Charles S. Dutton (born January 30, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American actor/director. Dutton is most known for turning his life around after serving time in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. While incarcerated, he discovered a love of the theater and studied for a college degree.
In 1985, he debuted on the Broadway stage, winning a Theatre World Award plus a nomination for the Best Actor Tony Award for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He was nominated for a second Tony Award as Best actor in 1990 for his role in The Piano Lesson.
Mr. Dutton won Outstanding Guest Actor Emmy awards in 2002 and 2003 for his roles in The Practice and Without A Trace.
Dutton gained acclaim for his show Roc shown on FOX television from 1991 to 1994, especially mid-run when the show was done live in one take. His work in this role won him an NAACP Image Award. He co-starred in the popular but short-lived 2005 CBS science fiction series, Threshold.
In 2000, Dutton directed the critically acclaimed HBO mini series The Corner. The miniseries was close to his heart for Dutton grew up on the streets of East Baltimore. It was adapted from The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood (Broadway Books, 1997) by David Simon (a reporter for the Baltimore Sun )and Edward Burns (a retired Baltimore homicide detective). The Corner won several Emmys in 2000, including that for best miniseries. Dutton won for his direction of the mini series. The Corner Review
He starred in the 2003 made-for-TV movie D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear and appears in Season 2 of The L Word.
He most recently guest starred on House MD As the father of Doctor Eric Foreman (Omar Epps).
Dutton owns a farm in Ellicott City, MD and is the ex-husband of actress Debbi Morgan.
Against the Ropes (2004)
