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John Earl Jelks

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John Earl Jelks
Born (1959-07-16) July 16, 1959 (age 65)
NationalityAmerican
EducationCity College of San Francisco
OccupationActor
SpouseNaomi Jelks (deceased)
ChildrenJamal, Jabari, Jamila
AwardsTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (2007 nomination)

John Earl Jelks (also credited as John Jelks; born July 16, 1959) is an American actor. Working extensively in theatre, Jelks is also known for screen roles, including in films such as Compensation (1999), Miracle at St. Anna (2008), Enter the Dangerous Mind (2013), and Night Comes On (2018),[1] and television series such as True Detective (2019),[2] The I-Land (2019),[3] and On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019).[4][5][6]

In 2007, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Sterling Johnson in August Wilson's Radio Golf.[7][8] In 2014, Jelks won a double Obie Award for Fetch Clay, Make Man and Sunset Baby. For First Breeze of Summer, Jelks also won the AUDELCO Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, in addition to the production winning.

Early life

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Jelks' family was originally from Mississippi. He spent much of his childhood in California and Illinois,[9] including in Chicago.[10]

Career

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Jelks began acting at 18 while attending the City College of San Francisco, a public community college. He began his career in 1979 when he acted in his first play, Pinocchio Jones, which also starred Cindy Herron and was performed at Balboa High School. He went on to act in several plays, not acquiring an agent until he had been performing on stage for 7 years.[10][11]

Stage acting

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For a decade, from 1989 to 1999, Jelks performed in the independent play The Diary of Black Men.[12] In 2002, Jelks performed The Piano Lesson at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.[13][9] Later that year, Jelks performed Joe Turner's Come and Gone (directed by Marion McClinton) at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and again at the Penumbra Theatre, where he later became a company member.[14][15][16]

In 2004, Jelks made his Broadway debut[10] in the August Wilson play Gem of the Ocean, which starred Phylicia Rashad.[17] Gem of the Ocean was the first installment in Wilson's decade-by-decade ten-play chronicle, The Pittsburgh Cycle, dramatizing the African-American experience in the 20th century. Directed by Kenny Leon, the production took place at the Walter Kerr Theatre and has received five Tony Award nominations.

Jelks collaborated again with August Wilson in the 2007 premiere of the play Radio Golf at the Cort Theatre on Broadway. The final installment of the Pittsburgh Cycle, the production received 3 Tony Award nominations, including Best Play and Best Featured Actor in a Play for both Jelks and Anthony Chisholm.[18][19]

In 2010, Jelks performed in the world premiere of the stage version of The Shawshank Redemption at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, Ireland.[10] The play was based on the Stephen King novel that had been successfully adapted for the screen by Frank Darabont. Jelks played the part of Red in the production directed by Peter Sheridan and adapted for the stage by Owen O'Neil and Dave Johns.[20]

Jelks has worked extensively in other Broadway and regional productions including Magnolia (2009), Fetch Clay, Make Man (2010),[21][22] The Break of Noon (2010), Two Trains Running (2013), Sunset Baby (2013), Holler If Ya Hear Me (2014), ToasT (2015), The Piano Lesson (2016), and Head of Passes (2016).[23][24]

In 2014, Jelks conducted acting workshops and performed in the play The Meeting at the Terra Sancta Theater in Amman, Jordan.[25]

From 2016 to 2018 Jelks performed in 3 productions of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat, playing the part of Brucie, a middle-aged man unemployed for 2 years after losing his factory job.[26][27][28] The play was performed in New York at the Public Theater Martinson Hall in 2016, before moving to Studio 54 in 2017. Jelks returned in 2018 for a run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.[24][29][26]

Screen acting

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Jelks first starring screen role came in the 1999 film Compensation, which premiered at Sundance.[30] The film depicts two Chicago love stories, one set in the 1900s and one in the 1990s, with both couples played by the same actors. Jelks played the dual roles of Arthur Jones and Nico Jones.[31]

He has also appeared in Spike Lee's 2008 World War II historical film Miracle at St. Anna, and in Jordana Spiro's 2018 drama Night Comes On, which premiered at Sundance. In 2019, he acted in series 3 of HBO's anthology crime drama series True Detective, Netflix's science-fiction thriller miniseries The I-Land, as well as a recurring role in the Showtime comedy On Becoming a God in Central Florida.[32][33][4]

Personal life

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Jelks is a widower, having lost his wife of 12 years, Naomi, in a traffic accident in 2002. The couple had 3 children, sons Jamal, Jabari, and daughter Jamila. The loss of his wife had led Jelks to consider leaving acting, but he eventually decided to remain in the career for his children. He dedicated his performance in the play Gem of the Ocean to his late wife.[9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 A Powerful Thang Craig Watkins Credited as John Jelks
1999 Compensation Arthur Jones / Nico Jones
2008 Miracle at St. Anna Detective Dillard
2010 The Start of Dreams Self Documentary Film, Credited as John Jelks
2013 Enter the Dangerous Mind Lt. Ike
2018 Night Comes On John Lamere Credited as John Jelks
2024 Exhibiting Forgiveness La'Ron

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Achok 1 episode
2011 Da Brick Jermaine Dansby Sr. Television film, Credited as John Jelks
2012 Blue Bloods Ray Bell 1 episode
2019 True Detective Sam Whitehead 1 episode
2019 The Good Fight Perry Cardwell 1 episode
2019 The I-Land Professor Verne 2 episodes
2019 On Becoming a God in Central Florida Judd Waltrip 5 episodes
2021 Love Life Kirby Watkins 4 episodes
2022 East New York James Hilliard 1 episode
2022–2023 New Amsterdam Horace Reynolds 8 episodes

Short film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Dark Exodus Credited as John Jelks
1986 Crocodile Conspiracy Credited as John Jelks
2014 The Miraculous Man from the Desert Credited as John Jelks
2015 Tough Larry Credited as John Jelks

Stage

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Year Play Role Production Notes
1989–1999 The Diary of Black Men Muslim
2002 The Piano Lesson Boy Willie Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
2002 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Herald Loomis Kansas City Repertory Theatre
2002 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Herald Loomis Penumbra Theatre
2004 Gem of the Ocean Citizen Barlow Walter Kerr Theatre Production won NAACP Theatre Award and Ovation Award
2007 Radio Golf Sterling Johnson Cort Theatre Nominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
2008 The First Breeze of Summer[34][35] Harper Edwards Signature Theatre Company Production won AUDELCO Award
2009 Magnolia Thomas Goodman Theatre
2010 The Shawshank Redemption Red Gaiety Theatre
2010 Fetch Clay, Make Man Brother Rashid McCarter Theatre Center
2010 The Break of Noon Detective Lawyer The Geffen Playhouse, MCC Theater
2013 Two Trains Running Wolf Two River Theater Company
2013 Fetch Clay, Make Man Brother Rashid New York Theatre Workshop Obie Award, Production Nominated for 11 AUDELCO Awards
2013 Sunset Baby LAByrinth Theater Company[36][37] Obie Award
2014 Holler If Ya Hear Me Street Preacher Palace Theatre
2015 ToasT Stackolee The Public Theater
2016 The Piano Lesson Doaker McCarter Theatre Center[38]
2016 Head of Passes Creaker Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2016 Sweat Brucie The Public Theater
2017 Sweat Brucie Studio 54
2018 Sweat Brucie Mark Taper Forum
2019 Floyd's Montrellous The Guthrie Theater[39]
2022 Birthday Candles Matt / William American Airlines Theatre

Video games

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Year Title Role
2008 Midnight Club: Los Angeles Doc (Voice)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Title Notes
2007 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play Radio Golf Nominated
2008 AUDELCO Award First Breeze of Summer Won
2014 Obie Award - Performance Gold Star Sunset Baby and Fetch Clay, Make Man Won

References

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  1. ^ Lodge, Guy (Feb 4, 2018). "Film Review: 'Night Comes On'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  2. ^ Napoli, Jessica (February 4, 2019). "Whodunnit on 'True Detective' Season 3? An Investigation". TV Insider. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  3. ^ Newboles, Alec (August 29, 2019). "Netflix Drops Trailer for Mini-Series 'The I-Land'". mxdwn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  4. ^ a b "John Earl Jelks". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  5. ^ "John Earl Jelks". IBDB. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  6. ^ "The 100 Best Black Movies of the 21st Century". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  7. ^ Rooney, David (May 11, 2007). "Radio Golf". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  8. ^ "Actor: John Earl Jelks". Geffen Playhouse. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  9. ^ a b c "John Earl Jelks". Broadway World. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  10. ^ a b c d Donloe, Darlene (Feb 2, 2011). "Jelks and Chimo Keep It Goin' "˜Til Break of Noon". thisstage.la. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  11. ^ "About". John Earl Jelks. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  12. ^ "There & back again". newsreview.com. July 5, 2001. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  13. ^ "August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" Digs Deep Into the Past, Features Powerful Lessons on Family, History, Perseverance". Town Topics. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  14. ^ Walker, Steve (May 16, 2002). "Boarding House Rules". The Pitch. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  15. ^ "Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  16. ^ "Members". Penumbra Theatre. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  17. ^ Murray, Matthre (December 6, 2004). "Gem of the Ocean". Talkin' Broadway. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  18. ^ Brantley, Ben (2007-05-09). "In the Rush to Progress, the Past Is Never Too Far Behind". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  19. ^ Ernio, Hernandez (Jul 8, 2005). "Wilson Vets Anthony Chisolm and John Earl Jelks Return for Los Angeles Radio Golf". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  20. ^ "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION In Dublin Set To Close May 29". Broadway World. May 21, 2010. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (Oct 13, 2013). "Fetch Clay, Make Man, with Nikki M. James, K. Todd Freeman, John Earl Jelks, Richard Masur, Ends Off-Broadway Run Oct. 13". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  22. ^ Levitt, Hayley (September 11, 2013). "Fetch Clay, Make Man". Theater Mania. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  23. ^ Stewart, Zachary (March 28, 2016). "Head of Passes". Theater Mania. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  24. ^ a b "John Earl Jelks". About the Artists. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  25. ^ "Martin Luther King Meets Malcolm X in "The Meeting"". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. March 31, 2014. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  26. ^ a b Lee, Ashley (Aug 30, 2018). "For actor John Earl Jelks, two years of 'Sweat' yield no easy answers in Trump's America". LA Times. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  27. ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (September 6, 2018). "Sweat at the Mark Taper is a sucker punch to the gut: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  28. ^ Isherwood, Charles (2016-11-03). "The Jobs Are Gone in 'Sweat.' So Are People's Hopes". NY Times. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  29. ^ Gordon, David (December 30, 2019). "The 10 Best Broadway Plays of the Decade". Theater Mania. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  30. ^ "Compensation (1999)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  31. ^ "Compensation". UCLA L.A. Rebellion. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  32. ^ "Kirsten Dunst Stars in the Trailer for On Becoming a God in Central Florida". Broadway World. Jul 16, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  33. ^ Hermanns, Grant (September 27, 2019). "On Becoming a God in Central Florida Season 2 a Go at Showtime". Coming Soon. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  34. ^ Rooney, David (Aug 21, 2008). "The First Breeze of Summer". 2008. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  35. ^ "The First Breeze Of Summer". Theater Life. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  36. ^ Hetrick, Adam (Nov 6, 2013). "Labyrinth Theater's Sunset Baby, Featuring Tony Nominee John Earl Jelks, Begins Nov. 6". Broadway. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  37. ^ Hetrick, Adam (Nov 6, 2013). "Labyrinth Theater's Sunset Baby, Featuring Tony Nominee John Earl Jelks, Begins Nov. 6". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  38. ^ Levitt, Hayley (December 21, 2015). "Casting Announced for August Wilson's The Piano Lesson at McCarter Theatre Center". Theater Mania. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
  39. ^ McLernon, Lianna Matt (August 6, 2019). "Review: "Floyd's" at the Guthrie". Minnesota Monthly. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
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