James Pickens Jr.

Pickens was born in Cleveland, Ohio and did not begin acting until he was a student at Bowling Green State University. His first acting role was in a campus production of Matters of Choice by Chuck Gordone. Pickens earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from BGSU in 1976.

Pickens started his acting career at the Roundabout Theatre in New York playing Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun. In 1981, Pickens performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's production of A Soldier's Play, starring alongside Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. In 1990, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under. In the February 28, 2007 all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which seeks to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget. In 2005, Pickens was chosen to play chief Richard Webber on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Pickens is married to Gina and has two children.

In his spare time Pickens can be found riding horseback and roping cattle. He is a member of the United States Team Roping Championship and competes in roping events across the country. He owns an American Quarter Horse named Smokey.

James' two children Carl Tharps, and Gavyn Picken are both pursuing careers in show business. His son Carl is currently working on a Hip- Hop career and can be seen in various television appearances, including "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" where he appeared alongside his long time friend Omar Gooding.