The Next Denzel

Ebony, Sept, 2000

Rising stars are positioned for superstardom

FOR a long time, there was only Sidney Poitier. Strong, dignified and sexy. Then came box-office hunks like Richard Roundtree and Denzel Washington, showing the diversity, wide-ranging talents and allure of Black men. Now all of a sudden, the list of talented and sexy Black male performers has broadened dramatically with a new and diverse group of rising stars who excel on the stage, and on the big screen and television. And they are poised to make that major leap to the pinnacle of celebrity.

Their talents, styles and physical make-up are so wide-ranging that they defy and shatter age-old stereotypes about sexiness and masculinity. They all have that elusive intangible called presence, and they are getting major roles long denied many of their predecessors.

Unlike some of their predecessors, they're taking on roles not specifically written for Black performers, and they are making the best of opportunities that are exposing them to fans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. As a result, they're getting rave reviews as they entertain and excite.

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Brian Stokes Mitchell first turned heads as the intern "Jackpot" Jackson on the CBS medical drama Trapper John, M.D. in the 1980s. He also was featured in The Prince of Egypt, Too Rich and the television movie Double Platinum with Brandy and Diana Ross.

But, the lifelong singer has had his greatest successes on the performing stage. Mitchell was the 2000 Tony Award winner for best actor in a musical for his performance in the revival of Kiss Me Kate. He previously performed in the hits Ragtime (which also garnered him a Tony nomination), Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Jelly's Last Jam and Do Re Mi. Mitchell, who has been a musician since age 6, has contributed musically to 10 CDs and recently produced and arranged his first solo album.

Omar Epps

OMAR EPPS is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after and recognizable actors in Hollywood. He recently received rave reviews for his performance in Love and Basketball, a box-office success about roundball adversaries (he and Sanaa Lathan) who grow up as best friends and become lovers.

Epps also received positive reviews for his role as a narcotics officer in In Too Deep. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Epps attended the world-renowned High School of Performing Arts and made his feature film debut in Ernest Dickerson's Juice. Other screen credits include The Wood, Higher Learning, The Mod Squad, Scream 2, The Program, Major League 2 and Daybreak.

The superbusy actor also tackled the small screen as the struggling surgical resident Dr. Dennis Gant on NBC's megahit drama ER. He also was in the HBO films First-Time Felon and Deadly Voyage.

Henry Simmons

HENRY SIMMONS created the kind of stir rarely seen on the small screen when he made his debut last winter on the ABC drama NYPD Blue. Simmons immediately became the subject of national water-cooler conversations right after his first night on the police drama. That's because, as Detective Baldwin Jones, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound actor stripped to the waist and revealed a torso right out of Greek mythology.

A native of Stamford, Conn., Simmons earned a business degree while playing college basketball. He was all set to accept a position at a Fortune 500 company when he decided to give acting a try. His twin sister, a casting director, encouraged and accompanied him to auditions. He landed a cameo in the movie Above the Rim.

After several theater roles, Simmons landed on the NBC soap Another World. Other television credits include New York Undercover, The Cosby Mysteries, Saturday Night Live and Swift Justice. NYPD Blue is already a major hit, but officials say the addition of Simmons (he replaced Jimmy Smits) has been a major bonus. He has become a sex symbol to women of all races in near-record time.

Terrence Howard

TERRENCE HOWARD has had quite a few dramatic roles in his successful movie career. But, he demonstrated his effortless, scene-stealing comic abilities as Quentin, the lovable, but totally jaded musician in The Best Man. He stood out in the ensemble cast for his wicked grin and humorous, sarcastic remarks. He recently co-starred with Martin Lawrence in the box-office hit Big Momma's House.

On television, he played boxing champ Muhammad Ali in the ABC movie The Muhammad Ali Story. His other big-screen credits include Dead Presidents, Mr. Holland's Opus, Johns, Sunset Park, The Player's Club, Double Tap and Butter. He soon will be seen in Furthest From the Sun with Woody Harrelson and Harlem Aria with Damon Wayans.

Howard, who was a central figure in the TV show Sparks, has appeared in about as many television programs as he has feature films, including New York Undercover, Picket Fences, Living Single, Family Matters, Cosby and Law & Order.

Michael Jai White

MICHAEL JAI WHITE IS another actor who has shown movie and television viewers a wide range of acting skills. In the HBO film Tyson, he starred as heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson. He also appeared in the Jerry Springer film Ringmaster, Cadillac Man, True Identity and Universal Soldier. Like some of his contemporaries, he also tackled the soaps for a while. He had a recurring role on Loving and All My Children. His television credits include parts in Martin, Living Single and Law & Order. White also took on the challenging role of Tom Robinson in a stage version of To Kill a Mockingbird.