Veteran actor Glynn Turman received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in July 2025, recognizing his extraordinary six-decade career that began at age 12 with his Broadway debut in “A Raisin in the Sun.” Known for memorable roles including Mayor Clarence Royce in HBO’s “The Wire,” Colonel Bradford Taylor in “A Different World,” and recent appearances in “Black Cake” and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” Turman has earned three NAACP Image Awards and a Primetime Emmy. His extensive contributions reveal an even richer legacy.
After more than six decades in the entertainment industry, Emmy Award-winning actor Glynn Turman received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star during a ceremony held in July 2025 on Hollywood Boulevard. The recognition acknowledged Turman’s extensive contributions across film, television, stage, and community service, cementing his status as a cultural icon and pioneering Black performer.
Turman’s career began at age 12 when he made his professional debut in Broadway’s original production of “A Raisin in the Sun” in 1959, playing Sidney Poitier’s son in the landmark play. After graduating from New York’s High School of Performing Arts in 1965, he became known for roles in “Peyton Place” and “Cooley High” during the late 1960s and 1970s, establishing himself as a versatile actor working both stage and screen during a transformative era. Born in New York City, Turman shares maternal ancestry with the Edo people of Nigeria.
From Broadway debut at 12 to versatile screen performer, Turman built his foundation during entertainment’s most transformative decades.
Throughout his career, Turman portrayed memorable characters including Colonel Bradford Taylor in NBC’s “A Different World” from 1988 to 1993, Mayor Clarence Royce in HBO’s “The Wire,” and Doctor Senator in FX’s “Fargo.” His recent work includes appearances in “Black Cake” on Hulu and “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” on Disney+, alongside featured roles in Oscar-nominated films “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Rustin.”
The actor’s achievements include a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work in HBO’s “In Treatment,” three NAACP Image Awards, and a Dramalogue Award for stage performance excellence. In 2011, he was inducted into the Western Heritage Multi-Cultural Museum’s Hall of Fame. His diverse talents have encompassed acting, producing, directing, and music throughout his decades-long career.
Beyond acting, Turman has directed episodes of series including “A Different World,” “The Parent ‘Hood,” and “House of Lies” while serving as executive producer for projects such as “King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story” through his production company, Backyard Ventures, Inc.
Turman co-founded “Camp Gid D Up” in 1992, a summer camp for at-risk and inner-city youth, demonstrating his commitment to community service. An accomplished horseman competing on the Black cowboy circuit for over three decades, he won the 1999 Regional Team Roping Finals.
