Quick Facts
Biography
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (born September 22, 1971) is an American character actor who has appeared in films, television series and theatre. He portrayed D'Angelo Barksdale on the HBO drama series The Wire, a role which earned him much critical acclaim. He is also known for his role as Bob Stookey in the AMC horror drama The Walking Dead. He will star in HBO's The Deuce.
Early life and education
Gilliard was born in New York City. He and his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland when he was 7. Gilliard studied classical music at Baltimore School for the Arts along with Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur but decided to pursue acting instead. He made his film debut as the lead in the independent film Straight Out of Brooklyn (1991). He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Acting Studio-New York (formerly Inc.), and the Stella Adler Conservatory.
Career
Often cast as a hoodlum, Gilliard has appeared on numerous television crime dramas such as Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Street, The Wire, New York Undercover, and CSI: NY. Film roles include: a love-struck ghetto teen in LottoLand (1995), an earnest college football player in The Waterboy (1998), and a member of the Dead Rabbits in Gangs of New York (2002).
Gilliard is also a stage actor. He received positive reviews for his role of Booth in a production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Topdog/Underdog.
He joined The Walking Dead cast as a regular, playing Bob Stookey, as of season 4, appearing in thirteen episodes up until his character's death in the fifth season's third episode.
Personal life
He is married to Michelle Paress, who joined the cast of The Wire in its fifth season.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Straight Out of Brooklyn | Dennis Brown | |
| 1993 | Fly By Night | Jed Lyte | |
| The Pickle | Boy Who Stopped | ||
| 1995 | Lotto Land | Hank | |
| Money Train | Hood | ||
| 1996 | Trees Lounge | James | |
| The Associate | Thomas, Plaza Bellhop | ||
| 1997 | White Lies | Leon Turner / Leon Chame | |
| 1998 | A Soldier's Sweetheart | Shoeshine | |
| The Substitute 2: School's Out | Dontae | Direct to video | |
| Next Stop Wonderland | Brett | ||
| One Tough Cop | Curtis Wilkins | ||
| The Waterboy | Derek Wallace | ||
| 1999 | Simply Irresistible | Nolan Traynor | |
| Loving Jezebel | Walter | ||
| 2000 | Cecil B. DeMented | Lewis | |
| 2001 | Home Invaders | ||
| Trigger Happy | Ray | ||
| 2002 | Gangs of New York | Jimmy Spoils | |
| 2003 | Kill the Poor | Spike | |
| 2004 | Brother to Brother | Marcus | |
| The Machinist | Jackson | ||
| Woman Hollering Creek | Melvin | Short | |
| 2008 | Turnipseed | Johnny Turnipseed | |
| The Highs & Lows of Milo Brown | Elliot | Short | |
| 2011 | The Double | Agent Burton | |
| 2012 | Junior | Det. Daniel Abrams Sr. | Short |
| The Wire: The Musical | D'Angelo Barksdale | Short | |
| The Trial of Ben Barry | June | Short | |
| Would You Rather | Dr. Barden | ||
| 2013 | Turnipseed: Second Chance | John Turnipseed | |
| 2014 | Walk of Shame |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | In the Line of Duty: Street War | Will | TV movie |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street | William Lyness | Episode: "A Dog and a Pony Show" |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | Episode: "Girlfriend" | ||
| Survive the Night | TV movie | ||
| 1993–94 | George | Lathan Basmore | 9 episodes |
| 1994 | New York Undercover | Quentin | Episode: "After Shakespeare" |
| 1995 | Inflammable | Wesley Raines | TV movie |
| 2000 | Sally Hemings: An American Scandal | Henry Jackson | TV movie |
| 2002 | Less than Perfect | Chester | Episode: "Kip Steadman's Guide to Dating" |
| 2002–03 | The Wire | D'Angelo Barksdale | 18 episodes |
| 2004 | The Jury | Corey Hamilton | Episode: "The Boxer" |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Officer Omar Lilly | Episode: "Crime and Misdemeanor" |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Eddie Roberts | Episode: "Acts of Contrition" | |
| 2006 | Numb3rs | Amos Shabaz | Episode: "Waste Not" |
| 2008 | Fear Itself | James | Episode: "Spooked" |
| 2009 | The Beast | Nick / Raymond Beaumont | 10 episodes |
| Trauma | Duke | Episode: "Blue Balloon" | |
| 2010 | Friday Night Lights | Elden | Episode: "The Lights in Carroll Park" |
| The Boondocks | 2nd Prisoner | Episode: "A Date with the Booty Warrior" | |
| Detroit 1-8-7 | Lefty Reed | Episode: "Déjà Vu/All In" | |
| Lie to Me | Marcus Weaver | Episode: "Smoked" | |
| 2011 | Partners | Dr. J | TV movie |
| 2012 | Southland | John's Sponsor | 2 episodes |
| Army Wives | Marcus Williams | 7 episodes | |
| 2013 | Longmire | Burke | Episode: "Unquiet Mind" |
| 2013–2015, 2016 | The Walking Dead | Bob Stookey | 17 episodes |
| 2015 | Graceland | Deputy Agent Sean Logan | 6 episodes |
| Elementary | Dr. Dwyer Kirk | Episode: "The Eternity Injection" | |
| The Good Wife | Ken Boxer Jr. | Episode: "Winning Ugly" | |
| 2017 | The Deuce | Chris Alston | 8 episodes |