| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3 Days | Angel | |
| 1985 | Moving Violations | Juicy Burgers Worker | |
| 1986 | Punk | ||
| 1987 | Hamburger Hill | Pvt. Washburn | |
| 1988 | Colors | Rocket | |
| 1992 | Roadside Prophets | Happy Days Manager | |
| 1993 | Meteor Man, TheThe Meteor Man | Goldilocks | |
| Lush Life | Jack | (TV movie) | |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Rooster | |
| Devil in a Blue Dress | Mouse Alexander | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role |
|
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Earl "The Goat" Manigault | (TV movie) Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1997 | Volcano | Emmit Reese | |
| Rosewood | Sylvester Carrier | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | |
| Boogie Nights | Buck Swope | Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
|
| 1998 | Out of Sight | Maurice Miller | |
| Rat Pack, TheThe Rat Pack | Sammy Davis Jr. | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
|
| Bulworth | L.D. | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | |
| 1999 | Lesson Before Dying, AA Lesson Before Dying | Grant Wiggins | (TV movie) Black Reel Award for Network/Cable – Best Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2000 | Traffic | Montel Gordon | Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| Mission to Mars | Luke Graham | ||
| Fail Safe | Lt. Jimmy Pierce | (TV movie) | |
| Family Man, TheThe Family Man | Cash | ||
| 2001 | Things Behind the Sun | Chuck | Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
| Manic | Dr. David Monroe | ||
| Swordfish | Agent J.T. Roberts | ||
| Ticker | Passenger | ||
| Ocean's Eleven | Basher Tarr | ||
| Abby Singer | Himself | ||
| 2003 | United States of Leland, TheThe United States of Leland | Pearl Madison | |
| 2004 | Ocean's Twelve | Basher Tarr | Nominated—BET Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Theatrical Film Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
| After the Sunset | Henri Mooré | ||
| Assassination of Richard Nixon, TheThe Assassination of Richard Nixon | Bonny Simmons | ||
| "Unchained Memories" – Readings From The Slave Narratives | Film received two Emmy nominations and won the Christopher Award | ||
| Hotel Rwanda | Paul Rusesabagina | Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role |
|
| 2005 | Crash | Det. Graham Waters | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role |
| 2006 | Dog Problem, TheThe Dog Problem | Dr. Nourmand | |
| King Leopold's Ghost | Narrator | ||
| 2007 | Reign Over Me | Alan Johnson | |
| Talk to Me | Petey Greene | African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
|
| Ocean's Thirteen | Basher Tarr | ||
| Darfur Now | Himself | ||
| 2008 | Traitor | Samir Horn | Nominated—Black Reel Award for Best Actor Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture |
| 2009 | Hotel for Dogs | Bernie | |
| People Speak, TheThe People Speak | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2010 | Brooklyn's Finest | Clarence 'Tango' Butler | |
| Iron Man 2 | Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/War Machine | (replaced Terrence Howard) | |
| 2011 | Guard, TheThe Guard | FBI Agent Wendell Everett | |
| 2012 | Flight | Hugh Lang | |
| 2013 | Iron Man 3 | Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/War Machine | In production |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Crash | Producer | Academy Award for Best Picture Black Movie Award for Outstanding Motion Picture Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Film |
| 2007 | Talk to Me | Executive producer | |
| Darfur Now | Producer | ||
| 2008 | Traitor | Producer | |
| Crash | Producer | 2 Episodes (2008) |
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Fame | Henry Lee | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Julian Tatoon | Episode "Gibbon Take" |
| Sidekicks | Gang Leader | Episode "The Last Electric Knight" | |
| 1987 | Hill Street Blues | Darius Milton | Episode "Days of Swine and Roses" |
| Bronx Zoo, TheThe Bronx Zoo | Carver | Episode "Small Victories" | |
| 1988 | Night Court | Jack | Episode "Jung and the Restless" |
| Hooperman | Himself | Episode "High Noon" | |
| 1989 | Booker | Himself | Episode "The Pump" |
| 1990 | China Beach | Angel | Episode "Warriors" |
| Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TheThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ice Tray | (Episode 5, "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy") | |
| 1992–1993 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Bennie | (2 episodes) |
| Golden Palace, TheThe Golden Palace | Roland Wilson | (23 episodes) | |
| 1993–1995 | Picket Fences | D.A. John Littleton | (38 episodes) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995, 1996) |
| 2000 | Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons | Brother Faith | Episode: "Faith Off" |
| 2002 | Bernie Mac Show, TheThe Bernie Mac Show | Cousin D | (2 episodes) – "Sweet Home Chicago: Parts 1 & 2" |
| ER | Paul Nathan | (4 episodes) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
|
| 2003 | MADtv | Perry | Episode #9.3 Greys Anatomy |
| 2011- | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Lloyd Prescott | |
| House of Lies | Marty Kaan | Main role Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |
- Video games
- Iron Man 2 video game (2010), Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/War Machine
- Theatre
- Topdog/Underdog off-Broadway performances (2001)
- Internet
- Drunk History Volume 5 (Frederick Douglass)
- Don Cheadle is Captain Planet
Read more about this topic: Don Cheadle