Ving Rhames

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

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Highest Rated Movies

Filmography

Movies

Rating

Title

Credit

Box
Office

Year

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
14% 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
58% 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
63% 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

Rating

Title

Credit

Year

45% Gravity
2010
Dogg McFee
  • 2019
  • 2010
52% Monday Mornings
2013
Jorge "El Gato" Villanueva
  • 2013
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
  • 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
Benji!
Benji
Ethan?
Ethan Hunt
Open The Door!
Benji
Ok!
William Brandt
Benji Open That Door Right Now!
Luther Strickell
Come On!
Principal Thompson
This is a new day and we will take back our public schools.
Marsellus Wallace
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
You sure you want to do this?
Kenneth
Say something!
Ana
Please.
Marsellus Wallace
[seeing Butch in a car] Motherfucker!
Luther Stickwell
That punk put a hole in my Versace!
Marsellus Wallace
I ain;t through with you by a damn sight! I'm gonna get medevil on your ass!
Marsellus Wallace
I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.
Leroy
Maybe the president is gonna make me Secretary of Pussy. make me Secretary of Pussy.
Leroy
Maybe the President's gonna make me Secretary of Pussy!
Deputy Fallon
Chew on this motherfuckers! (starts killing the piranha with a boat motor)
Luther
Are you sure we can do this?
Ethan Hunt
We're going to do it. *Main theme plays*
Deputy Fallon
Bring me my legs.
Judgement
You're about as smooth as a three month old bikini wax.
Marsellus Wallace
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
Night of the fight, you get knocked out in the 5th round.
Marsellus Wallace
YOu hear me talkin' , hillbilly boy? I'm gonna get Medieval on your ass!
Marsellus Wallace
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
I ain't through with you by a damn sight! I'm gonna get medieval on your ass.
Butch Coolidge
Are you okay?
Marsellus Wallace
Nah, man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay (Zed screams)
Marsellus Wallace
Nah, man. I'm pretty fuckin' far from okay [Zed screams]
Butch Coolidge
What now?
Marsellus Wallace
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
This mission was well worth the lives of you and your men.
Jane Proudfoot
Men?
Ryan Whittaker
She thinks you're a man.
Jane Proudfoot
I think she's an idiot.
Neil Fleming
I know you're not a man.
Jane Proudfoot
I think YOU'RE an idiot too.
Nani
CIA?
Cobra Bubbles
Former. Saved the planet, once. Convinced an alien race that mosquitoes were an endangered species.
Luther
You really think we can do this.
Ethan Hunt
We're going to do it.
Luther
You really think we can do this.
Ethan Hunt
We're going to do it.
Butch Coolidge
You okay?
Marsellus Wallace
Nah, man. I'm pretty fucking far from okay.
Butch Coolidge
What now?
Marsellus Wallace
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
I meant, what now between me and you.
Marsellus Wallace
Oh, that "what now". I tell you what now between me and you. There is no "me and you". Not no more.
Marsellus Wallace
Oh, that 'what now'. I tell you what now between me and you. There is no "me and you". Not no more.
Butch Coolidge
So we cool?
Marsellus Wallace
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
Deal.
Kenneth
Is everyone there dead?
Steve
Well, dead-ish.
Kenneth
Is everyone there dead?!
Steve
Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh ... fell down ... and then got up ... and started eating each other.
Steve
Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh... fell down, and then got up, and started eating each other.
Marsellus Wallace
On the 5th, your ass goes down.
Marsellus Wallace
In the fifth, your ass goes down.
Leroy
(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
(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
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
Listen Leroy, this breaking and entering might not be so smart. It's the first day of my thirteenth birthday...could be unlucky.
Fool
Listen Leroy, this breaking and entering might not be so smart. It's the first day of my thirteenth birthday, could be unlucky.
Leroy
Thirteenth birthday is unlucky anyway; too old to get tit, too young to get ass...
Leroy
Thirteenth birthday is unlucky anyway, too old to get tit, too young to get ass.
Leroy
You seen Spencer?
Fool
I've seen Spencer, alright.
Leroy
You find anything?
Fool
Something found him. He's dead, Leroy. I think scared to death.
Leroy
You sure?
Fool
You thought he was white before, you should see that sucker now!
Leroy
Nice to see the rich folks' got rats too.
Fool
They've got padlocks on the outside of the house too...
Fool
They've got padlocks on the outside of the house too.
Leroy
Padlocks on the outside?!
Leroy
(after cracking the door open) - We done popped this house's cherry.
Leroy
(after cracking the door open) We done popped this house's cherry.
Leroy
Yeah, and maybe the President will make me Secretary of Pussy.
Leroy
Just because a man's lying down doesn't mean he's dead!
Leroy
He came at me like an airplane or something!
The Prophet
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
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
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.