Ving Rhames

Ving Rhames Bio

Ving Rhames is an American television and movie actor. He was born Irving Rameses Rhames, on May 12, 1959, in New York City, U.S. He studied at the New York High School for Performing Arts and at the Juilliard School of Drama. After graduating from Juilliard in 1983, he debuted professionally in Joseph Papp's critically acclaimed production “Henry III”. In 1984 he made his screen debut in the PBS telefilm “Go Tell It on the Mountain” which earned him to play small roles as a guest actor in television series such as “Miami Vice”, “Tour of Duty”, “Spencer: For Hire”, and “Crime Story”, among many others. His work was soon spotted by acclaimed directors and he started playing in many movies such as “Casualties of War” directed by Brian de Palma, “Jacob's Ladder” directed by Adrian Lyne, and “Homicide” directed by David Mamet. He also portrayed Marcellus “Big Man” Wallace, in Tarantino’s masterpiece “Pulp Fiction”. He received the 2000 Showest Award for Best Supporting Actor of the Year from the National Association of Movie Theater Owners NATO and has won seven Image NAACP Award nominations for his work in film and television.