Courtney B. Vance
A commanding stage and screen actor whose dignified presence and powerful voice have defined roles from historical figures to tenacious lawyers.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American actor·Birthday: March 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Courtney B. Vance emerged from the Detroit performing arts scene with a formidable classical training that never left him. A graduate of Harvard and the Yale School of Drama, he carried the weight and precision of the stage with him onto every set. He first captured national attention on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination that signaled his arrival. While he built a steady career in film and television, often playing authoritative figures like lawyers and officials, it was his deep investment in character that set him apart. His Emmy-winning portrayal of Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' was a masterclass, capturing the attorney's flamboyance and strategic brilliance without caricature. Married to actress Angela Bassett, Vance has cultivated a parallel legacy as a pillar of the theatrical community, respected for his mentorship and his unwavering commitment to craft, proving that quiet consistency can build a monument.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Courtney was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Courtney Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Courtney's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story' (2016).
- Received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in 'Lucky Guy' (2013).
- Portrayed Dr. Ben Carson in the television film 'Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story' (2009).
- Won a second Primetime Emmy for narrating the documentary series 'The Underground Railroad' (2021).
Did You Know?
He and his wife, actress Angela Bassett, met as undergraduates at Yale School of Drama.
He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
He published a book on relationships and mental health for the Black community, co-authored with his wife.
He originally intended to become a lawyer before fully committing to acting.
““You have to be prepared when opportunity comes. It’s too late to prepare when you get the call.””
