Ving Rhames

Ving Rhames - Actors, Family and Family

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Ving Rhames's Personal Details

Ving Rhames is a well-known African-American actor

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 12, 1959
NationalityAmerican
FamousJuilliard School, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors
City/StateNew Yorkers
SpousesDeborah Reed (m. 2000), Valerie Scott (m. 1994–1999)
ChildrensFreedom Rhames, Reign Beau Rhames
Universities
  • Juilliard School
Notable Alumnis
  • Juilliard School
Birth PlaceHarlem, New York City, New York, United States
Height183
GenderMale
FatherErnest Rhames
MotherReather
Sun SignTaurus
Born inHarlem, New York City, New York, United States
Famous asActor

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Ving Rhames's photo

Who is Ving Rhames?

Ving Rhames is a well-known African-American actor. Known for his distinctive baritone and bald head, this strikingly featured and muscular actor discovered his passion for acting at a young age. He studied acting and ventured into a successful acting career. In his career, Rhames not only did films, but worked in theatre and television as well. With his career spanning over three decades, the actor has made a major contribution to the American cinema through his tough and frightening characters. Many of the roles Rhames has played have been the prototypes of real-life criminals and thugs who were commonplace in the urban environment where he spent his childhood and early days. This Golden Globe Award-winning actor has also lent his voice to a few cartoon characters. This celebrated film artiste has been honored several times. Apart from the Golden Globes, the star has also been honored by The National Association of Theatre Owners. The Cinemania website has defined the star as a ‘character player of screen and stage who is known to embody credible and complex heavies as well as flawed men of authority’.

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Childhood & Early Life

Ving Rhames was born on May 12, 1959 with the name Irving Rameses Rhames in Harlem, New York City. The star’s mother, Reather, was a homemaker and father, Ernest, was an auto mechanic. Irving was named after the NBC journalist Irving R. Levine.

He received his formal education from New York's renowned High School of Performing Arts where he fell in love with acting.

After graduation, he studied drama at SUNY Purchase. There, he met the now-popular star ‘Stanley Tucci’ who gave him the nickname ‘Ving’.

Later on, he earned a scholarship and moved to Juilliard School of Drama and studied classical theater there. In 1983, he earned his bachelor degree of Fine Arts in Drama. After that, he started performing in Shakespeare’s plays in the Park productions.

Career

Ving Rhames first did a television film ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’ in 1984. Later in the same year, he appeared on Broadway where he played a role in a play named ‘The Winter Boys’.

He then started working in television films and did promising roles on soap operas like ‘Guiding Light’, ‘Another World’ and ‘Miami Vice’.

In 1986, he moved to the big screen and was cast as ‘Jack’ in ‘Native Son’. After a few years, in 1989, he appeared in ‘Brian de Palma Vietnam War saga Casualties of War’ and made a gradual rise afterward.

In 1993, Rhames worked with Matt Dillon in ‘The Saint of Fort Washington’. The next year, in 1994, the star got considerable acclaim for his role as ‘Marsellus Wallace’ in ‘Pulp Fiction’. The Quentin Tarantino movie became a blockbuster.

He played the role of the ace computer hacker Luther Stickell in ‘Mission: Impossible’ in 1996. In this film, he was cast alongside superstar Tom Cruise. The same year he also did ‘Striptease’, playing the role of a wisecracking bodyguard.

In 1997, he starred in ‘Con Air’, portraying the role of Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones. He also played the lead role in ‘Don King: Only in America’ the same year.

He made appearances in two movies, ‘Entrapment’ and ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ in 1999.

*In 2000, he reprised the role of Luther Stickell in ‘Mission: Impossible II’. The same year, he played Johnnie Cochran in the flick ‘American Tragedy’.

Ving Rhames played a burly cop in ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and fought cannibal zombie hordes in 2004.

In 2005, he was given a lead role in a new Kojak series which was aired on ITV4 in the UK and on the USA Network cable channel in America.

In 2006, the imposing star again appeared in the third sequel of ‘Mission Impossible.’

Ving Rhames’ extraordinary comedy skills were seen in ‘I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry’ in 2007. In this comedy film, the actor played the role of a homosexual firefighter.

In 2009, Rhames again flexed his comedy muscles in ‘The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard’. The following year, he changed genres and did a horror movie in Alexandre Aja's remake ‘Piranha 3D’.

In 2011, he was cast in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ for a cameo appearance.

In 2015, he played a major role in the Mission Impossible series’ fifth installment, ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’. The same year, he did a series of advertisements for Arby's and The ADT Corporation.

Major Works

Ving Rhames performed in the 1997 TV movie ‘Don King: Only in America’ where he portrayed the main role of Don King. The movie, which tells the story of how King became a famous fight promoter and boxing manager, was a critical success.

In addition to the big screen, Rhames also played major roles on the small screen. He did a medical series ‘ER’ in which he appeared as Peter Benton's brother-in-law, a role he played for three seasons.

In 2008, Rhames portrayed the character of an ex-con in ‘Saving God’. This film highlights the story of a con who after his release from the prison changes completely and takes over his father's old church.

He also gave his contribution to ‘Phantom Punch’ – a biopic of the boxer Sonny Liston.

Awards & Achievements

In 1998, Ving Rhames received the ‘Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film’ for ‘Don King: Only in America’.

He won “Special Mention” appreciation at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2001.

The actor was also paid tribute to by The National Association of Theatre Owners.

Personal Life & Legacy

In the year 1994, Rhames married a woman named Valerie Scott. On February 9, 1999, Rhames and Scott divorced.

The following year, in 2000, the star married Deborah Reed. The couple has a son and a daughter. They also have a daughter Tiffany who was born from Reed's previous marriage.

Net Worth

Ving Rhames has a net worth of $16 million.

Trivia

One of Rhames’ college roommates Stanley Tucci suggested that the actor shorten his name to ‘Ving’.

Rhames is the only actor besides Tom Cruise to work in the five sequels of ‘Mission: Impossible.’

During 1998 Golden Globes ceremony, Rhames handed over his Best Actor award to his fellow nominee Jack Lemmon. The ‘Don King: Only in America’ star’s gesture brought him a standing ovation.

Rhames is also one of the narrators for The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The actor grew up in the same neighborhood with gangsters and drug kings.

During the filming of ‘The Saint of Fort Washington’, Rhames was introduced to a homeless man by Matt Dillon. This stranger turned out to be the actor’s long-estranged older brother who had lost contact with the family several years ago. After that, Rhames invited his big brother to his apartment, got him a job and later on, also brought a home for him.

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Ving Rhames's awards

YearNameAward

Golden Globe Awards

1998Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionDon King: Only in America (1997)

Ving Rhames biography timelines

  • // 12th May 1959
    Ving Rhames was born on May 12, 1959 with the name Irving Rameses Rhames in Harlem, New York City. The star’s mother, Reather, was a homemaker and father, Ernest, was an auto mechanic. Irving was named after the NBC journalist Irving R. Levine.
  • // 1986 To 1989
    In 1986, he moved to the big screen and was cast as ‘Jack’ in ‘Native Son’. After a few years, in 1989, he appeared in ‘Brian de Palma Vietnam War saga Casualties of War’ and made a gradual rise afterward.
  • // 1993 To 1994
    In 1993, Rhames worked with Matt Dillon in ‘The Saint of Fort Washington’. The next year, in 1994, the star got considerable acclaim for his role as ‘Marsellus Wallace’ in ‘Pulp Fiction’. The Quentin Tarantino movie became a blockbuster.
  • // 1994 To 1999
    In the year 1994, Rhames married a woman named Valerie Scott. On February 9, 1999, Rhames and Scott divorced.
  • // 1997
    In 1997, he starred in ‘Con Air’, portraying the role of Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones. He also played the lead role in ‘Don King: Only in America’ the same year.
  • // 1997
    Ving Rhames performed in the 1997 TV movie ‘Don King: Only in America’ where he portrayed the main role of Don King. The movie, which tells the story of how King became a famous fight promoter and boxing manager, was a critical success.
  • // 1998
    In 1998, Ving Rhames received the ‘Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film’ for ‘Don King: Only in America’.
  • // 1999
    He made appearances in two movies, ‘Entrapment’ and ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ in 1999.
  • // 2000
    *In 2000, he reprised the role of Luther Stickell in ‘Mission: Impossible II’. The same year, he played Johnnie Cochran in the flick ‘American Tragedy’.
  • // 2000
    The following year, in 2000, the star married Deborah Reed. The couple has a son and a daughter. They also have a daughter Tiffany who was born from Reed's previous marriage.
  • // 2001
    He won “Special Mention” appreciation at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2001.
  • // 2004
    Ving Rhames played a burly cop in ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and fought cannibal zombie hordes in 2004.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, he was given a lead role in a new Kojak series which was aired on ITV4 in the UK and on the USA Network cable channel in America.
  • // 2006
    In 2006, the imposing star again appeared in the third sequel of ‘Mission Impossible.’
  • // 2007
    Ving Rhames’ extraordinary comedy skills were seen in ‘I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry’ in 2007. In this comedy film, the actor played the role of a homosexual firefighter.
  • // 2008
    In 2008, Rhames portrayed the character of an ex-con in ‘Saving God’. This film highlights the story of a con who after his release from the prison changes completely and takes over his father's old church.
  • // 2009
    In 2009, Rhames again flexed his comedy muscles in ‘The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard’. The following year, he changed genres and did a horror movie in Alexandre Aja's remake ‘Piranha 3D’.
  • // 2011
    In 2011, he was cast in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ for a cameo appearance.
  • // 2015
    In 2015, he played a major role in the Mission Impossible series’ fifth installment, ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’. The same year, he did a series of advertisements for Arby's and The ADT Corporation.

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Ving Rhames's FAQ

  • What is Ving Rhames birthday?

    Ving Rhames was born at 1959-05-12

  • Where is Ving Rhames's birth place?

    Ving Rhames was born in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States

  • What is Ving Rhames nationalities?

    Ving Rhames's nationalities is American

  • Who is Ving Rhames spouses?

    Ving Rhames's spouses is Deborah Reed (m. 2000), Valerie Scott (m. 1994–1999)

  • Who is Ving Rhames childrens?

    Ving Rhames's childrens is Freedom Rhames, Reign Beau Rhames

  • What was Ving Rhames universities?

    Ving Rhames studied at Juilliard School

  • What was Ving Rhames notable alumnis?

    Ving Rhames's notable alumnis is Juilliard School

  • How tall is Ving Rhames?

    Ving Rhames's height is 183

  • Who is Ving Rhames's father?

    Ving Rhames's father is Ernest Rhames

  • Who is Ving Rhames's mother?

    Ving Rhames's mother is Reather

  • What is Ving Rhames's sun sign?

    Ving Rhames is Taurus

  • How famous is Ving Rhames?

    Ving Rhames is famouse as Actor