My father was a doctor.

I grew up in a home and in a world in which you can do anything. We were all expected to go to college. My father was a doctor.

My father contracted polio on a troop train in Korea.

I wanted to be a leading man - the black lawyer, the black doctor, the black policeman.

My father was a doctor, an army cardiologist.

A friend of mine had his own theater company, and he jumped me in like I was in a gang. And once I came in, it was just that simple. For the first time in my life, I felt, 'This is a career, this is a life that I think I can grow old doing.' It was love at first sight. I loved being on stage and reading these plays. It was great.