Who is Glynn Turman? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Glynn Russell Turman

Age: 77 Years, 77 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jo-Ann Allen (m. 1992), Aretha Franklin (m. 1978–1984), Ula M. Walker (m. 1965–1971)

Born Country: United States

Actors Directors

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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1

What movies has Glynn Turman starred in?

Glynn Turman has starred in movies such as "Cooley High," "Gremlins," "Super 8," "Men of Honor," and "Burlesque."
2

Is Glynn Turman a director?

Yes, Glynn Turman has also worked as a director on various projects in addition to his acting career.
3

What TV shows has Glynn Turman appeared in?

Glynn Turman has appeared in TV shows like "The Wire," "A Different World," "House of Lies," "Queen Sugar," and "Fargo."
4

What is Glynn Turman's acting style?

Glynn Turman is known for his versatile acting style, being able to portray a wide range of characters with depth and authenticity.

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Childhood & Early Life

Glynn Russell Turman was born on January 31, 1947, in New York City, US, to parents of Nigerian descent. A DNA analysis traced Glynn’s roots back to the Edo community from Nigeria. Ever since he was a kid, he wanted to become an actor.

He began training in acting at an early age. He started doing stage productions and managed his academics simultaneously.

He finished his education from the ‘High School of Performing Arts’ in New York. Following his high-school graduation, he opted out of joining college. Instead, he focused on his stage-acting career, which was already moving at a fast pace.

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Career

One of Glynn’s first hits was the play titled ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ (1959). Lorraine Hansberry’s landmark play was a nationwide success and featured Glynn alongside esteemed actors such as Ruby Dee and Diana Sands. He was also offered the same role in the movie of the same name, but he refused it.

Following his high-school graduation, he worked with many regional and repertory theater companies. He was most successful with Tyrone Guthrie’s ‘Repertory Theatre’ in the late 1960s, appearing in plays such as ‘Good Boys,’ ‘The Visit,’ and ‘The House of Atreus.’

He moved to Los Angeles around the same time, with the play titled ‘Slow Dance on the Killing Ground.’ His work in the play titled ‘Eyes of the American’ earned him his career’s first ‘NAACP Image Award.’

He received a second ‘NAACP Image Award’ for directing the play titled ‘Deadwood Dick,’ which was performed at the ‘Inner City Cultural Center’ in Los Angeles.

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Film & Television Career

He made his screen-acting debut with a big project in 1968. He was signed to portray the supporting role of ‘Lew Miles’ in the soap opera titled ‘Peyton Place.’ He appeared in 37 episodes of the soap opera. It was a huge critical and commercial hit. However, prior to this, he had appeared in an episode of the series ‘Play of the Week’ (1961).

He appeared in guest roles in TV series such as ‘CBS Playhouse,’ ‘Men at Law,’ ‘Insight,’ and ‘Mod Squad.’

He also began his film career in 1971, when he appeared in a small role of a sailor in the romance–drama film ‘Honky.’ The film was a moderate critical and commercial success. The film fell under the category of “blaxploitation,” a sub-genre in which the lead characters were all black.

During the 1970s, black actors were usually cast as sidekicks or main villains. With more black talent emerging, the situation changed. Glynn was a key part of this movement, as he appeared in more such films in the early 1970s, such as ‘Five on the Black Hand Side’ and ‘Together Brothers.’

In 1975, Glynn appeared in the lead role in the comedy–drama film titled ‘Cooley High.’ The film was a huge critical and commercial success and turned out to be the most rewarding acting project of his career to date.

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He was then seen in one of the key roles in the film titled ‘The River Niger.’ The film was hailed both critically and commercially.

He mostly appeared in single-episode guest roles in series such as ‘The Blue Knight’ and ‘The Tony Randall Show,’ in the 1970s.

In the 1980s, too, he continued to appear in series, only playing guest roles while focusing more on his film career. He appeared in films such as ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Out of Bounds.’

In 1988, however, he received a huge TV break when he was cast as ‘Colonel Bradford Taylor,’ a main role in the sitcom titled ‘A Different World.’ The hugely successful series ran for six seasons, covering 144 episodes.

In the 1990s, he was seen playing key roles in films such as ‘Deep Cover’ and ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back.’ He was part of many feature films throughout the 1990s. Some of them were critically and commercially successful.

The year 2004 saw him appearing in the role of ‘Mayor Clarence Royce,’ a recurring character, in the crime–drama series titled ‘The Wire.’ The series became one of the most successful American series of the decade and brought several honors to Glynn, such as an ‘NAACP Image Award’ nomination for the ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role.’

In the more recent years, he has appeared in films such as ‘Bumblebee’ and ‘Race.’ He was also seen playing a supporting role in the series titled ‘House of Lies.’

Glynn has also donned the director’s hat more than a few times in his career. He has directed a few episodes of the series ‘The Wayans Bros’ and ‘A Different World.’

He has served as an executive producer for documentaries such as ‘The Robeson Effect’ and ‘King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story.’

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He wrote an episode of ‘Peyton Place.’

Family & Personal Life

Glynn Turman married Ula M. Walker in 1965. They divorced in 1971. They have three children.

He then married Aretha Franklin, a singer, in 1978. They divorced a few years later, in 1984.

He has been married to Jo Ann Allen since 1992.

Glynn’s oldest son, Glynn Turman Jr., was stabbed by Henry Eugene Montgomery in November 1986. Glynn Jr. died on the spot, and Henry was slightly wounded. Henry was later arrested and tried in court.

Facts About Glynn Turman

In addition to his acting talents, Turman is also a talented director, having directed episodes of popular TV series such as "A Different World" and "The Parent 'Hood."

Turman is known for his smooth baritone voice, which has lent itself well to his voiceover work in commercials and animated projects.

Outside of his work in entertainment, Turman is a passionate advocate for arts education in schools, believing in the power of creativity to inspire young minds.

Despite his many accolades and achievements, Turman remains a humble and down-to-earth individual, known for his graciousness towards fans and colleagues alike.

Glynn Turman Biography

You wanted to know

What movies has Glynn Turman starred in?

Is Glynn Turman a director?

What TV shows has Glynn Turman appeared in?

What is Glynn Turman's acting style?