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Glynn Turman

Glynn Turman

Actor, also producer and writer · Born January 31, 1947 (79) · New York City, New York, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

Glynn Russell Turman, born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, is a revered American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, whose career spans decades. He gained early recognition for his role as Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 film "Cooley High." Turman's talent shone on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for "The Great White Hope." He's renowned for TV work in "The Wire," math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom "A Different World," fictional Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series "The Wire" and "House of Lies." His filmography includes impactful roles in "Gremlins" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." With a captivating presence, Turman continues to enthrall audiences, showcasing remarkable versatility and depth in his performances.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 31, 1947 (79)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
98 on MovieCove · 135 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 23% in 30 days

What are Glynn Turman's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 39 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 8 · Dark 14

Grounded 28 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 2

Gentle 10 · Charged 18 · Intense 11

Steady 15 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 3

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 6

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

Casual 21 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 1

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 13

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 6 of 16 analyzed roles.

Mentor
6 of 16
Ally
3 of 16
Hero
3 of 16
Threshold guardian
2 of 16
Shadow
1 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Hopeful
24
Melancholic
19
Warm
16
Joyful
9
Other
35

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet23
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Glynn Turman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 76 of their 98 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (31).

Subscription and free streaming for Glynn Turman's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

135 credits, 98 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • When They're Gone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer · as Calvin “Cece” Carr

  • Straw(2025)

    as Richard

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Paradise(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Collins

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • The Big Cigar(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Walter

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · as Chiron · as Mr. Brunner / Chiron

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Rustin(2023)

    as A. Philip Randolph

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Outlaw Johnny Black(2023)

    as Bullseye Black

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • 80 for Brady(2023)

    as Mickey

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Black Cake(2023)

    Show as Charles Mitch

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Nate Craven

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows
  • Women of Theatre, New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Executive Producer

  • The Legend of Glynn Turman(2022)

    Producer · Writer · as G.T.

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Devil You Know(2022)

    as Lloyd Cowans

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Pa (voice)

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows
  • Women of the Movement(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mose Wright

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Power Book II: Ghost(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabriel

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows
  • The Way Back(2020)

    as Doc

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • FBI: Most Wanted(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Daniels

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows
  • Sextuplets(2019)

    as Leland

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Justine(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Papa Don

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • The Red Line(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathan Gordon

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Robeson Effect(2019)

    Producer

  • Bumblebee(2018)

    as General Whalen

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • The Neighborhood(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Otis

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows
  • Solace(2018)

    as Clay (Pastor Davis)

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Mr. Mercedes(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Judge Bernard Raines

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • American Gods(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Hutchins

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Graves(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • Race(2016)

    as Harry E. Davis

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Nathaniel Lahey

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Blade

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
  • Dakota's Summer(2014)

    as Isaac Benson

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
  • Fargo(2014)

    Show 6 episodes · as Doctor Senator

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
  • Act Like You Love Me(2013)

    as David Lofton

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • John Dies at the End(2012)

    as Detective Lawrence 'Morgan Freeman' Appleton

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as David Kipling

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows
  • The Obama Effect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Slim Sugar

  • House of Lies: Fridays at Galweather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Alcatraz(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Emmitt Little

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows
  • City Teacher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Kevin Sawyer

  • House of Lies(2012)

    Show 51 episodes · as Jeremiah Kaan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • The Pastor's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Suits(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Vic

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Super 8(2011)

    as Dr. Woodward

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
  • Burlesque(2010)

    as Harold Saint

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • The Defenders(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · as Judge Bob Owens

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows
  • Takers(2010)

    as Chief Detective Duncan

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Flashforward(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Noland

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows
  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as James Pierce

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • Preaching to the Pastor(2009)

    as Bishop Hightower

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • In Treatment(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · as Alex Prince, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery(2008)

    as Sheriff Bob Monroe

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Kings of the Evening(2008)

    as Clarence Brown

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Uncle P(2007)

    as Dr. Niles

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Johnson

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Sahara(2005)

    as Dr. Frank Hopper

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • The Seat Filler(2004)

    as Derrick's Dad

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • The Wire(2002)

    Show 22 episodes · as Clarence Royce

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
  • The Bernie Mac Show(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Carl

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows
  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as George

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Roy Hines

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Air Rage(2001)

    as Ted Bigelow

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films
  • The Visit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Parole Board Member Reingold

  • Big Apple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ted Olsen

  • Fire & Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Robert Aimes Sr.

  • Men of Honor(2000)

    as Chief Floyd

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Freedom Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as T-Bone Lanier

  • Light It Up(1999)

    as Principal Allan Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Young

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • How Stella Got Her Groove Back(1998)

    as Dr. Shakespeare

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • The Magnificent Seven(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Achilles Thompson/Hector Thompson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Buffalo Soldiers(1997)

    as Sgt. Joshua 'Joyu' Judges Ruth

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Millennium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as James Glen

  • Homeboys in Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Subterfuge(1996)

    as Stallworth Hubbs

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows
  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows
  • Someone Else's Child(1994)

    as Judge Roullard

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Ernie Guthrie

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows
  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Holmes

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • The Inkwell(1994)

    as Spencer Phillips

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Hangin' with Mr. Cooper(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows
  • Deep Cover(1992)

    as Russell Stevens Sr.

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Freddy's Nightmares (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Redman

  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 122 episodes · Director · as Colonel Brad Taylor

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows
  • Ask Max (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lloyd Lyman

  • Out of Bounds(1986)

    as Lieutenant Delgado

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dennis Orlando

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "Paladin of the Lost Hour")

  • Hail to the Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · as Secretary of State LaRue Hawkins

  • Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Joshua

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Coleman · as Earl Browder · as Stan Lassiter

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Hot Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch Simpson

  • Gremlins(1984)

    as Roy Hanson

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • The Grand Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Penitentiary II(1982)

    as Charles Johnson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Norman Powell

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Joshua

  • Thornwell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as James Thornwell

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Attica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Raymond Franklin

  • Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold(1978)

    as Preston de Cordiva

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Centennial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 12 episodes · as Nate Person

  • The Paper Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • The Serpent's Egg(1977)

    as Monroe

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • The Richard Pryor Special?(1977)

    as Booster Johnson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Minstrel Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Harry Brown Jr.

  • The Tapestry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • The Tony Randall Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • J.D.'s Revenge(1976)

    as Isaac / 'Ike'

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • The River Niger(1976)

    as Jeff Williams

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Cooley High(1975)

    as Leroy "Preach" Jackson

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Carter's Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Pvt. George Brightman

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Edwin Beall

  • Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Theo

  • Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Together Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Dr. Johnson

  • Thomasine & Bushrod(1974)

    as Jomo J. Anderson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • AWOL (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mohammed G.

  • Honky(1971)

    as Sailor at Bus Station

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
  • In Search of America(1971)

    as Bodhi

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Harley Dartson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • CBS Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Jackson

  • You Look Familiar: Vernée Watson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 131 titles, 130 of them dated from 1966 to 2026; peak year 2019.

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19662026

Peak 2019 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting123 of 131: 119 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting7 of 131: 6 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 131: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing4 of 131: 2 only producing, 2 with another role

131 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s22 · acting1980s19 · 18 acting · 2 crew1990s17 · 13 acting · 4 crew2000s20 · acting2010s30 · 29 acting · 2 crew2020s19 · 18 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 8% of 26 roles
74890414

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy from 5 major nominations, 2008–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
      • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Supporting Male
  2. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
  3. 2008
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Glynn Turman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of the 53 of 55 with a score; across their 38 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Midcredits score across 96 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th36
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 96 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic12
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed30

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Glynn Turman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles33–61 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles12–58 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles32–86 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles7–74 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles31–64 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Glynn Turman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Glynn Turman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Juney Smith shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers