Biography
Widely recognized by television viewers for his role as Agent Marcus Dixon on the popular sci-fi action television series
Alias, actor Carl Lumbly has been appearing on both the big and small screens since the late '70s. With early appearances on
Cagney and Lacey and L.A. Law, as well as roles in such high-profile releases as
Pacific Heights (1990) and
How Stella Got her Groove Back (1998), chances are you'd recognize Lumbly's face even if his name doesn't immediately ring a bell. A native of Jamaica who attended Minnesota's Macalester College, his career in journalism eventually led to acting when he was assigned to write a story about a local workshop theater. Subsequently immersing himself in the improvisational company for the next two years, it wasn't long before Lumbly made his film debut in
Escape From Alcatraz (1979). Gaining an impressive list of small-screen credits with appearances in such popular sitcoms as
The Jeffersons and
Taxi, the 1980s proved both busy and fruitful as offers continued to roll in. Cast in the lead of the series M.A.N.T.I.S. in 1994, Lumbly essayed the role of a paralyzed scientist who dons a specially designed exoskeleton in the name of fighting crime. Though the show had a small devoted fan base, it was soon taken off the air, and Lumbly rounded out the decade with roles in such made-for-television films as
Nightjohn (1996),
Buffalo Soldiers (1997), and
Border Line (1999). After returning to series work in
Alias, Lumbly provided voice work for the animated television series the
Justice League, and took the lead in longtime friend
Danny Glover's family-friendly drama
Just a Dream. The following year found the popular Lumbly remaining family-friendly with a featured role in the made-for-television remake
Sounder. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide