Little Richard

Background:

Image-nominated and Young Artist Award-winning, African-American actor of film and television and professional singer Leon Robinson, sometimes simply credited as Leon, was a basketball player before emerging as a professional actor in 1981. First gaining fame with Madonna's music video “Like a Prayer” (1989), he jointly took home a Young Artist Award in 1990 for his work in the TV film “A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story” (1989), starring Alfre Woodard, and received his first Image nomination nine years later with his starring role role of singer David Ruffin in the Emmy-nominated miniseries “The Temptations” (NBC, 1998). The charismatic actor was handed his next Image nomination after portraying pioneering rock singer Little Richard in the NBC biopic of the same name in 2000. Other TV credits include recurring roles in the series “Central Park West” (1996), “Oz” (1997) and “Resurrection Blvd”(2001) and a hosting gig on the short-live late-night talk show, “The L-Bow Room” (2004). On the wide screen, Robinson is perhaps best known for playing the ebullient captain Derice Bannock on “Cool Runnings” (1993). He also has acted in such vehicles as “Cliffhanger” (1993), “Waiting to Exhale” (1995), “Bats” (1999), “Buffalo Soldiers” (2001) and “Get Rich Die Tryin” (2005). As a singer, Robinson is the lead vocalist of his own band, Leon and the Peoples.

Recently appearing in “Cover” (2008), Robinson will play roles in the upcoming films “Capers” and “My Friend My Hero” (both 2008).

Personally speaking, Robinson is romantically involved with Cynthia Bailey.

Basketball

Childhood and Family:

Leon Preston Robinson IV, who would later be popular as Leon Robinson or simply Leon, was born on March 8, 1962, in New York, New York. He was raised in the middle class suburb of Mount Vernon by his parents, a transit agency executive and a school teacher, until he won a scholarship on basketball at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He played for the university's team for 1978-1979 season. Leon also was educated at Mount St Michael in Bronx, New York and Orange Coast College in Newport Beach, California.

Cool Runnings

Career:

Leon Robinson originally headed to Los Angeles to pursue a basketball career, but later made a switch to acting. Making his professional debut in 1981, when he landed a part in the CBS Afternoon Playhouse production of “Journey to Survival,” the New York native soon segued into the big screen when director Michael Chapman landed him a small part as Tom Cruise's football teammate in the sport-themed “All the Right Moves” (1983). He went on to appear in such films as Garry Marshall's “The Flamingo Kid” (1984, as Matt Dillon's co-worker), the action “Streetwalkin'” (1985) and the cult favorite “Band of the Hand” (1986). Robinson made his TV-movie bow in 1987 with a supporting part opposite Louis Gossett Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Ron McLarty in “The Father Clements Story.” It was also in 1987 that Robinson started to use his first name as a moniker.

After appearing in the indie-adventure “The Lawless Land” (1988) and the Dennis Hopper-directed “Colors” (1988), Robinson was launched to prominence with his portrayal of the killed Southern black holy man in Madonna's controversial music video, “Like a Prayer” (1989). Lured by the success, he was cast in more substantial roles, including playing a ghetto lover of Robin Givens in the ABC miniseries “The Women of Brewster Place” (1989), also starring Oprah Winfrey, and costarring with Alfre Woodard and A.J. Johnson in the biopic TV film “A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story” (also 1989), based on the life of basketball star Isiah Thomas' mother. The latter project brought Robinson a shared Young Artist for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast.

Returning to film, Robinson portrayed a member of a vocal group attempting to distance himself from drugs while his brother becomes addicted in “The Five Heartbeats” (1991), a drama/music directed by and starring Robert Townsend, and costarred as the confederate of John Lithgow in Renny Harlin's blockbuster action/thriller, “Cliffhanger” (1993), also starring Sylvester Stallone. However, the attractive player did not graduate to leading man until he was cast as Derice Bannock in the biopic “Cool Runnings” (1993). Under the direction of Jon Turteltaub, he impressed audiences with his portrayal of the first Jamaican bobsledding team's high-spirited captain.

Next up for Robinson, he shared top bill with Duane Martin for the basketball film “Above the Rim” (1994), playing a disenchanted former jock named Shep, teamed up with Al Freeman Jr. and Phylicia Rashad in Tim Reid's “Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored” (1995), was featured as the mated boyfriend of Lela Rochon in the successful comedy/drama “Waiting to Exhale” (1995), directed by Forest Whitaker, and portrayed a painter named John in the based-on-book “Spirit Lost” (1996). Before costarring in the romantic drama “The Price of Kissing”(1997), which he also co-produced, he had recurring roles in the short-lived drama series “Central Park West” (1996, as Gabe Sands) and the crime/thriller series “Oz” (1997, as Jefferson Keane) as well as supporting parts in the motion picture “Pure Danger” (1996) and the made-for-TV film “Runaway Car” (1997).

In 1998, Robinson was tapped to portray the legendary singer David Ruffin on the NBC miniseries “The Temptations” and received an Image nomination in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series for his work on the Allan Arkush-directed program. The acclaimed drama/music was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe for Best Miniseries and won an Image in the same category. He rounded out the decade with four assignments under his belt, including the thriller movie “Bats” and the biopic TV film “Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story,” where he (again) played a known singer, Jackie Wilson.

Robinson was put back on the spotlight in 2000 when he starred in the NBC biopic “Little Richard,” directed by Robert Townsend. As the rock-and-roll groundbreaker, he netted an Image nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. The following year, Robinson returned to series TV when he joined the cast of “Resurrection Blvd” in the recurring role of Lawrence Hill. The same year, he also had an uncredited part in the Will Smith vehicle “Ali” and supported Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris and Scott Glenn in the comedy film “Buffalo Soldiers.” After six years, he was invited back to play Jefferson Keane on the series “Oz” for an episodic performance its final season in 2003.

Following guest spots in “Crossing Jordan” and “Hack” (both 2003), Robinson branched out to hosting gig with his own late-night talk show, “The L-Bow Room,” on BET. Debuted in October 2004, the show quickly departed the airwaves. In 2005, he revisited the movie realm with a featured part in Jim Sheridan's “Get Rich Die Tryin,” starring rapper 50 Cent. He did not resurface until recently in the drama/thriller film “Cover” (2008), helmed by Bill Duke.

Currently, Robinson has completed filming the comedy “Capers” (2008), where he costars with Danny Masterson. He will costar with Giancarlo Esposito, Antwon Tanner and Aloma Wright in the action/drama “My Friend My Hero” (2008).

Outside of his screen career, Robinson is a professional singer. He has started a band called Leon and the Peoples and becomes the lead vocalist of the group. Along with his group, he recently performed at The Canal Room in New York City. He also recorded a radio PSA for “Hip-Hop Literacy” campaign.

Awards:

• Young Artist: Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast, “A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story,” 1990