Jeffrey Wright: 4 surprising things you should know about the actor
Today is Jeffrey Wright’s birthday, and I bet you will like to know more about one of our favorite Westworld hosts.
The cast of Westworld may be holding up in the Mariposa Saloon waiting for the wild fires of California to calm down. But I’m sure they are busy taking swigs of the saloons finest hooch in honor of Jeffrey Wright’s birthday.
Jeffrey Wright may have played the head of Westworld’s programming division as Bernard Lowe, but it turns out he’s quite accomplished in Hollywood and his personal life. Here’s a few fun facts about our favorite host in Westworld.
1. Where did Jeffrey Wright go to school?
Jeffrey Wright received a degree in political science from Amherst College in Massachusetts with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. He ended up getting the acting bug, and after two months studying at New York University, Wright dropped out to become a full-time actor.
2. Jeffrey Wright had a strong career on stage
Before we knew him as the inquisitive and perplexing Bernard in Westworld, Wright appeared in several on and off-Broadway productions, such as A Midsummer’s Night Dreams and Blood Knot. But it was his performance in Angels in America that started to make people take notice of his acting chops. His portrayal of gay nurse Norman “Belize” Arriaga garnered him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
3. What was his first movie role?
Jeffrey Wright as Beetee
While showing off his acting skills on stage, he managed to become a lawyer after all. At least he got to play one on the big screen. His breakout role was in the 1990 movie, Presumed Innocent, where he played a prosecuting attorney. Even better, he got to act alongside well-known Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.
4. Wright is a long time activist
When Wright is not in front of the Hollywood lights, he’s busy trying to solve one of the world’s biggest issues: conflict-free mining. His organization, Taia Lion Resources, aims to find a better way to mine resources in Sierra Leone.
Happy Birthday, Jeffrey Wright. We’ll see you in Spring 2018 in Season 2 of Westworld.