# Glynn Turman
**Glynn Turman** is an American stage, television, and film actor, as well as a writer, director, and producer, whose career spans more than six decades and began on Broadway at age 12 as Travis Younger in the original 1959 production of *A Raisin in the Sun*.[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) He won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2008 for the HBO drama *In Treatment* and is known for roles including Leroy "Preach" Jackson in *[Cooley High](https://www.edgepedia.org/cooley-high)* (1975), Colonel Bradford Taylor on *A Different World*, and Mayor Clarence V. Royce on *The Wire*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/glynn-turman) • [3](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8016-cooley-high-young-gifted-and-black)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Glynn Russell Turman; born in New York City (sources give 1946 or 1947)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946) • [1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) |
| First major role | Travis Younger in the original Broadway production of *A Raisin in the Sun* (1959), at age 12, opposite Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) |
| Emmy | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, 2008, as Alex Sr. in *In Treatment* (HBO); nominated in the same category in 2019 as Nate Lahey, Sr. in *How to Get Away with Murder*[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/glynn-turman) |
| Signature film role | Leroy "Preach" Jackson in Michael Schultz's coming-of-age film *Cooley High* (1975)[3](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8016-cooley-high-young-gifted-and-black) |
| Television directing | Episodes of *A Different World*, *The Parent 'Hood*, *The Wayans Bros.*, *Hangin' with Mr. Cooper*, and one 1983 episode of *Dynasty*[5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/) |
| Recent honors | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2020) for *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*; Hollywood Walk of Fame star, the 2,816th, dedicated July 10 in the Motion Pictures category[6](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/) • [5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/) |
## Early life and Broadway debut
Turman was born in New York City; his full name is Glynn Russell Turman. Sources disagree on his birth year: Encyclopedia.com gives 1946, while IMDb, the Los Angeles Philharmonic biography, and other profiles give January 31, 1947.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946) • [1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) He attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946)
His first prominent acting role came at age 12, when he originated the role of Travis Younger on Broadway in [Lorraine Hansberry](https://www.edgepedia.org/lorraine-hansberry)'s *A Raisin in the Sun*, appearing opposite [Sidney Poitier](https://www.edgepedia.org/sidney-poitier) and [Ruby Dee](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruby-dee).[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) The play opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 11, 1959, and later moved to the Belasco Theatre, where it ran through June 25, 1960.[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23718-A-RAISIN-IN-THE-SUN) Turman did not reprise the role in the 1961 film adaptation; Stephen Perry played Travis in the movie.[7](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23718-A-RAISIN-IN-THE-SUN)
## Screen career
Turman's television career began with a substantial recurring role as Lew Miles on the ABC prime-time soap opera *[Peyton Place](https://www.edgepedia.org/peyton-place-tv-series)* (1964–69), on which he appeared in 37 episodes.[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) He made his film debut with a minor part in the romantic drama *Honky* (1971), followed by roles in *Five on the Black Hand Side* (1973), *Thomasine & Bushrod* (1974), *[The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-nine-lives-of-fritz-the-cat)* (1974), and *Together Brothers* (1974).[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman)
**Cooley High.** His first headlining role came with Michael Schultz's coming-of-age film *Cooley High* (1975), in which he played a high school student nicknamed Preach, a fast-talking writer convinced he would make it big in Hollywood.[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) • [3](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8016-cooley-high-young-gifted-and-black) Turman has described the role as one of his favorites, and the film is now regarded as a classic of Black American cinema.[8](https://www.mannpublications.com/mannabouttown/2024/06/01/the-life-of-award-winning-actor-glynn-turman/)
**A Different World and directing.** In 1988 Turman began a four-season run as Colonel Bradford Taylor, a math professor and retired Army officer, on the NBC sitcom *A Different World* (1987–1993).[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) • [9](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13904/glynn-turman) Beyond acting, he directed multiple episodes of that series and of the 1990s sitcoms *The Parent 'Hood*, *The Wayans Bros.*, and *Hangin' with Mr. Cooper*, as well as one 1983 episode of *Dynasty*.[5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/) In theater, he directed the play *Deadwood Dick* at the Inner City Cultural Center, for which he received an NAACP Image Award for direction.[5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946)
**Later television and film.** Turman played Baltimore Mayor Clarence V. Royce on HBO's *The Wire* (2002–08) and Jeremiah Kaan, father of [Don Cheadle](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-cheadle)'s character, on Showtime's *House of Lies*.[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) His film work in this period included *How Stella Got Her Groove Back* (1998), *Men of Honor* (2000), *Burlesque* (2010), and *Super 8* (2011).[1](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman) In 2020 he played Toledo in George C. Wolfe's film *[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom](https://www.edgepedia.org/ma-raineys-black-bottom-film)*, a role he had also performed in a 2016 stage production at the Mark Taper Forum.[10](https://latimes.pages.dev/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-12-21/netflix-ma-rainey-fargo-fx-glynn-turman) Later credits include [A. Philip Randolph](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-philip-randolph) in *Rustin* (2023), Chiron and Mr. Brunner in *Percy Jackson and the Olympians* (2023–2026), and roles in *Black Cake*, *80 for Brady*, *Women of the Movement*, and *The Big Cigar*.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877270) • [12](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/glynn-turman/)
## Awards
Turman won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2008 for his role as Alex Sr. on *In Treatment*, and was nominated in the same category in 2019 for playing Nate Lahey, Sr. on ABC's *How to Get Away with Murder*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/glynn-turman) Earlier honors include a TOR Award for best actor in the black theater (1974), an NAACP Image Award (1978), and an AUDELCO Award (1979) for *A Raisin in the Sun*.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946) For *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom* he won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 and an NAACP Image Award in 2021.[6](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/) His other honors include a Black Reel Award (2022), a second NAACP Image Award (2023), the AAFCA Legacy Award (2024), and a star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-walk-of-fame) in 2025, dedicated on July 10 at 7065 [Hollywood Boulevard](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-boulevard) as the 2,816th star, in the Motion Pictures category.[6](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/) • [5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/)
## Producing and writing
Turman has served as executive producer on several films and documentaries, including *The Legend of Glynn Turman* (2022), on which he is also credited as screenwriter, *Justine*, *The Robeson Effect*, and *King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story*.[5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/) • [12](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/glynn-turman/) His production work focuses on projects about influential Black figures and social themes.[5](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/)
## Ranching and Camp Gid D Up
Turman is an accomplished equestrian and team roper who owns and operates a ranch in [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california), where he breeds and trains horses, and competes in Black rodeos nationwide.[6](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/) With his wife, Jo-Ann Allen, a real estate broker, he cofounded Camp Gid D Up, a free summer camp where inner-city youth learn ranch life, horsemanship, and discipline; the camp operates at their Lake Hughes, California ranch as part of their 501(c)(3) organization, the IX Winds Ranch Foundation.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946) • [6](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/) • [13](https://www.aol.com/articles/different-world-star-glynn-turman-233818000.html) In a 2026 interview at the Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival, Turman said he hoped his legacy would be tied to Camp Gid D Up.[13](https://www.aol.com/articles/different-world-star-glynn-turman-233818000.html)
## Personal life
Turman married the singer [Aretha Franklin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aretha-franklin) on April 11, 1978; the marriage ended in divorce in 1984. He later married Jo-Ann Allen. His children, born to his first wife, Ula M. Walker, and to Jo-Ann Allen, are Glynn, Jr. (deceased), Delena Joy, Darryl, and [Stephanie](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephanie).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946) • [14](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-kids-original-different-world-130000000.html)
## References
1. [Glynn Turman, Los Angeles Philharmonic artist profile](https://www.laphil.com/people/glynn-turman)
2. [Glynn Turman, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/glynn-turman)
3. [Cooley High: Young, Gifted, and Black, The Criterion Collection](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8016-cooley-high-young-gifted-and-black)
4. [Turman, Glynn 1946-, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/turman-glynn-1946)
5. [Glynn Turman Home, official site](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/)
6. [Glynn Turman, Artist Home, official site](https://glynn.meetglynnturman.com/artist-home/)
7. [A Raisin in the Sun (1961), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/23718-A-RAISIN-IN-THE-SUN)
8. [The Life of Award-Winning Actor, Glynn Turman, Mann About Town](https://www.mannpublications.com/mannabouttown/2024/06/01/the-life-of-award-winning-actor-glynn-turman/)
9. [Glynn Turman, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/13904/glynn-turman)
10. [After 60 years in showbiz, Glynn Turman has seen it all, LA Times Mirror](https://latimes.pages.dev/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-12-21/netflix-ma-rainey-fargo-fx-glynn-turman)
11. [Glynn Turman, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877270)
12. [Glynn Turman, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/glynn-turman/)
13. ['A Different World' Star Glynn Turman, 79, Showcases Cowboy Style in LA Walk, AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/different-world-star-glynn-turman-233818000.html)
14. [Meet the Kids of the Original “A Different World” Cast - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-kids-original-different-world-130000000.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sw to T*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license