Glynn Turman

New York City born and raised, Glynn Turman’s story is basically a masterclass in longevity. He kicked things off on Broadway as Travis Younger in “A Raisin in the Sun” back in ‘59, rubbing elbows with legends like Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee before he was old enough to vote. Didn’t snag the film role, but whatever—the guy kept it moving, hitting Manhattan’s High School of Performing Arts to sharpen his craft. After graduating, he bounced around the country, acting in everything from “Good Boys” to “The House of Atreus” with Tyrone Guthrie’s Repertory Theatre. By the late ‘60s, Turman was popping up on TV—“Daktari,” “Julia,” “Room 222”—and even landed a steady gig on “Peyton Place.” Dude racked up awards left and right, including his first NAACP Image Award for “Eyes of the American.” Not just an actor—he writes, he directs. Picked up another Image Award for directing “Deadwood Dick” and jumped behind the camera for TV comedies like “The Wayans Bros” and “A Different World,” where he played Colonel Taylor (and fun fact: the theme song was sung by his ex-wife, Aretha Franklin). The ‘70s brought movie roles in cult classics like “Cooley High,” plus a string of blaxploitation flicks. He nearly played Han Solo in “Star Wars.” No joke! The dude’s been everywhere—“Gremlins,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Super 8,” “Bumblebee.” TV, too: “The Wire,” “Mr. Mercedes,” and more. Even now, he’ll pop up onstage. Four kids, a few marriages, and a career that just…won’t quit.