Cleavant Derricks

About

Actor and singer who starred as James Early in the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. This role earned him both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Featured Actor in a Musical.

Before fame

He started out as a Nashville gospel songwriter. He later traveled to New York to study acting.

Trivia

He played Rembrandt Brown on a science fiction television series called Sliders.

Family life

His twin brother, Clinton, also had a career as a musician and actor.

Associated with

He performed with Sheryl Lee Ralph in Dreamgirls.