This Chicago/Detroit native is a veteran actor, director, marketer and producer. As an actor, Carl has appeared in over 2 dozen plays mesmerizing audiences with his trademark baritone voice and fearless character portrayals. He has appeared in “The River Niger”, “Livin’ Fat”, “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar”, “Zooman & The Sign”, “South Of Where We Live”, “Jeffrey’s Plan” & “The Ninth Wave”.

His theatre work paved the way for his numerous television & film roles in sitcoms such as ”Freddie”, ”Barbershop”, “Family Matters”, “Martin”, “The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air & “Roc as well as other appearances in “24”, Michael Mann’s, “Robbery Homicide Division”, ”Alias”, “Cold Case”, “Sleeper Cell”, “Strong Medicine”, “Hunter”, “Mike Hammer”, “Sherman Oaks” and features such as “Nothin’ 2 Lose”, “Chatroom”, “Contact”, “The Luau” , “Coach Carter”, the Wes Craven’s thriller, “Red Eye” & the upcoming prison drama, “Mannsfield 12, directed by Craig Ross, Jr.

Carl has also appeared in numerous television commercials for IBM, GM, Burger King, Pepto Bismol, Bank One, Habitat For Humanity, Nicoderm, Saturn, Miller Beer & the hilarious “dropped call” campaign for Cingular.

Through Carl’s various experiences in film, television & theatre, he is quickly forging his niche as a Producer with keen discernment for developing and discovering new screenplays by new and exciting writers. In collaboration with partner, Tony Winters, he produced the Pan African Audience Award winning feature “Retiring Tatiana”. Carl’s first outing as director is the poignant drama, “Section 8” which has been acquired for distribution into the Home Video/DVD market.

Carl resides in Palmdale, California with wife Wilda and their 3 children. Their oldest daughter, Corinne, is a Film Major at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Education  

Michigan State University, B.A. 1980 Communications-Political Science/Marketing

Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 1979

Detroit Osborn High School, 1976

Gilliard Professional Experience Timeline

1981-1983: Sales Representative Eastman Kodak Company

1983-1985: District Sales Manager, Pepsi Cola Bottling Group

1985-1994: Retail Advertising Account Executive, Los Angeles Times Retail, San Fernando Valley Zone Entertainment/Sports Teams-Trade Show-Special Events

1990-1999: Numerous television, voiceover and film appearances.

1999: Producer, Retiring Tatiana

2000: Retiring Tatiana wins Audience Award, Pan African Film Festival, L.A.

1999-2002: Senior Advertising Account Manager, Variety Magazine

2002-2004: Optioned several screenplays including Pickle & Lil’ Junior & The Ninth Way the legendary Leslie Lee.

2004: I94 Entertainment incorporated & formed.

2004: Directed & Produced hit stageplay, “Section 8” in Los Angeles. (Nominated for 3 NAACP Theatre Awards, including Best Producer) Directed & Produced Film Adaptation of “Section 8”.

2004-2005: Appeared in feature films “Coach Carter”, “Red Eye” & Wifey.