Pernell Walker

Pernell Walker, straight outta the Bronx, is one of those actors who just flat-out refuses to be boxed in. She’s got an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School (yeah, the one that used to be at The New School), but honestly, it’s less about the pedigree and more about what she brings to the screen—and stage. Walker’s got this raw, magnetic energy that shows up whether she’s grinding in indie theater, lighting up TV, or stealing a scene in some buzzy Netflix miniseries. You might’ve seen her as Grace Campbell in season two of City On A Hill—that Showtime drama with Kevin Bacon doing his whole smirky-cop thing. But Walker’s not just any supporting actor. She pops up everywhere important, like Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us, which, let’s be real, was a punch to the gut in the best way. It’s wild, the number of powerhouses she’s worked with: Dee Rees, Tom Fontana, Marti Noxon, David Simon... the list is stacked. We’re talking legends like Oprah, Scorsese, even Steven Soderbergh. It’s almost like she’s collecting iconic directors and producers on her IMDb page. But the thing is, Walker’s not just floating through—she’s carving her own lane. Whether she’s working with big names like Maggie Gyllenhaal or tackling stories that matter, she’s always got her eye on the next great collaborator. And honestly, with the way she’s going, you just know that list is gonna keep growing. She’s not here to play it safe, and that’s what makes her so damn fun to watch.