Duke was born William Henry Duke, Jr. in Poughkeepsie, New York, the son of Ethel Louise (née Douglas) and William Henry Duke, Sr. He received his first instruction in the performing arts at Boston University. After studying at New York University's Tisch School of Arts and the AFI Conservatory, he appeared on Broadway in the 1971 Melvin Van Peebles musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. Read more...

Standing an imposing 6'4 and featuring a closely shaved head, Duke first became a familiar face to moviegoers in Car Wash (1976) where he portrayed fierce young Black Muslim revolutionary Abdullah Mohammed Akbar (formerly known as Duane), and expanded his repertoire with American Gigolo (1980).

As the action-film oriented genre became more popular, Duke's presence was perfect to portray a Read more...

Bill Duke (born February 26, 1943) is an American actor and film director.