Wendell Pierce is a prolific award-winning actor with a body of work on stage, television and film that spans more than three decades. On stage in Spring 2026, Pierce will debut as “Othello” in Simon Godwin’s Shakespeare Theatre Company production in Washington, D.C. Pierce returned to Broadway in 2022 to reprise his portrayal of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Play.

 

Universally hailed for his portrayal of Det. Bunk Moreland on HBO’s groundbreaking series The Wire, Pierce was also praised for his starring role as Antoine Baptiste on David Simon’s critically acclaimed series Tremé and as James Greer in the Amazon Originals Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan alongside John Krasinski.

 

He currently portrays Captain C.W. Wagner in the critically acclaimed CBS drama ELSBETH, for which he received an AAFCA TV Honor and a Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema and Television Actor Award and an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. He also co-stars as Ishmael "Snaps" Henry, on Starz's Power Universe's RAISING KANAN.

On film, Wendell made his Marvel Universe feature film debut in the box office hits Thunderbolts and in James Gunn's Superman. He is also featured in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest opposite Denzel Washington, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Pierce is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, The Juilliard School.