Anthony Anderson

Anthony Alvin Anderson (born August 15, 1970) is an American comedian and actor.

Anderson was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in nearby Compton, California, the son of Doris, a telephone operator and actress; his stepfather, Sterling Bowman, owns a chain of clothing stores.[1] Anderson is an alumnus of the Hollywood High School Performing Arts Center and Howard University. He trained with actors such as Avery Brooks, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.[2]

He first achieved recognition in the NBC television show Hang Time (1995–2000). He had a breakout role in 2000's Romeo Must Die. Since then, Anderson has starred in a number of films, including Exit Wounds, Barbershop, and Kangaroo Jack. In 2003, he got his own sitcom on The WB, All About the Andersons, co-starring John Amos. The series was cancelled after only one season. In March 2005, Anderson began co-starring in The Shield's fourth season as Antwon Mitchell, an ex-convict who poses as a community leader while still running his old street gang. His performance on The Shield earned him much acclaim from critics who had previously dismissed him as a light comedy actor, resulting in him returning to The Shield during the show's fifth and sixth seasons for a few episodes. Anderson also starred in the animated family film Hoodwinked, and had a supporting role in the Best Picture Academy Award-winning film The Departed.