Woodie King Jr.(1937-2026)

Actor
Producer
Director

A look at the development of film making and its contribution to the social and political times form the perspective of Black film makers.Candied interviews with some of the top Black Directors in the business, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, Robert Townsend, Bill Duke, Fred Williamson, Melvin Van Peebles and other industry leaders. Seven Lights Productions and Actor and film maker Lord Jamel Wade team up to produce this documentary which examines the art of Directing, the Black pioneers of film making, the industry in Hollywood, the digital technology and President Barack Obama.

Play trailer1:57

Directors on Directing (2009)

Woodie King Jr. was born on 27 July 1937 in Bladon Springs, Alabama, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Serpico (1973), Men in Black 3 (2012) and The Long Night (1976). He was married to Willie Mae Washington and Elizabeth Van Dyke. He died on 29 January 2026 in New York City, New York, USA.

IMDbProStarmeter See rank

Known for

Serpico

7.7

Larry(as Woodie King)

1973

Men in Black 3

6.8

2012 MIB HQ Guard

2012

The Long Night

Steely

1976

Segregating the Greatest Generation

Producer

2006

Credits

IMDbPro

Actor

Staten Island Summer
5.6
- Mr. Stewart
- 2015
Unforgettable
6.8
TV Series
- Barry
- 2014
Men in Black 3
6.8
- 2012 MIB HQ Guard
- 2012
Treme
8.3
TV Series
- 2011
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.1
TV Series
- Parking Attendant
- 2009
Law & Order
7.8
TV Series
- Clayton
- 1994
The Long Night
- Steely
- 1976
Serpico
7.7
- Larry (as Woodie King)
- 1973
Together for Days
6.7
- Jerry
- 1972
N.Y.P.D.
7.4
TV Series
- Lewis (as Woodie King)
- 1968
NET Playhouse
6.6
TV Series
- Slave (as Woodie King)
- 1967
Sweet Love, Bitter
6.7
- (as Woody King Jr.)
- 1967

Producer

King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story
- executive producer
- 2018
Death of a Prophet
TV Movie
- producer
- 2017
The Minority
7.7
- associate producer
- 2006
Segregating the Greatest Generation
- executive producer
- 2006
Love to All, Lorraine
TV Movie
- producer
- 1983
Death of a Prophet
4.4
TV Movie
- producer
- 1981
Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement
8.5
- producer
- 1978
The Long Night
- producer
- 1976
A Year at the Top
6.9
TV Series
- producer
- 1975
Right on!
7.8
- producer
- 1970

Director

In Memoriam: Stars We Lost in 2026

We pay tribute to the stars we lost this year, including Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.

List

Videos1

Trailer 1:57

Directors On Directing

Personal details

Official site
- New Federal Theatre (New York City)
Alternative names
- Woody King Jr.
Born
- July 27, 1937
- Bladon Springs, Alabama, USA
Died
- January 29, 2026
- New York City, New York, USA(Complications from emergency heart surgery)
Spouses
Other works
He directed Athol Fugard's play, "Boesman and Lena," at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Cast and crew also included Tarzana Beverly, Robert Curry, and Robert Christen (lighting designer).

Did you know

Trivia
He was nominated for a 1986 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Boesman and Lena" at the Northlight Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.