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Actor
Clarke Peters
Active American & British Cinema, Television, and Broadway / West End Theater
- FromNew York City, New York, United States
- Based inLondon, United Kingdom / Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Age74 years
- Active1970–Present
- Updated
Clarke Peters – Biography
Clarke Peters – Full Information
- Full Name: Peter Clarke
- Popular Name: Clarke Peters
- Nickname: Clarke
- Profession: Actor, Writer, Director, Singer
- Known For: Iconic lead performance as Detective Lester Freamon in The Wire, Albert “Big Chief” Lambreaux in Treme, Otis in Da 5 Bloods, and Harry in John Wick.
- Date of Birth: April 7, 1952
- Age: 74 years (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
- Hometown: Englewood, New Jersey, United States
- Nationality: American-British
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- Current Residence: London, England, United Kingdom & Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Profession Category: Actor / International Screen & Stage Legend
Physical Appearance
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) approx.
- Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs) approx.
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Grey / White
Family Member Name
- Father: Name Not Publicly Disclosed
- Mother: Name Not Publicly Disclosed
- Siblings: 3 Brothers
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Penny Peters
- Children: Joe Peters, Guppy Peters, Max Peters, China Peters (and late son Shadow Peters)
Education Details
- High School: Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, New Jersey
- Drama Training: The Shirley Clarke School of Acting, London
- Qualification: Professional Theater & Musical Performance Diploma
Career Highlight
| Year | Career Highlight |
| 1979 | West End musical stage debut appearing as Jud Fry in Oklahoma! |
| 1980 | Feature film debut as Bruno in the British sports film Silver Dream Racer |
| 1990 | Created and wrote the hit Olivier Award-winning West End musical Five Guys Named Moe |
| 1999 | Broadway debut starring as Billy Flynn in the smash-hit musical revival Chicago |
| 2002 | Landed defining television role as Detective Lester Freamon in HBO’s acclaimed series The Wire |
| 2009 | Starred as Nelson Mandela in the British political drama feature film Endgame |
| 2010 | Co-starred as Albert Big Chief Lambreaux in David Simon’s HBO series Treme |
| 2014 | Appeared as hotel manager Harry in the blockbuster action feature John Wick |
| 2017 | Featured as Abercrombie in the Oscar-winning feature Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri |
| 2020 | Critical acclaim starring as Otis in Spike Lee’s war drama feature Da 5 Bloods |
| 2021 | Starred as the Reverend in the BBC television miniseries Too Close |
| 2023 | Co-starred as Abbas Hardin in Apple TV+ sci-fi series Foundation |
Awards List
| Year | Award Name | Category | Film | Result |
| 1991 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Entertainment / Musical | Five Guys Named Moe | Nominated |
| 1992 | Tony Award | Best Book of a Musical | Five Guys Named Moe | Nominated |
| 2013 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Treme | Nominated |
| 2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Won |
| 2020 | Sunset Film Circle Awards | Best Actor | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated |
| 2021 | BAFTA Film Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated |
| 2021 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated |
| 2021 | Critics’ Choice Movie Awards | Best Ensemble | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated |
| 2021 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Da 5 Bloods | Nominated |
At a Glance
5
Awards
90
Popularity Score
90
Trending
Moderate
Controversy Index
95%
Profile Complete
Social Reach
About Clarke Peters
What is Clarke Peters' most famous television role?
He is most famous for playing Detective Lester Freamon in all five seasons of HBO's critically acclaimed crime drama series The Wire.
Did Clarke Peters write a famous West End musical?
Yes, he created and wrote the hit musical revue Five Guys Named Moe, which earned nominations for both a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.
What major film role did Clarke Peters play in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods?
He starred as Otis, one of four Black Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam, earning a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Is Clarke Peters American or British?
He was born in New York City, grew up in New Jersey, and later moved to London in the 1970s, holding dual American and British citizenship.
What major action franchise did Clarke Peters appear in?
He appeared in John Wick (2014) as Harry, the manager of the Continental Hotel's safehouse in New York City.
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