with Bear Grylls
TV • 2014
Self
Celebrity Poker Showdown
TV • 2003
Self
Night Court
TV • 1984
Jack
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
TV • 2024
JD Hudson
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
TV • 2016
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
The View
TV • 1997
Self
Desus & Mero
TV • 2019
Self - Illustrious Guest
Don't Look Deeper
TV • 2020
Martin
Entertainment Tonight
TV • 1981
Self
The Shop
TV • 2018
Self
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
TV • 2015
Self
Picket Fences
TV • 1992
John Littleton
Real Time with Bill Maher
TV • 2003
Self
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
Agent Elvis
TV • 2023
The Commander (voice)
Off Camera with Sam Jones
TV • 2014
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV • 2014
Self
Conan
TV • 2010
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV • 2014
Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV • 2015
Self
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
TV • 2014
Self
Number One on the Call Sheet
TV • 2025
Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self - Guest
Talking Bad
TV • 2013
Self
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter
Booker
TV • 1989
Frenchie Sayles