An imposing African-American character player with a strong singing voice, Derricks first made his mark on the Broadway and off-Broadway stages in a series of soul, gospel and blues-flavored musical dramas and revues before trying his hand briefly at features and later as a cast regular on series TV. He studied voice in college and began pursuing a career writing gospel music, but seeing his twin brother Clinton performing onstage steered him toward acting. At the proverbial eleventh hour of desperation, Derricks won a chance to audition for a 1977 Broadway revival of "Hair" when another
Moved back to Tennessee, to Nashville, after studying voice in college, in order to write gospel music
Moved to New York to pursue acting after he saw his twin brother Clinton performing onstage
1977
Career breakthrough when his brother Clinton was unable to fulfill a commitment to perform in a Broadway revival of "Hair"; his brother suggested Cleavant, who flew to New York, auditioned and got the part of Hud
1978
First TV-movie, "Cindy"
1979
Did choral arrangements and handled vocal preparation for the stage musical, "But Never Jam Today" (based on "Alice in Wonderland"), in which he also played the roles of Caterpiller, Cook, Tweedledee and the Seven of Spades
