Ruben Santiago-Hudson

TONY and OBIE Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson is a force of nature . A triple threat in the greatest sense of the term as an actor, writer and director.

Ruben made his debut as a screenwriter with HBO’s Lackawanna Blues for which he received multiple honors including The Humanitas Prize, a Christopher Award, National Board of Review Honors, An NAACP Award and an Emmy, Golden Globe and a WGA nomination. Lackawanna Blues originally was commissioned by the prestigious Public Theater in New York City as a stage play. Ruben penned the play to pay homage to the remarkable woman that raised him in a boarding house in Lackawanna, New York. Ruben performed the play portraying almost three dozen characters accompanied by Blues master Bill Sims Jr. on guitar.

Ruben's vast acting credits span the stage, Television and Film. On Film he starred opposite Halle Berry in Their Eyes Were Watching God, Denzel Washington and Russell Crow in American Gangster, Demi Moore and Kevin Costner in Mr. Brooks, Samuel L. Jackson in SHAFT, Al Pacino in Devil's Advocate, and John Travolta in Domestic Disturbance to name a few.

Presently, Ruben is co-starring in the ABC television drama Castle with Nathon Fillion. Also for the small screen, Ruben portrayed the famed African-American chemist Dr. Percy Julian in the critically acclaimed PBS NOVA special Forgotten Genius, starred opposite Gregory Hines in The Red Sneakers for Showtime, in the Mini series American Tragedy with Christopher Plummer, Solomon and Sheba with Jimmy Smits and Halle Berry, marking the first time a biblical movie was made starring actors of color, and he starred opposite Christopher Reeves in Rear Window among many others. Ruben’s other Television credits include: Law & Order, The West Wing, Hallmark’s Little John, Canterbury's Law, Whoopi, NYPD Blue, Early Edition, Third Watch, NY Undercover, Dear John and Michael Hayes which he co-starred in for CBS television.

Ruben made his Directorial debut with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean at the McCarter Theater in Princeton, N.J. to rave reviews. Ruben then went on to direct GEM at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Earlier this season Ruben directed a tribute to August Wilson and his legacy at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. Ruben’s New York directing credits include Mr. Wilson’s Seven Guitars and most recently Leslie Lee’s The First Breeze of Summer for The Signature Theater Company in New York City where Ruben currently holds the position of Associate Artist, facilitating the season honoring the historic Negro Ensemble Company. In the Spring of 2009 Ruben will direct Naomi Wallace’s Things of Dry Hours at New York Theater Workshop.

Ruben made his Broadway debut as Buddy Bolden in Jelly's Last Jame, opposite Gregory Hines. Ruben’s portrayal of Canewell in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars won him an Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award cementing his place in the landscape of American Theater. Ruben’s most recent Broadway performance was as Caesar in August Wilson’s Gem's of the Ocean opposite Phylicia Rashad. Ruben’s regional Theater and off-Broadway credits are too numerous to mention spanning 30 years and numerous wonderful roles.

Ruben received a Master Of Fine Arts degree from Wayne State University and an honorary Master’s Degree from A.C.T. in San Francisco, a Bachelor of Arts degree from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton and an honorary Doctor Of Humane Letters Degree from Buffalo State College in 2006. Other Awards and honors include Outer Critics Circle, Dramalogue, Clarence Derwent, Glen G. Bartle award from SUNY Binghamton, Distiguished Alumni Award from Wayne State University, three Audelco Awards. Blackfilmaker’s Award, a N.A.M.I.C. Award and an HBO Comedy Arts Festival Theater Award.