Wendell Pierce Biography

Born and raised in the Pontchartrain Park neighborhood of New Orleans to a teacher and a World War II veteran, Wendell Pierce found his love for performance early. He trained at Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, graduating as a Presidential Scholar in 1981. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Juilliard’s Drama Division in 1985.

Pierce began his career onstage and in minor roles before breakthrough came as Detective William "Bunk" Moreland on HBO's The Wire (2002–2008). His charismatic portrayal of the quick-witted homicide detective earned him widespread acclaim and solidified his reputation.

He continued to highlight his New Orleans roots in Treme (2010–2013), playing trombonist Antoine Batiste in a critically praised ensemble. His versatility shone through roles such as attorney Robert Zane on Suits (2013–2019) and James Greer in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018–2023). He also appeared in notable films, including Malcolm X (1992), Ray (2004), Selma (2014), and the indie features Four (2004) and Burning Cane (2019), earning Independent Spirit Award nominations.

Pierce is esteemed in theater too—he produced the Tony-winning Clybourne Park (2012) and portrayed Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman on both West End London and Broadway (2019, 2022–2023), garnering Olivier and Tony nominations. In 2024 he began starring as Captain C.W. Wagner on the CBS TV series Elsbeth. He also plays Percy White in the summer blockbuster Superman (2025).

Off-screen, he remains committed to New Orleans, having helped rebuild his Pontchartrain Park neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina. He also launched a community development non-profit focused on sustainable housing.

Filmography:

Superman (2025)
Thunderbolts (2025)
Don't Hang Up (2022)
Clemency (2019)
Burning Cane (2019)
Bad Moms (2016)
The Gift (2015)
Selma (2014)
Ray (2004)
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Malcolm X (1992)
The Money Pit (1986)