Keith David
An actor with one of the most recognizable bass voices in the business, a commanding presence in hundreds of films, shows, and video games.
Born 1956 (age 70)·American actor·Birthday: June 4·Baby Boomers
Biography
Keith David’s career is a masterclass in consistent, formidable character work. That deep, resonant voice—a rumble that feels both wise and threatening—has been his signature instrument since he graduated from Juilliard. He first made a major impression as King in the cult comedy 'Requiem for a Dream,' but it was his chilling turn as the charismatic yet sinister gangster Bishop in John Carpenter’s 'The Thing' that cemented his cult status. He is equally at home in animation, having voiced the feline warrior Goliath in 'Gargoyles' and the villainous Doctor Facilier in 'The Princess and the Frog,' bringing a jazzy menace to the latter. On stage, he won a Tony for his role in August Wilson’s 'Seven Guitars.' Whether he’s playing a president, a soldier, or a god, David brings an unwavering gravity and intelligence that elevates every project, making him one of the most dependable and distinctive 'that guy' actors in Hollywood.
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.
Keith was born in 1956, 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 Keith Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Keith's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in August Wilson's 'Seven Guitars' (1996).
- Voiced the iconic Disney villain Dr. Facilier, the 'Shadow Man,' in the animated film 'The Princess and the Frog' (2009).
- Provided the narration for several major Ken Burns documentary series, including 'The War' and 'Jackie Robinson.'
- Played the memorable role of Childs, the final survivor alongside Kurt Russell, in John Carpenter's classic horror film 'The Thing' (1982).
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished singer and performed the song 'Friends on the Other Side' for his character in 'The Princess and the Frog.'
He trained at the prestigious Juilliard School's Drama Division, graduating in 1979.
He has voiced characters in several popular video game franchises, including 'Mass Effect,' 'Halo,' and 'Saints Row.'
He and actor David Keith are often confused; Keith David's first and middle names are reversed to form the other actor's stage name.
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