Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois

Worked for Peoples Gas Company

Moonlighted as a bouncer

Worked as a security guard for the producer of the touring company of "Beauty Shop, Part 2"

Debut as an actor, played a drill sergeant in a beer commercial

Film debut in walk-on as a bouncer in "Friday"

Primetime TV debut in a guest role on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air"

Earned attention as Bear in the action adventure flick "Armaggedon", starring Bruce Willis

Breakthrough screen role as a death row inmate John Coffey in "The Green Mile", written and directed by Frank Darabont; earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination

Reteamed with Willis for "The Whole Nine Yards"

Portrayed a football coach in the biopic "They Call Me Sirr" (Showtime)

Co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in the remake of "Planet of the Apes"

Cast as Balthazar in "The Scorpion King"

Appeared as the comic book villain The Kingpin in the superhero film "Daredevil"

Cast in Frank Miller's "Sin City" co-directed by Miller and Robert Rodriguez

Starred in the sci-fi thriller "The Island," directed by Michael Bay

Played a pit crew captain in the Will Ferrell comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

Played Lesher, a cohort of Billy Bob Thornton in Todd Phillips' "School For Scoundrels"