Perhaps best remembered for his touching performance as "Bubba" opposite Tom Hanks in the Academy Award-winning Forrest Gump (1994), Mykelti Williamson is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, steadily honing his craft since he began acting professionally at age 18. In 2000, Williamson starred as Lt. Philip Gerard, the hardnosed detective determined to recapture escaped convict Dr. Richard Kimble (Tim Daly) in CBS's update of the classic 1960s action series The Fugitive (2000). The son of an Air Force Staff Sergeant and a certified public accountant, Williamson was born in St. Louis, MO, and began performing on stage at age 9. Like many youngsters, he was enamored with television and initially thought small-screen images were reality. It was not until his mother put him in a church play that he realized the actors were performing. He was hooked instantly. At age 15, Williamson and his family settled in Los Angeles. A superb athlete, he excelled at football and basketball, but the acting bug led him to leave team sports and dance with the cheerleading squad, much to the chagrin of his coaches.
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