# Edwin Lee Gibson
**Edwin Lee Gibson** (born 1964) is an American actor, playwright, and director known for playing Ebraheim on the FX series *The Bear*, for his Obie Award-winning stage work, and for portraying the comedian and activist [Dick Gregory](https://www.edgepedia.org/dick-gregory) in the solo play *Turn Me Loose*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964, Houston, Texas[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/edwin-lee-gibson/) |
| Signature stage honor | 2006 Obie Award for Outstanding Performance for *The Seven* at New York Theatre Workshop[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2006-obie-award-winners-announced) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/) |
| Breakthrough television role | Ebraheim on *The Bear*; cast in October 2021, recurring in seasons 1 through 3 and a starring role in season 4[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/) • [5](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/) |
| Ensemble award | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 30th SAG Awards (February 2024), with his *The Bear* castmates[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/) |
| Notable stage role | Dick Gregory in Gretchen Law's *Turn Me Loose* at Arena Stage, Washington, DC, September 6 to October 21, 2018[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/) • [7](https://playbill.com/article/edwin-lee-gibson-led-turn-me-loose-extends-at-arena-stage) |
| Education | Mathematics and theater at Texas Southern University; MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen from Point Park University, 2016[5](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/) |
| Other screen roles | Lionel "Happy" Halloway in *Fargo* season 4, Bill Russell in *Winning Time*, Shotgun Jeff in *Fallout* season 2, Fox in *UnPrisoned*[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson) |
## Early life and stage career
Gibson grew up in the [South Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-park) neighborhood of Houston, Texas, and found acting at 16 through a school production of *The Wiz*[5](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/). He has said he started getting paid as an actor at 16, and that by 29 he realized "there was a bigger world," which began a peripatetic career taking him from New York to the United Kingdom, Pittsburgh, and Paris[9](https://lasentinel.net/edwin-lee-gibsons-journey-from-stage-to-fxs-the-bear.html). He studied mathematics and theater at [Texas Southern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/texas-southern-university), a small department he credits with giving students direct access to their instructors[5](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/) • [10](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-bears-edwin-gibson-is-honored-by-his-alma-mater-tsu-17849713).
His stage career is extensive. IMDb's biographical summary counts 103 professional theater productions, beginning at age 16[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/), while the American Repertory Theater's bio describes a career as actor and playwright spanning 30 years and 84 productions[11](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/edwin-lee-gibson/). From 1998 to 2006 he taught musical theater in [Rye, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/rye-new-york)[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/).
**Obie Award.** Gibson received a 2006 Obie Award for Outstanding Performance for his portrayal of Oedipus in New York Theatre Workshop's production of *The Seven*, a role that also earned him the solo cover of *The Village Voice*[2](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2006-obie-award-winners-announced) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/). The Obie Awards honor off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway theater in New York[12](https://www.obieawards.com/about/).
**Peter Brook and later stage work.** In 2017, the director [Peter Brook](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-brook) tapped Gibson to join his company in residence at the Theatre Des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, following a nine-month stint with Brook at the National Theatre Studio in London and the Paris venue[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/) • [13](https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/press-kits/turn-me-loose/fy19-02-turn-me-loose-program-book-web.pdf). In 2023 he starred as [Stepin Fetchit](https://www.edgepedia.org/stepin-fetchit) (the stage name of Lincoln Perry) in [Will Power](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-power)'s *Fetch Clay, Make Man* at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, produced by Center Theatre Group and LeBron James' The SpringHill Company[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/).
## Turn Me Loose
In 2018 Gibson played Dick Gregory in Gretchen Law's *Turn Me Loose* at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, a biographical drama about the comedian and civil rights activist who died in 2017[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/) • [14](https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/dc/dc1020.html). The role had personal roots: Gibson recalls listening to Gregory's comedy albums as a teenager in Houston and said he had "really always lived my life with him as my marker"[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/).
The production ran in the Kreeger Theater from September 6 through October 21, 2018, after popular demand added six performances[7](https://playbill.com/article/edwin-lee-gibson-led-turn-me-loose-extends-at-arena-stage). Gibson did not originate the role; [Joe Morton](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-morton) had played Gregory in the off-Broadway premiere, with [John Legend](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-legend) among its producers[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/) • [15](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/turn-me-loose). Reviewers singled out his performance: the BroadwayWorld review of the Arena Stage production wrote that Gibson "embodies Gregory to the point that you believe you are watching Gregory himself onstage"[16](https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/BWW-Review-TURN-ME-LOOSE-at-Arena-Stage-20180914), and TheaterMania noted that he moved Gregory between his late 20s and his 80s with only his voice and stature changing[17](https://www.theatermania.com/news/turn-me-loose-is-more-than-a-laughing-matter_86440/). Gibson's own comedy background informed the part; he got his start opening for Thea Vidale in 1989 and spent years moonlighting as a stand-up[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/).
## Screen work
Gibson's television credits include guest roles as Counselor Orton Freeman on *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (2014), Milton on *Chicago P.D.* (2017), Omar Blackwell on *Proven Innocent* (2019), and Lionel "Happy" Halloway in two episodes of *Fargo* season 4 in 2020, opposite [Chris Rock](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-rock) and [Jason Schwartzman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-schwartzman)[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/).
**The Bear.** Gibson was cast as Ebraheim in *The Bear* in October 2021[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/). He initially hesitated to audition, worried the character might be a trope, but submitted a self-taped monologue; series creator Christopher Storer had seen him perform in Chicago years earlier, and after a Zoom meeting Gibson knew he had the job[9](https://lasentinel.net/edwin-lee-gibsons-journey-from-stage-to-fxs-the-bear.html). He appeared as a guest star across the first three seasons and moved into the starring cast in season 4[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson) • [5](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/). At the 30th [Screen Actors Guild Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild-awards) in February 2024, he and his castmates won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/). In the show's fifth and final season, his character's storyline incorporated a tribute to the late [Rob Reiner](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-reiner), whose character Albert became a mentor to Ebra[18](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rob-reiner-gets-heartbreaking-3-word-tribute-in-the-bear-finale/).
**Other roles.** He played basketball legend [Bill Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-russell) in two episodes of HBO's *Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty* (2022 and 2023) and Fox in the Hulu series *UnPrisoned* (2023 to 2024)[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson). In Amazon's *Fallout* he appears as Shotgun Jeff in two episodes of season 2[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson). His film work includes *She Taught Love* (2024) and a role as Jack in *Air Bud Returns* (2027)[19](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-964553/filmographie/).
## Writing and recognition
Gibson describes his writing as "the extension of the worlds I create as an actor." After graduating from Point Park University's inaugural MFA program in Writing for The Stage and Screen in 2016, he completed three original pilot scripts, two feature-length scripts, one tetralogy, and three short films[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/). His solo plays include *Anatomy of a Knucklehead* (1999), which ran for 128 shows, and the solo musical *Five 'Til* (2001), which ran for 84 shows and received a Mondo Canè Performing Commission and a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Commission for its 2010 revival[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/) • [11](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/edwin-lee-gibson/). He has also completed an academic work, "Freedom Initiative," which uses the canon of [August Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/august-wilson) to revisit the African American experience in the United States, and lectures on "Theatre & Race" and acting[11](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/edwin-lee-gibson/).
In 2024, Texas Southern University gave Gibson the first annual Dianne Jemison Pollard Award for Distinguished Achievement in Acting during its Fine Arts Week[10](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-bears-edwin-gibson-is-honored-by-his-alma-mater-tsu-17849713) • [20](https://stylemagazine.com/news/2024/apr/09/texas-southern-universitys-fine-arts-week-celebrates-alumnus-edwin-lee-gibson-and-showcases-diverse-arts-performances-and-workshops/).
Gibson has spoken about his lifelong stutter as a professional asset rather than a limitation. "I'm still a stutterer. I didn't overcome anything. I think it's actually my superpower," he told the *Los Angeles Sentinel*, explaining that it sharpened his ear for speech patterns and code switching[9](https://lasentinel.net/edwin-lee-gibsons-journey-from-stage-to-fxs-the-bear.html).
## References
1. [Edwin Lee Gibson, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/edwin-lee-gibson/)
2. [2006 Obie Award winners announced, New York Theatre Guide](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/2006-obie-award-winners-announced)
3. [Edwin Lee Gibson, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3958148/)
4. [Edwin Lee Gibson, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Edwin-Lee-Gibson/)
5. [Edwin Lee Gibson: Filme, Serien und Biografie, Serienjunkies](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/edwin-lee-gibson/593457/)
6. [Edwin Lee Gibson has long followed Dick Gregory's ideals, The Washington Post (2018)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2018/09/06/edwin-lee-gibson-has-long-followed-dick-gregorys-ideals-turn-me-loose-he-gets-play-comic-icon/)
7. [Edwin Lee Gibson-Led Turn Me Loose Extends at Arena Stage, Playbill](https://playbill.com/article/edwin-lee-gibson-led-turn-me-loose-extends-at-arena-stage)
8. [Edwin Lee Gibson, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/25186/edwin-lee-gibson)
9. [Edwin Lee Gibson's Journey from Stage to FX's 'The Bear', Los Angeles Sentinel (2025)](https://lasentinel.net/edwin-lee-gibsons-journey-from-stage-to-fxs-the-bear.html)
10. [The Bear's Edwin Lee Gibson is Honored by His Alma Mater, TSU, Houston Press (2024)](https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-bears-edwin-gibson-is-honored-by-his-alma-mater-tsu-17849713)
11. [Edwin Lee Gibson, American Repertory Theater biography](https://americanrepertorytheater.org/bio/edwin-lee-gibson/)
12. [About the Obie Awards, Obie Awards](https://www.obieawards.com/about/)
13. [Turn Me Loose program book, Arena Stage](https://www.arenastage.org/globalassets/press-room/press-kits/turn-me-loose/fy19-02-turn-me-loose-program-book-web.pdf)
14. [Talkin' Broadway review: Turn Me Loose, Washington DC (2018)](https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/dc/dc1020.html)
15. [Turn Me Loose, Time Out New York (2016)](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/turn-me-loose)
16. [Review: TURN ME LOOSE at Arena Stage, BroadwayWorld (2018)](https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/BWW-Review-TURN-ME-LOOSE-at-Arena-Stage-20180914)
17. [Turn Me Loose Is More Than a Laughing Matter, TheaterMania (2018)](https://www.theatermania.com/news/turn-me-loose-is-more-than-a-laughing-matter_86440/)
18. [How 'The Bear' Finale Pays Tribute to Rob Reiner, The Daily Beast (2026)](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rob-reiner-gets-heartbreaking-3-word-tribute-in-the-bear-finale/)
19. [Edwin Lee Gibson: Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-964553/filmographie/)
20. [Texas Southern University's Fine Arts Week Celebrates Alumnus Edwin Lee Gibson, Houston Style Magazine (2024)](https://stylemagazine.com/news/2024/apr/09/texas-southern-universitys-fine-arts-week-celebrates-alumnus-edwin-lee-gibson-and-showcases-diverse-arts-performances-and-workshops/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames G to Gl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license