Summary
- Julius Tennon is a highly accomplished actor and producer, known for his work with wife Viola Davis at their production company JuVee Productions.
- Tennon has broken boundaries throughout his career, being the first African American to graduate from the University of Tulsa's theater department.
- He has starred alongside Davis in multiple projects, including "The Woman King," and has showcased his versatility in roles ranging from dramatic to comedic.
Though Julius Tennon is best known as Viola Davis' husband, he is also a highly accomplished actor and producer in his own right. Davis and long-time husband Tennon are one of Hollywood's big power couples behind the scenes, as the duo founded JuVee Productions in 2011. The film and TV production house specializes in lifting underrepresented voices, and has had major successes with films like The Woman King, which starred Davis in the Golden Globe-nominated lead role. Tennon served as producer on the film, a title he has worn often with films shows made under the JuVee banner.
Much like his highly touted partner, Tennon himself has had an accomplished career both in front of and behind the camera at all levels of Hollywood. Tennon has broken boundaries all throughout his life, including being the very first African American to graduate from the University of Tulsa's theater department (via IMDb). Tennon has put those theatrical skills to good use in many films alongside his wife, and movies like The Woman King have helped position him as a rising star among Hollywood producers.
Julius Tennon Has Starred In Many Viola Davis Projects, Including The Woman King
Most of Julius Tennon's more recent acting credits have come in projects that also star his wife, and the couple are practically inseparable when it comes to acting together. Starting with 2012's Won't Back Down, Tennon and Davis have been in numerous projects together including Get On Up, Lila & Eve, How to Get Away with Murder, The Woman King, and Air. While he typically played smaller supporting roles, Tennon was given more time to shine in The Woman King where he played Moru and an even bigger role as Michael Jordan's father James in the biopic Air.
Julius Tennon Had A Small But Memorable Part As Mr. Payne In Dazed And Confused
Though he typically plays straight-laced and dramatic roles, Tennon's early turn as Mr. Payne in Dazed and Confused allowed him to show off his sillier side. Appearing as a school teacher, Mr. Payne seems to take maniacal glee in keeping the students up to the bell which leaves them vulnerable to attacks from the senior bullies. In the film's typical exaggerated tone, Tennon's Mr. Payne recounted his personal experience in Vietnam which added hilarious context to the student's attempted escape from their impending paddling. Dazed and Confused was filled with future stars, and Julius Tennon certainly was one of them.
Julius Tennon Played Serial Killer Carl Buford In Criminal Minds
In what was perhaps the biggest example of his dramatic chops so far, Julius Tennon played the incredibly creepy role of Carl Buford in two episodes of the police procedural series Criminal Minds. First debuting in season 2, episode 12, "Profiler, Profiled", Buford was a former youth counselor in the Cabrini-Green project of Chicago who used his close connection with children for evil. In the process of his crimes, Tennon had attacked a young Derek Morgan, making the investigation all the more personal.
He later returned in season 8, episode 18, "Restoration", where his vile crime spree was brought to an end, offering Morgan a bit of closure. What Tennon did best in the role was show the dual nature of the character, and like many of the creepiest unsubs on the show, he was convincingly two-faced, and duplicitous. While he has been somewhat overshadowed by his wife, Julius Tennon has proven time and time again to be a brilliant performer on his own and has shown in through any number of TV and movie roles.