James R. Black


James Richard Black is an American actor and former professional football player.

Early life

Black was born in Lima, Ohio. He attended Dover High School in Dover, OH where he was a star athlete. He played college football at the University of Akron and graduated with a bachelor's degree in music.

Career

Athletics

In college Black was a standout tailback at the University of Akron, once setting an NCAA record for 52 carries in one game.
He joined the NFL's Cleveland Browns as a running back. His NFL career was short-lived, however, and he eventually pursued a career as an actor.

Acting

Black may be best known for his leading role as Agent Michael Hailey on the UPN science fiction drama The Burning Zone. He has also had roles in numerous other television series and films. His television appearances include V.I.P., Fashion House, Anger Management, All of Us, ', Strong Medicine, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Six Feet Under, Burn Notice and '
In motion pictures, he had the leading role of Victor Erickson in the 1998 direct-to-video film Cappuccino, the screenplay of which was based upon a story by author Eric Jerome Dickey. Black has also appeared in The Replacements, Out of Sight, Love and a Bullet, and '. He portrayed boxer Earnie Shavers in the HBO TV movie '.