British actor Joseph Marcell was born on August 18, 1948 in St. Lucia, on the Caribbean Sea. Though his family expected him to find work as an electrical engineer, he chose to pursue a career in acting and performing, training at the prestigious Central School for Speech and Drama. He went on to join the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing onstage in classic productions such as Othello, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar. He has also appeared in television series such as Brothers & Sisters, Living Single, The Bold & The Beautiful, and In The House. Marcell has acted in the films We Three and Cry Freedom, but is probably best known for his portrayal as Geoffrey the Butler in The Frsh Prince of Bel-Air.

Geoffrey Barbara Butler is portrayed by Joseph Marcell in the classic NBC television comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He studied at Oxford University and had a long career of working for British aristocrats, and was also an Olympic runner prior to being hired by the Banks family. However, he escaped from his homeland in shame after being caught cheating in a race and getting slapped by the Queen of England. He has served as a butler for the band Led Zeppelin, as well as a butler and sparring partner for Chuck Norris. He provides a lot of sardonic humor, commenting dryly on everything that’s wrong with the family.

There has never been any other character quite like this portrayed by an African Caribbean actor in TV history.

We salute Joseph Marcell and are proud to be bestow upon him the Edric Connor Inspiration Award 2013.

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TRAINING:
Central School of Speech and Drama, London

MEMBERSHIPS:
SAG
AFTRA
EQUITY

COMMITTEES:
London Round House Arts Project – Steering Committee
London Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre – Artistic Directorate
National Black Theatre Festival Former Joint Chairman – Winston Salem USA

THEATRE 2012 – 1971 – Title • Character • Theatre • Director

WORLD THEATER’S STORYTALES * Ford Theater, Los Angeles
AS YOU LIKE IT *Touchstone * Old Globe, San Diego * Adrian Noble
RICHARD III * Mayor of London * Old Globe, San Diego * Lyndsey Posner
INHERIT THE WIND * E K Hornbeck * Old Globe, San Diego * Adrian Noble
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING • Leonato  • Shakespeare’s Globe, London • Jeremy Herrin
A FREE MAN OF COLOR • Dr Toubib • Premier, Lincoln Center, New York • George Wolfe
KING LEAR • Kent • Olde Globe, San Diego • Adrian Noble
THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE • Dr Baker • Olde Globe, San Diego • Adrian Noble
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW • Gremio • Olde Globe, San Diego • Ron Noble
RADIO GOLF • Elder Barlow • Tricycle, London • Paulette Randall
BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE • Mugabe • Theatre Royal, Bath • Paul Robinson
LET THERE BE LOVE • Alfred • Premier , Tricycle, London • Kwame  Kwei-Armah
AS YOU LIKE IT • Jacques • The Folger, Washington DC • Derek Goldman
GEM OF THE OCEAN • Solly • Arena Theatre, Washington DC • Paulette Randall
GEM OF THE OCEAN • Solly • Tricycle, London • Paulette Randall
WALK HARD • Charlie/Mr Berry • Tricycle, London • Nick Kent
UNDER THE BLACK FLAG • Captain Jack • Shakespear’s Globe • Roxana Silbert
CORIOLANUS • Cominius • Shakespeare’s Globe • Dominic Dromgoole
HAMLET • Claudius • Haymarket Theatre • John Adams
SENIORS • Milt • Hudson Theatre, LA • Anita Balla
KING HEADLEY II • Elmore • Tricycle, London • Paulette Randall
DEATH OF A SALESMAN • Willy Loman • Haymarket Theatre • Kully Thiarai
ROMEO & JULIET • Friar Lawrence • Shakespeare Theatre, Washington • Rachel Kavanaugh
PEER GYNT • Peer Gynt • Royal National Theatre • Conal Morrison &Trevor Nunn
AN ENCHANTED LAND • Father Jean • Riverside Theatre • Joseph Blachiey
JOE TURNER’S COME & GONE • Bynum • Tricycle, London • Claude Purdy
JULIUS CAESAR • Brutus • Haymarket Theatre , World Tour • John Dexter
CREON • Creon • Haymarket Theatre, World Tour • John Dexter
TWELFTH NIGHT • SirToby Belch • Haymarket Theatre • Pip Broughton
BLACK STAR • Ira Aldridge • Octagon Theatre • John Adams
GREAT WHITE HOPE • Tic • Royal Shakespeare Company • Nick Kent
SPLIT SECOND • Parker • Lyric Theatre London • Hugh Wooldridge
MEASURE FOR MEASURE • Angelo • Acter RSC US Tour • Patrick Stewart
WAITING FOR GODOT • Estragon • Acter RSC US Tour • Patrick Stewart
ENDGAME • Nagg • Acter RSC US Tour • Patrick Stewart
MACBETH • Banquo • Haymarket Theatre • Nancy Meckler
OTHELLO • Othello • Lyric Theatre • Michael Boyd
LIVINGSTON & SECHELE • Sechele • Lyric Theatre • Peter Lichtenfels
MASTER HAROLD & THE BOYS • Willie • Royal National Theatre • Athol Fugard
BELOVED LATTITUDES • Idi Amin Dada • Paines Plough/Royal Nat’l Theatre • David Pownall
A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM • Puck • Royal Shakespeare Company • Ron Daniels
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA • Speed • Royal Shakespeare Company • John Barton
OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH • Joseph • Royal Shakespeare Company • John Caird
PETER PAN • Nibs • Royal Shakespeare Company • Trevor Nunn
NIGHT SHIFT • Chewy • Royal Shakespeare Company • Albie James
CRATES ON BARRELS • Crates • Royal Shakespeare Company • Ray Jewers
ONE FINE DAY • Mister Mzoga • Riverside Theatre • Nicholas Wright & John Burgess
ANCHORMAN • Plugg • Royal Court • John Dove & Caroline Hutchinson
A DYING BUSINESS • Mister Johnson • Riverside Theatre • Michael Joyce
WINTER’S TALE • Camillo • Shakespeare & Company USA • Tina Packer
ROMEO & JULIET • Lord Capulet • Shakespeare & Company USA • Dennis Krausnic
HENRY VI, PART III • Richard of Gloucester • Shakespeare & Company USA • Tina Packer
MOTOCAR • Motocar • Royal National Theatre • John Adams
LIVINGSTON & SECHELE • Sechele • Traverse Theatre • Peter Lichtenfels
MOTOCAR • Motocar • Paines Plough Theatre • John Adams
RICHARD III, PART II • Chrysostom • Paines Plough Theatre • John Adams
BREAD • Father Flynn • Young Vic Theatre • John Burgess
SHERLOCK HOLMES • McTeague • Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The J.F.K. Center, D.C. & Broadway • Frank Dunlop
SECTION NINE • Williamson • Royal Shakespeare Company • Charles Marovitz
THE BEWITCHED • The Crab • Royal Shakespeare Company • Terry Hands
CORIOLANUS • Volsci Lieutenant • Royal Shakespeare Company • Trevor Nunn
JULIUS CAESAR • Lucius • Royal Shakespeare Company • Trevor Nunn & Buzz Goodbody
JULIUS CAESAR • Decius Brutus • Royal Shakespeare Company • Trevor Nunn
THE BROTHERS MENECHMI • The Maid • Royal Shakespeare Company • Clem McCallin
LITTLE MALCOLM • Wick • Royal Shakespeare Company • Terry Oliver
ANTHONY & CLEOPATRA • Eros • Royal Shakespeare Company • Trevor Nunn
TITUS ANDRONICUS • Aaron • Royal Shakespeare Company • Terry Hands
ORISON • The Man • Sheffield Playhouse • Maggie McCarthy
ENDGAME • Nag • Sheffield Playhouse • Ed Thomasin
THE TECHNICIANS • Brown • Sheffield Playhouse • Ed Thomasin
THE KNACK • Tolen • Sheffield Playhouse • Maggie McCarthy
DR. FAUSTUS • Mephistopheles • Sheffield Playhouse • Ed Thomasin
DON PELINPLIN & BELISSA IN THE GARDEN • Marcolfa • Sheffield Playhouse • Ed Thomasin

FILM – Title • Character • Director • Production Co.

FEVER • Flash Eddie • Q •
MAN BROKEN • Alfred • Pezhmaan Aliani • National Film School (BFM Nominee, Best Short Film)
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE • Juan (lead) •Kenneth R Williams (Director’s Guild USA – Best Director Award)

AFI/USA
WE THREE • Father (lead) •Matt Bloom • Welsh Film Council UK
PLAYING AWAY • Willie (lead) • Horace Ové • Channel 4 Films UK
CRY FREEDOM • Moses (co-star) • Sir Richard Attenborough • Universal US/UK
SIOUX CITY • Dr. Richards (co-star) • Lou Diamond Phillips • Cabin Fever Films, Universal US
THE LOSER • Sweeper (lead) • Keith Boak • Independent Films, British Arts

TELEVISION (UK)

FROST • Guest Star • ITV • Paul Harrison
LIVE AT PEACE WITH YOUR NERVES (pilot) • Guest Star • BBC, London
HOLBY • Guest Star • BBC, London
EASTENDERS • Guest Star (8 episodes) • BBC TV, London
JERICHO •Guest Star • Granada TV Manchester
BROTHERS AND SISTERS • Lead • BBC TV, Manchester
EASTENDERS • Guest Star, Series • BBC TV, London
RENFORD REJECTS • Lead, Series • Nickelodeon, UK
SHELLY • Lead • London Weekend Television
SOMEDAY MAN • Lead • Westward Television
DR. WHO • Guest Star • BBC TV, London
END OF THE LINE • Lead, Series • BBC TV, Scotland
EMPIRE ROAD • Lead, Series • BBC TV, Birmingham
JULIET BRAVO • Guest Star • BBC TV, London
FANCY WONDERS • Lead, Series • London Weekend Television
THE BILL • Guest Star • Carlton TV, London
THE BILL • Guest Star • Thames TV, London
MCLIBEL • Lead • Channel 4 Television
MADMAN & SPECIALISTS • Lead • BBC Film
CROWN COURT • Guest Star • Granada TV, Manchester
THE PROFESSIONALS • Guest Star • Thames TV, London
RUMPOLE & THE GOLDEN THREAD • Guest Star • Central TV, Birmingham
RUNAWAY BAY • Guest Star • Central TV, Birmingham

TELEVISION (US)

THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL • Lead, Series • CBS
FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR • Lead, Series • NBC TV
OUTPOST • Lead, Series Pilot • CBS
LIVING SINGLE • Guest Star • FOX TV
IN THE HOUSE • Guest Star • WB
THE MACIO SHOW • Guest Star • Paramount/UPN
SWIFFER AD (Superbowl 2004 ABC TVl)

DIRECTING

DIAMOND REAL ESTATE • Television Pilot, USA
CRASH PAD • Stage 52, Los Angeles, USA (NAACP Award)
DREAM ON MONKEY MOUNTAIN • CA State University
JULIUS CAESAR • SAG/AFTRA Production – L.A. Valley College Theatre, USA
MOTOCAR • The Burbage Theatre, Los Angeles, USA
OTHELLO • Arts Theatre, London, UK
THE SAPPING • Royal Shakespeare Festival, UK
MAD WOGS & ENGLISHMEN REVIEW • London, UK

AWARDS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD • Black Entertainment Comedy Awards UK 2004
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE • Canada 2004
CARRIBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE AWARD • 2005/2006