Ving Rhames
Highest Rated: 97% Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
Lowest Rated: 0% Echelon Conspiracy (2009)
Birthday: May 12, 1959
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
A burly, bald black actor of stage, screen, and television, Ving Rhames specializes in playing villains and, indeed, having grown up on Harlem's meanest streets, is no stranger to violence. His onscreen persona, however, is no match for his real-life reputation as a deeply compassionate man, seriously dedicated to his profession. The actor ably demonstrated his capacity for abundant generosity during the 1998 Golden Globes ceremony when he handed over the award he had just won for portraying the title character of the cable film Don King: Only in America to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon, simply because he felt Lemmon's contributions to film exceeded his own.Though his upbringing in Harlem was rife with many temptations to engage in easy money criminal ventures, the deeply religious Rhames separated himself from street riffraff at a young age and focused his energies on school. It was his ninth grade English teacher who steered the sensitive young man toward acting, in large part because Rhames was unusually well spoken, frequently earning praise for his clear elocution. Inspired by a poetry reading he had attended with schoolmates, Rhames successfully auditioned for entrance into New York's prestigious High School for the Performing Arts. Once enrolled, he immersed himself in his studies and fell in love with acting. Following graduation in 1978, he attended the Juilliard School of Drama on a scholarship and focused his studies there on classical theater. After graduating from Juilliard in 1983, he went on to perform in Shakespeare in the Park productions. In 1984, Rhames made his television debut in Go Tell It on the Mountain and, the following year, landed his first Broadway role starring opposite Matt Dillon in The Winter Boys. Thus began a steady, fruitful theater career augmented by recurring roles on such daily soap operas as Another World and Guiding Light, and guest-starring parts on such primetime series as Miami Vice. He entered films in Native Son (1986), following that up with appearances in a series of modest films and television movies. Rather than getting a single big break into stardom, he made a gradual ascent that began with his appearance in Brian De Palma's grim Vietnam War saga Casualties of War (1989). Rhames again worked with Matt Dillon in 1993 on The Saint of Fort Washington. While filming on location in New York, Dillon introduced him to a man who had approached him, asking about the actor's involvement with Rhames on Broadway. It turned out that the stranger was Rhames' long-estranged older brother, Junior, who had lost contact with the family while serving in Vietnam. Troubled and unable to reintegrate into mainstream society, he had been living in a nearby homeless shelter. The compassionate Rhames was thrilled to see his big brother and promptly moved him into his apartment, helped him get a job, and later bought a home for his brother and parents to share. In 1994, Rhames gained considerable acclaim for his disturbingly convincing portrayal of the sadistic Marsellus Wallace in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. His performance paved the way for supporting roles opposite some of Hollywood's most popular stars in such big budget features as Mission Impossible (1996) (as well as John Woo's 2000 sequel to the film), Con Air (1997), Out of Sight (1998), and Entrapment (1999). In addition to his film credits, Rhames has also continued to appear frequently on such television shows as E.R. Rhames' performance as a former gangster turned honest, hardworking man proved a highlight of Boyz N the Hood director John Singleton's 2001 drama Baby Boy, and after lending his distinctive voice to the computer animated box-office disaster Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within the actor returned to the small screen for a pair of made-for-television features. If subsequent efforts such as Undisputed failed to make a sizable dent at the box office, Rhames continued to impress with contributions to such features as Lilo and Sti
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97% | Mission: Impossible - Fallout | Luther | — | 2018 |
| 17% | Father Figures | Rod Hamilton | $16.8M | 2017 |
| 42% | The Star | Thaddeus the dog | $40.5M | 2017 |
| 93% | Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation | Luther Strickell | $155M | 2015 |
| No Score Yet | A Sunday Horse | Herra Valentine | — | 2015 |
| No Score Yet | Operator | Actor | — | 2015 |
| No Score Yet | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Cecil Price | — | 2014 |
| 26% | Jamesy Boy | Conrad | — | 2014 |
| No Score Yet | Vengeance | Actor | — | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | Armed Response (In Security) | Officer Hall | — | 2013 |
| 50% | Death Race 3: Inferno | Weyland | — | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | Percentage | Actor | — | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | Force of Execution | Ice Man | — | 2013 |
| 34% | Won't Back Down | Principal Thompson | $5.4M | 2012 |
| No Score Yet | Art Of Submission | Sensei Gene | — | 2012 |
| 14% | Soldiers of Fortune | Grimaud Torneur | $39.3K | 2012 |
| 14% | Piranha 3DD | Deputy Fallon (uncredited) | $0.4M | 2012 |
| No Score Yet | Seven Below | Jack | — | 2012 |
| 93% | Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol | Luther Stickell | $209.4M | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | Zombie Apocalypse | Henry | — | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | Julia X 3D | The Man | — | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | Black Jack | Actor | — | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | The River Murders | Capt. Langley | — | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | Mafia | Executive Producer Actor | — | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | King of the Avenue | Norman Executive Producer | — | 2010 |
| 74% | Piranha 3-D | Deputy Fallon | $25M | 2010 |
| 40% | Operation: Endgame (Rogue's Gallery) | Judgement | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | The Red Canvas | Sensei Gene | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | Give 'em Hell Malone | Boulder | — | 2010 |
| 17% | Death Race 2 | Weyland | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | Master Harold...and the Boys | Sam | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | Love Chronicles: Secrets Revealed | Mike | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | Caged Animal | Miles "Cain" Skinner | — | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | Evil Angel | Carruthers | — | 2009 |
| 37% | Surrogates | The Prophet | $38.6M | 2009 |
| No Score Yet | The Bridge to Nowhere | Nate | — | 2009 |
| 27% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Jibby Newsome | $15.1M | 2009 |
| No Score Yet | The Tournament | Joshua Harlow | — | 2009 |
| 0% | Echelon Conspiracy | Agent Dave Grant | $0.6M | 2009 |
| No Score Yet | Saving God | Armstrong Cane Executive Producer | — | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | A Broken Life | The Vet | — | 2008 |
| 13% | Day of the Dead | Capt. Rhodes | — | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | Phantom Punch | Producer Sonny Liston | — | 2008 |
| 14% | I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | Duncan | $119.8M | 2007 |
| No Score Yet | Animal 2 | Executive Producer James `Animal' Allen | — | 2007 |
| 47% | Idlewild | Spats | $12.6M | 2006 |
| 40% | Leroy & Stitch | Actor | — | 2006 |
| 70% | Mission: Impossible III | Luther | $133.5M | 2006 |
| No Score Yet | Aquaman | Actor | — | 2006 |
| No Score Yet | Shooting Gallery | Cue Ball Carl | — | 2005 |
| No Score Yet | Animal | Producer Animal Executive Producer | — | 2005 |
| 8% | Envy | Actor | $12.2M | 2004 |
| 75% | Dawn of the Dead | Kenneth | $58.9M | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | Back in the Day | J-Bone | — | 2004 |
| 20% | Stitch! The Movie | Cobra Bubbles | — | 2003 |
| 59% | Dark Blue | Arthur Holland | $9.1M | 2003 |
| No Score Yet | Beef | Narrator | — | 2003 |
| No Score Yet | Sin | Eddie Burns | — | 2003 |
| No Score Yet | RFK | Judge Thomas R. Jones | — | 2002 |
| 48% | Undisputed | George `Iceman' Chambers | — | 2002 |
| 86% | Lilo & Stitch | Cobra Bubbles | $145.8M | 2002 |
| 50% | Sins of the Father | Garrick Jones | — | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | Little John | John Morgan | — | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | Lilo and Stitch: DVD Read-Along | Actor | — | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | Fighting for Freedom: Revolution & Civil War | Narrator | — | 2002 |
| 45% | Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | Ryan Whittaker | — | 2001 |
| 71% | Baby Boy | Melvin | $27.9M | 2001 |
| 57% | Mission: Impossible 2 | Luther | — | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | Holiday Heart | Holiday Heart | — | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | Behind the Mission: The Making of 'M:I-2' | Actor | — | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | American Tragedy | Actor | — | 2000 |
| 72% | Bringing Out the Dead | Marcus | — | 1999 |
| 38% | Entrapment | Thibadeaux | — | 1999 |
| 93% | Out of Sight | Buddy Bragg | — | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | Body Count | Pike | — | 1998 |
| 55% | Con Air | Diamond Dog | — | 1997 |
| 86% | Rosewood | Mann | — | 1997 |
| 8% | Dangerous Ground | Muki | — | 1997 |
| 12% | Striptease | Shad | — | 1996 |
| 63% | Mission: Impossible | Luther | — | 1996 |
| 68% | Kiss of Death | Omar | — | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | Deadly Whispers | Det. Jackson | — | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning | Actor | — | 1995 |
| 14% | Drop Squad | Garvey | — | 1994 |
| 92% | Pulp Fiction | Marsellus | — | 1994 |
| 80% | The Saint of Fort Washington | Leroy | — | 1993 |
| 95% | Dave | Duane Stevensen | — | 1993 |
| 55% | Blood In, Blood Out (Bound by Honor) | Ivan | — | 1993 |
| 8% | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Bad Guy | — | 1992 |
| 64% | The People Under The Stairs | Leroy | — | 1991 |
| 91% | Homicide | Randolph | — | 1991 |
| 25% | The Flight of the Intruder | C.P.O. Frank McRae | $14.6M | 1991 |
| 87% | The Long Walk Home | Herbert Cotter | — | 1990 |
| 72% | Jacob's Ladder | George | — | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | When You Remember Me | Actor | — | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | Rising Son | Ed | — | 1990 |
| No Score Yet | ER | Walt | — | 1990 |
| 84% | Casualties of War | Lt. Reilly | — | 1989 |
| 50% | Patty Hearst | Cinque | — | 1988 |
| 56% | Native Son | Jack | — | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | Go Tell It on the Mountain | Young Gabriel | — | 1985 |
TV
| Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 45% |
Gravity 2010 |
Dogg McFee |
2019 2010 |
| 52% |
Monday Mornings 2013 |
Jorge "El Gato" Villanueva |
2013 |
| No Score Yet |
The District 2000-2004 |
Troy Hatcher |
2011 2002 |
| 33% |
Kojak 2005 |
Lt. Theo Kojak |
2005 |
| No Score Yet |
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius 2002-2006 |
Voice |
2003 |
| No Score Yet |
The Proud Family 2001-2005 |
Voice |
2002 |
| No Score Yet |
UC: Undercover 2001-2002 |
Quito Real |
2001 |
| No Score Yet |
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 1992-2014 |
Guest |
2000 |
| No Score Yet |
ER 1994-2009 |
Walt Robbins Walt |
1997 1996 1995 1994 |
| No Score Yet |
The Equalizer 1985-1989 |
Drug Dealer |
1989 |
| No Score Yet |
American Playhouse 1982-1996 |
Young Gabriel |
QUOTES FROM Ving Rhames CHARACTERS
Ethan Hunt says: Benji!
Benji says: Ethan?
Ethan Hunt says: Open The Door!
Benji says: Ok!
William Brandt says: Benji Open That Door Right Now!
Luther Strickell says: Come On!
Principal Thompson says: This is a new day and we will take back our public schools.
Marsellus Wallace says: You see, this profession is filled to the brim with unrealistic motherfuckers. Motherfuckers who thought their ass would age like wine. If you mean it turns to vinegar, it does. If you mean it gets better with age, it don't.
Kenneth says: You sure you want to do this?
Kenneth says: Say something!
Ana says: Please.
Marsellus Wallace says: [seeing Butch in a car] Motherfucker!
Luther Stickwell says: That punk put a hole in my Versace!
Marsellus Wallace says: I ain;t through with you by a damn sight! I'm gonna get medevil on your ass!
Marsellus Wallace says: I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.
Leroy says: Maybe the president is gonna make me Secretary of Pussy. make me Secretary of Pussy.
Leroy says: Maybe the President's gonna make me Secretary of Pussy!
Deputy Fallon says: Chew on this motherfuckers! (starts killing the piranha with a boat motor)
Luther says: Are you sure we can do this?
Ethan Hunt says: We're going to do it. *Main theme plays*
Deputy Fallon says: Bring me my legs.
Judgement says: You're about as smooth as a three month old bikini wax.
Marsellus Wallace says: Night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting. That's pride fucking with you. Fuck pride! Pride only hurts, it never helps. You fight through that shit.
Marsellus Wallace says: Night of the fight, you get knocked out in the 5th round.
Marsellus Wallace says: YOu hear me talkin' , hillbilly boy? I'm gonna get Medieval on your ass!
Marsellus Wallace says: You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.
Marsellus Wallace says: I ain't through with you by a damn sight! I'm gonna get medieval on your ass.
Butch Coolidge says: Are you okay?
Marsellus Wallace says: Nah, man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay (Zed screams)
Marsellus Wallace says: Nah, man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay [Zed screams]
Butch Coolidge says: What now?
Marsellus Wallace says: What now? I'll tell you what now. I'm gonna call a couple of hard-pipe hittin' niggas to go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow-torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy?! I ain't through with you by a damn sight! I'ma get medieval on your ass!
Aki Ross says: This mission was well worth the lives of you and your men.
Jane Proudfoot says: Men?
Ryan Whittaker says: She thinks you're a man.
Jane Proudfoot says: I think she's an idiot.
Neil Fleming says: I know you're not a man.
Jane Proudfoot says: I think YOU'RE an idiot too.
Nani says: CIA?
Cobra Bubbles says: Former. Saved the planet, once. Convinced an alien race that mosquitoes were an endangered species.
Luther says: You really think we can do this.
Ethan Hunt says: We're going to do it.
Luther says: You really think we can do this.
Ethan Hunt says: We're going to do it.
Butch Coolidge says: You okay?
Marsellus Wallace says: Nah, man. I'm pretty fucking far from okay.
Butch Coolidge says: What now?
Marsellus Wallace says: What now? Let me tell you what now. I'm gonna call a couple of hard, pipe-hitting niggas to go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. [to Zed] You hear me talking, hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'm gonna get medieval on your ass.
Butch Coolidge says: I meant, what now between me and you.
Marsellus Wallace says: Oh, that "what now". I tell you what now between me and you. There is no "me and you". Not no more.
Marsellus Wallace says: Oh, that 'what now'. I tell you what now between me and you. There is no "me and you". Not no more.
Butch Coolidge says: So we cool?
Marsellus Wallace says: Yeah, we cool. Two things: one, don't tell nobody about this. This shit is between me, you, and Mr. soon-to-be-living-the-rest-of-his-short-ass-life-in-agonizing-pain rapist here. It ain't nobody else's business. Two, you leave town tonight, right now, and when you gone, you stay gone, or you be gone. You lost all your L.A. privileges. Deal?
Butch Coolidge says: Deal.
Kenneth says: Is everyone there dead?
Steve says: Well, dead-ish.
Kenneth says: Is everyone there dead?!
Steve says: Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh ... fell down ... and then got up ... and started eating each other.
Steve says: Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh... fell down, and then got up, and started eating each other.
Marsellus Wallace says: On the 5th, your ass goes down.
Marsellus Wallace says: In the fifth, your ass goes down.
Leroy says: (talking to Fool about a noise he heard in the vents) - Something's in there...As a matter of fact, why don't you crawl in there and see what it is?
Leroy says: (talking to Fool about a noise he heard in the vents) Something's in there. As a matter of fact, why don't you crawl in there and see what it is?
Fool says: Turkey-brain! Are you hitting on me like I'm here to save your ass? You're gonna stick your dumb head in there and lose it, like Spenser!
Fool says: Listen Leroy, this breaking and entering might not be so smart. It's the first day of my thirteenth birthday...could be unlucky.
Fool says: Listen Leroy, this breaking and entering might not be so smart. It's the first day of my thirteenth birthday, could be unlucky.
Leroy says: Thirteenth birthday is unlucky anyway; too old to get tit, too young to get ass...
Leroy says: Thirteenth birthday is unlucky anyway, too old to get tit, too young to get ass.
Leroy says: You seen Spencer?
Fool says: I've seen Spencer, alright.
Leroy says: You find anything?
Fool says: Something found him. He's dead, Leroy. I think scared to death.
Leroy says: You sure?
Fool says: You thought he was white before, you should see that sucker now!
Leroy says: Nice to see the rich folks' got rats too.
Fool says: They've got padlocks on the outside of the house too...
Fool says: They've got padlocks on the outside of the house too.
Leroy says: Padlocks on the outside?!
Leroy says: (after cracking the door open) - We done popped this house's cherry.
Leroy says: (after cracking the door open) We done popped this house's cherry.
Leroy says: Yeah, and maybe the President will make me Secretary of Pussy.
Leroy says: Just because a man's lying down doesn't mean he's dead!
Leroy says: He came at me like an airplane or something!
The Prophet says: Look at yourselves. Unplug from your chairs, get up and look in the mirror. What you see is how God made you. We're not meant to experience the world through a machine.
Jules Winnfield says: I don't wanna hear about no motherfuckin' ifs. All I wanna hear from your ass is, You ain't got no problem, Jules. I'm on the motherfucker. Go back in there, chill them niggers out and wait for the calvary which should be coming directly.
Marsellus Wallace says: You ain't got no problem, Jules. I'm on the motherfucker. Go back in there, chill them niggers out and wait for the Wolf who should be coming directly.