Don Cheadle on Avengers, Boogie Nights, and his Nicolas Cage story

For Black History Month, The A.V. Club will be rerunning Random Roles with Black actors from recent years. First up: Don Cheadle, who’s appeared in everything from Boogie Nights to The Golden Palace to the Avengers franchise.

Don Cheadle’s career follows an arc that every actor dreams of. Granted, it wasn’t a short arc, but after kicking off his career in the ’80s, he soon began working nonstop, taking what roles he could get—including a stint on the short-lived Golden Girls spin-off, The Golden Palace—and gradually building a reputation as a dependable character actor, one aided immeasurably by his appearance alongside Denzel Washington in 1995’s Devil In A Blue Dress. From there, Cheadle began to secure supporting roles in high-profile films like Boogie Nights and Out Of Sight, eventually making the jump to leading man (Hotel Rwanda). Of late, Cheadle is probably best known for playing James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but until the Avengers next assemble, he can be found as the star—and one of the executive producers of—the Showtime series Black Monday.

Black Monday (2019–present)—“Mo Monroe,” executive producer

AVC: Before we wrap up, I have to mention that I found the Angela Winbush video you did in the late ’80s. 

DC: You’re welcome.

AVC: It’s a beautiful thing. And the choreography… Well, it’s just fantastic.

DC: [Laughs.] Oh, thank you so much.

AVC: The jumpsuit really sets it off.

DC: Well, when you work at a car wash, you have to dress the part. And that was the car wash right across from the Director’s Guild. I think it’s still there. On Sunset Boulevard.

AVC: In these hard times, I think people need to see it.

DC: They need something to delight them, for sure. So again I say, you’re welcome.