Anyone from Cleveland understands who our national representatives are; Lebron James, Arsenio Hall, Steve Harvey, Halle Berry, and a host of others. But most people do not know that James Pickens Jr., who plays Dr. Richard Weaver, on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, is a shining example of consistency in Hollywood.
Pickens, a 1971 graduate of East High developed his acting skills at Cleveland’s Karamu House, after graduating from college at Bowling Green University. Pickens began his acting career by doing small roles in college really did not know what he wanted to do after returning to Cleveland.
“After I graduated from college I came back home to Cleveland, and I really did not know what I wanted to do. Acting was the farthest thing from my mind, but I had dabbled in it while in college.” Pickens continued, “But a college professor playwright of mine, Dr. John Scott, told me that I needed to check out Karamu, so I did.”
Scott suggested Karamu House because it was, and still is, one of the best places to learn how to act in the United States.
“I went to Karamu, and I liked it. I learned all kinds of things when I studied at Karamu, and I realized that this is something that I wanted to do.” Pickens said.
Pickens eventually went on to New York City and embarked on a 12-year career acting on stage in some of the biggest plays on Broadway.
“I had no intentions of leaving the stage. I am a stage actor, and it is still my first love, but when my agent went to Los Angeles for a job, I cautiously decided to join him and started to act in film and TV.” Pickens commented.
“I loved the stage, but the allure of Hollywood money made me want to take the risk. Hollywood and TV pay the bills, the state is for the soul.” Pickens commented.
After arriving in Hollywood Pickens acted in several films and TV shows before landing Grey’s Anatomy. For anyone paying close attention if you watch Dead President, a 1995 film about a group of military vets who decide to rob armored bank trucks, you will find Pickens playing the role as father to Lorenz Tate.
In 1986, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on “X-Files” as Deputy Director Kersh, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under. He also served a role in 42. In 1997, Pickens played the role of Stevens, head of NASA, in Disney’s comedy Rocket Man. In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film Red Dragon.
On February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of “The Gift of Peace” at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, he portrayed a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and played alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for the passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level “Department of Peace” in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two-percent diversion of the Pentagon’s annual budget.
Pickens had several roles like that until he auditioned for Grey’s Anatomy, a medical drama from, at the time, newcomer producer Shonda Rhymes. Pickens contributes to Rhymes’s ability to adapt to the ever-changing Hollywood appetite for the longevity of the series which is going into its 19th season this fall.
“Shonda’s vision and incredible writing have allowed the show to maintain it attractive for viewers,” Pickens said. “I also think the fact that they rebooted the show on the streaming services gave younger people a chance to see the show who were not around when we originally aired,” Pickens said.
The 19-year run for Grey’s Anatomy makes it TV’s longest-running TV medical drama lasting longer than ER and M.A.S.H. For Pickens, it is not just a chance to have the consistency of a long TV career, but he is one of the only Black actors above 50 on a major network right now. And he takes that responsibility very seriously.
“One of the things that I am most proud of is the fact that the show does an excellent job developing my character on the show. I feel like my character is fully developed and that keeps me engaged after 18 years on the show.” Pickens said.
When Pickens is not acting, he is busy helping his wife and mother-in-law run their family restaurant, The Black Bottom Café. Pickens married Gina Taylor, a former member of Musique, on May 27, 1984, and has two children.
“My wife saw that there is a problem in the Black community with obesity and wanted to do something about it.” Pickens continued. “So, we decided to start a restaurant that offers calorie-controls options that also were very good in taste.”
The Healthy concept restaurant, mostly developed from original recipes, introduced the North L.A. area to a great concept of healthy foods. The restaurant tries to address the salt and sugar in foods that Black tends to be drawn to by reducing those ingredients in their offerings at the restaurant.
The Black Bottom Café has gotten rave reviews and continues to maintain a decent number of customers today.
The future for Pickens looks bright after having announced a new production company with Morgan Freeman starting at the end of 2022.
“We are very excited about our recent partnership with Amazon, and we are beginning to put together some options for our first production,” Pickens said.
Who knows what will happen after Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season this fall? But, whatever happens, Pickens consistency is a shining example of what happens when you follow your dreams, you do not take anything for granted, and you stop and make sure to celebrate wins. Pickens’s family is proud of everything he has accomplished, and Cleveland is too.
