James Pickens, Jr. was born on October 26, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio. He started acting in college at Bowling Green State University and received his BA in fine arts. He began acting at the Roundabout Theatre in New York, then continued on in 1981 with the Negro Ensemble Company in "A Soldiers Play" alongside Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. He moved to L.A. to further his career and began on soap opera "Another World" where he worked from 1986-1990 as well as many other minor roles and guest appearances on shows. In February of 2007, he did an all-star benefit reading of "the Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud House. the play is an appeal and fundraiser for the passage of U.S. House of Resolution 808 - which seeks fo the passage of "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government.

He is married to Gina and has two children- Carl Tharps and Gavyn Picken who both have interests in show business. His son Carl is a hip hop dancer who was once featured in "Hangin with Mr. Cooper." James enjoys horseback riding and roping cattle. He is a member of the U.S. Team Roping Championship and competes in roping. He owns an American Quarter Horse named "Smokey."

Filmography

1. "Grey's Anatomy" .... Dr. Richard Webber (2005-present)   
2. Ball Don't Lie (2008) .... Roberto
3. "Private Practice" .... Dr. Richard Webber (1 episode, 2007)
       - In Which We Meet Addison, a Nice Girl from Somewhere Else (2007) TV episode .... Dr. Richard Webber
4. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" .... Doctor (2 episodes, 2005)
       - The Ski Lift (2005) TV episode .... Doctor
       - The Smoking Jacket (2005) TV episode .... Doctor
5. Venom (2005) .... Sheriff
6. The X Files: Resist or Serve (2004) (VG) (voice) .... Alvin Kersh
7. "Jack & Bobby" .... Marucs Ride (1 episode, 2004)
       - Pilot (2004) TV episode (uncredited) .... Marucs Ride
8. "The West Wing" .... Mayor (1 episode, 2004)
       - Full Disclosure (2004) TV episode .... Mayor
9. "Line of Fire" .... Kenneth Stevens (1 episode, 2004)
       - The Senator (2004) TV episode .... Kenneth Stevens
10. "The Lyon's Den" .... Terrance Christianson (3 episodes, 2003)
        - Hubris (2003) TV episode .... Terrance Christianson
        - Pilot (2003) TV episode .... Terrance Christianson
        - The Fifth (????) TV episode .... Terrance Christianson
11. "CSI: Miami" .... Prison Warden (1 episode, 2003)
        - Body Count (2003) TV episode .... Prison Warden
12. White Rush (2003) .... Denny
13. "Six Feet Under" .... Roderick Charles (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
        - Everyone Leaves (2003) TV episode .... Roderick Charles
        - The Liar and the Whore (2002) TV episode .... Roderick Charles
14. "Becker" .... Cliff / ... (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
        - But I've Got Friends I Haven't Used Yet (2003) TV episode .... Cliff
        - Blind Injustice (2002) TV episode .... Cliff Bennett
15. "MDs" .... Mr. Farrell (1 episode, 2002)
        - Cruel and Unusual (2002) TV episode .... Mr. Farrell
16. "Crossing Jordan" .... Agent Hawkins (1 episode, 2002)
        - Bombs Away (2002) TV episode .... Agent Hawkins
17. "Strong Medicine" .... Dr. Everett Sloane (1 episode, 2002)
        - Outcomes (2002) TV episode .... Dr. Everett Sloane
18. "The X Files" .... FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh / ... (19 episodes, 1998-2002)
    ... aka The X-Files (USA)
        - The Truth (2002) TV episode .... Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
        - Providence (2002) TV episode .... FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
        - Provenance (2002) TV episode .... FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
        - John Doe (2002) TV episode .... FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
        - Nothing Important Happened Today II (2001) TV episode .... FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
          (14 more)
19. "Philly" .... Clyde Coleman (7 episodes, 2001-2002)
        - Thanks for the Mammaries (2002) TV episode .... Clyde Coleman
        - San Diego Padre (2002) TV episode .... Clyde Coleman
        - Lies of Minelli (2002) TV episode .... Clyde Coleman
        - Live and Leg Die (2001) TV episode .... Clyde Coleman
        - Blown Away (2001) TV episode .... Clyde Coleman
          (2 more)
20. Home Room (2002) .... Principal Robbins
21. Semper Fi (2001) (TV) (uncredited) .... Mr. Maddox
22. Traffic (2000) .... Ben Williams
    ... aka Traffic - Die Macht des Kartells (Germany)
23. "The Practice" .... Detective Mike McKrew (15 episodes, 1997-2000)
        - Friends and Ex-Lovers (2000) TV episode .... Detective Mike McKrew
        - Black Widows (2000) TV episode .... Detective Mike McKrew
        - Checkmates (2000) TV episode .... Detective Mike McKrew
        - Loser's Keepers (1999) TV episode .... Detective Mike McKrew
        - End Games (1999) TV episode .... Detective Mike McKrew
          (10 more)
24. "Family Law" (1 episode, 2000)
        - Family Values (2000) TV episode
25. "The District" .... Mr. Lane (1 episode, 2000)
        - The Real Terrorist (2000) TV episode .... Mr. Lane
26. "Daddio" .... Doug Grayson (1 episode, 2000)
        - The Premium Also Rises (2000) TV episode .... Doug Grayson
27. "City of Angels" .... Wilson Patterson (3 episodes, 2000)
        - Deliver the Male (2000) TV episode .... Wilson Patterson
        - Assume the Position (2000) TV episode .... Wilson Patterson
        - The Prince and the Porker (2000) TV episode .... Wilson Patterson
28. "NYPD Blue" .... Lt. Joe Abner / ... (4 episodes, 1993-2000)
        - Little Abner (2000) TV episode .... Lt. Joe Abner
        - Jackass (2000) TV episode .... Lt. Joe Abner
        - Along Came Jones (2000) TV episode .... Lt. Joe Abner
        - Personal Foul (1993) TV episode .... Nathan Foster
29. "Any Day Now" .... Judge Lucius Pearl (3 episodes, 1998-2000)
        - Pay Your Dues (2000) TV episode .... Judge Lucius Pearl
        - A Parent's Job (1999) TV episode .... Judge Lucius Pearl
        - Huh? (1998) TV episode .... Judge Lucius Pearl
30. Liberty Heights (1999) .... Sylvia's Father
31. "JAG" .... Cmdr. Wallace Burke / ... (2 episodes, 1999)
        - Rogue (1999) TV episode .... Cmdr. Wallace Burke
        - The Return (1999) TV episode .... Commander Burke
32. A Slight Case of Murder (1999) (TV) .... Det. Larry Gray
    ... aka A Travesty
33. "Vengeance Unlimited" .... Mr. Hobbs (1 episode, 1999)
    ... aka Mr. Chapel
        - Friends (1999) TV episode .... Mr. Hobbs
34. Little Girl Fly Away (1998) (TV) .... Detective Walter Engelhart
    ... aka The Poet (USA)
35. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) .... Walter Payne
36. Bulworth (1998) .... Uncle David
37. "Seinfeld" .... Det. Hudson (1 episode, 1998)
        - The Finale: Part 1 (1998) TV episode .... Det. Hudson
38. "Brooklyn South" .... Detective (5 episodes, 1997-1998)
        - Skel in a Cell (1998) TV episode .... Detective
        - Violet Inviolate (1998) TV episode .... Detective
        - Touched by a Checkered Cab (1997) TV episode .... Detective
        - Life Under Castro (1997) TV episode
        - Pilot (1997) TV episode .... Detective
39. "The Pretender" .... Clark Thomas (1 episode, 1998)
        - Crash (1998) TV episode .... Clark Thomas
40. Sphere (1998) .... O.S.S.A. Instructor
41. RocketMan (1997) .... Ben Stevens
42. "Walker, Texas Ranger" .... Staff Sergeant Luther Parrish (1 episode, 1997)
    ... aka Walker (Australia)
        - The Fighting McLains (1997) TV episode .... Staff Sergeant Luther Parrish
43. "Pacific Palisades" .... Josh Smith (1 episode, 1997)
        - Past & Present Danger (1997) TV episode .... Josh Smith
44. "Something So Right" .... Jim (5 episodes, 1996-1997)
        - Something About How Jack and Carly Met (1997) TV episode .... Jim
        - Something About Reverse Psychology (1997) TV episode .... Jim
        - Something About Schmoozing (1996) TV episode .... Jim
        - Something About Seared Ahi (1996) TV episode .... Jim
        - Something About Jack's Ex (1996) TV episode .... Jim
45. Gridlock'd (1997) .... Supervisor
46. "Dangerous Minds" .... Coach Butch Kelly (1 episode, 1996)
        - Moonstruck (1996) TV episode .... Coach Butch Kelly
47. Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) .... Medgar Evers
    ... aka Ghosts from the Past (UK)
48. The Uninvited (1996) (TV)
    ... aka Victim of the Haunt (Australia: video title)
49. Sleepers (1996) .... Marlboro
50. "Roseanne" .... Chuck Mitchell / ... (19 episodes, 1990-1996)    -
51. "One West Waikiki" (1 episode, 1996)
        - Allergic to Golf (1996) TV episode
52. Power 98 (1996) .... Det. Wilkinson
53. "The Lazarus Man" (1 episode, 1996)
        - The Conspirator (1996) TV episode
54. "In the House" .... Russell (1 episode, 1996)
        - My Crazy Valentine (1996) TV episode .... Russell
55. Bloodhounds (1996) (TV) .... Agent John DeGraf
56. Nixon (1995) (as James Pickens) .... Black Orator
57. "Touched by an Angel" .... George (1 episode, 1995)
        - The Driver (1995) TV episode .... George
58. Trial by Fire (1995) (TV)
59. Dead Presidents (1995) .... Mr. Curtis
60. Sharon's Secret (1995) (TV) .... Ashmore
61. Lily in Winter (1994) (TV) .... Chick
62. A Child's Cry for Help (1994) (TV) .... Brad Currie
63. "Me and the Boys" .... Coach (1 episode, 1994)
        - Black Dads Can't Jump (1994) TV episode .... Coach
64. Sodbusters (1994) (TV) .... Isaac
65. Jimmy Hollywood (1994) .... Cook
66. "Coach" .... Rick Williams (1 episode, 1994)
        - Blue Chip Blues (1994) TV episode .... Rick Williams
67. "Renegade" (1 episode, 1994)
        - Hostage (1994) TV episode
68. Hostile Intentions (1994) .... Capt. Connor
69. Menace II Society (1993) .... Man
70. "Murder, She Wrote" .... Sonny Greene (1 episode, 1993)
        - The Survivor (1993) TV episode .... Sonny Greene
71. Boiling Point (1993/I) .... Prison Officer
    ... aka Extrême limite, L' (France)
72. "Doogie Howser, M.D." (1 episode, 1992)
        - Roommate with a View (1992) TV episode
73. Trespass (1992) .... Police Officer Reese
    ... aka Looters
74. "L.A. Law" .... Joseph Russell (1 episode, 1992)
        - Zo Long (1992) TV episode .... Joseph Russell
75. Exclusive (1992) (TV) .... Jonathan Heglin
76. "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" .... Fred (1 episode, 1992)
    ... aka Parker Lewis (USA: new title)
        - Hungry Heart (1992) TV episode .... Fred
77. "Beverly Hills, 90210" .... Henry Thomas (11 episodes, 1991-1992)    -
78. "Blossom" .... Vinnie (1 episode, 1992)
        - The Letter (1992) TV episode .... Vinnie
79. Hotshot (1987) (as James Pickens)
    ... aka Rey del futbol, El (USA: Spanish title)
80. "Another World" (1964) TV series .... Zack Edwards (unknown episodes, 1986-1990)
    ... aka Another World: Bay City
81. F/X (1986) .... Ambulance driver
    ... aka F/X - Murder by Illusion
    ... aka Murder by Illusion
    

information obtained from wikipedia.org, imdb.com