Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956, in Washington, D.C.) is a prolific American actor whose career spans over four decades and nearly 300 screen credits, making him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors. He first gained prominence in the 1990s with memorable roles in culturally significant films such as Menace II Society (1993) and Dead Presidents (1995), and crossed into mainstream success with his work in Why Do Fools Fall in Love and the blockbuster buddy comedy Rush Hour (both 1998). Powell’s nuanced turn as Jeff Brown in the acclaimed Ray Charles biopic Ray (2004) earned him a NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor and additional ensemble recognition, while his performance in Civil Brand won him Best Performance by an Actor at the American Black Film Festival in 2002.

Throughout the 2000s he continued to balance dramatic and comedic work—including Next Friday (2000) and Friday After Next (2002), the modern gospel drama The Gospel (2005), Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004), and Norbit (2007)—and he portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in the TV film Selma, Lord, Selma (1999). On television, Powell has had recurring roles on Roc, South Central, and Army Wives, guest‑starred on series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and House, and, more recently, appeared in Peacock’s Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and had a guest arc on High Potential (2024–25). In film work from 2023–25 he’s been featured in titles including The In‑Law Gang (2023), Trap City (2024) — which became a STARZ streaming hit — and 2025 releases Bid for Love 2 and Return of the Mack. Powell’s late‑career momentum reflects his enduring versatility across genres while continuing to garner respect for his contributions to Black cinema and television.