Willis Burks II
Encyclopedia
Willis Burks II, sometimes credited as Willis Burks or Willis Burks, Jr., (October 25, 1935 - November 21, 2010) was an American
television
, film
, stage
and voice actor whose acting career spanned more than thirty years.
Burks was born in Birmingham, Alabama
, on October 25, 1935. He served in the United States Air Force
before pursuing a professional acting career. Burks lived in both Chicago
and New York City
before settling in Los Angeles
, where he resided until his death in 2010.
Burks' awards included the AUDELCO
for best actor
in the theatrical production of Saint Lucy's Eyes. Additionally, Burks' performance in the August Wilson
play, Jitney
, won him several awards, including a Drama Desk Award
, an Obie Award
and a second AUDELCO award.
Burks' movie roles included the 2007 film, King of California
, in which he co-starred as Pepper opposite Michael Douglas
and Evan Rachel Wood
. Other notable roles included Sunday in 1997 and Everything's Jake
in 2007, opposite Ernie Hudson
and Phyllis Diller
. His acting credits also included roles in video games, including The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
.
Willis Burks II died on November 21, 2010, at the age of 75. His memorial service was held at the Greater New Macedonia Ministries in Birmingham, Alabama on December 4, 2010. He was survived by four children - Willis Burks, III, Amy Burks-Jones, Europe A. Burks and Jessiah C. Styles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and voice actor whose acting career spanned more than thirty years.
Burks was born in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, on October 25, 1935. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
before pursuing a professional acting career. Burks lived in both Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before settling in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he resided until his death in 2010.
Burks' awards included the AUDELCO
AUDELCO
AUDELCO, the Audience Development Committee, Inc., was established in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in New York African American Theatre through presentation of Vivan Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards...
for best actor
Best Actor
Best Actor may refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actor* BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role* Best Actor Award * Empire Award for Best Actor* Empire Award for Best British Actor* Filmfare Best Actor Award...
in the theatrical production of Saint Lucy's Eyes. Additionally, Burks' performance in the August Wilson
August Wilson
August Wilson was an American playwright whose work included a series of ten plays, The Pittsburgh Cycle, for which he received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama...
play, Jitney
Jitney (play)
Jitney is a play in two acts by August Wilson. The eighth in The Pittsburgh Cycle, this play is set in a worn-down gypsy cab station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early autumn 1977.-Productions:...
, won him several awards, including a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
, an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
and a second AUDELCO award.
Burks' movie roles included the 2007 film, King of California
King of California
King of California is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Mike Cahill. It is his debut as a screenwriter and director. The film premiered on January 24, 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and opened in limited release in North America on September 14, 2007...
, in which he co-starred as Pepper opposite Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
and Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood is an American actress and singer. She began her acting career in the late 1990s, appearing in several television series, including American Gothic and Once and Again...
. Other notable roles included Sunday in 1997 and Everything's Jake
Everything's Jake
Everything's Jake is a 2000 drama film distributed by Warner Bros. The movie marks the feature writing and directorial debut of Matthew Miele along with his producing/writing partner, Chris Fetchko.-Plot:...
in 2007, opposite Ernie Hudson
Ernie Hudson
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Hudson is an American actor known for his roles as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film series, Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow, and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz.-Early life:...
and Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller is an American actress and comedian. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife who makes jokes about a husband named "Fang" while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder...
. His acting credits also included roles in video games, including The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is a first-person action/stealth video game developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by Vivendi Games. Released for the Xbox and Windows in 2004, the game is a tie-in prequel to the futuristic science fiction film The Chronicles of Riddick...
.
Willis Burks II died on November 21, 2010, at the age of 75. His memorial service was held at the Greater New Macedonia Ministries in Birmingham, Alabama on December 4, 2010. He was survived by four children - Willis Burks, III, Amy Burks-Jones, Europe A. Burks and Jessiah C. Styles.