Actor, director and inspirational speaker Charles S. Dutton will speak in the territory as keynote speaker of the University of the Virgin Islands 2014 Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series.
Dutton is one of the few actors ever to be nominated for the Tony, Golden Globe and Emmy awards for the same part. He will speak on the topic, "From Jail to Yale," a personal story reflecting his journey from the Maryland prison system to become an well-respected actor educated at Yale University.
The lectures are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. April 9 at the Reichhold Center for the Arts on UVI’s St. Thomas campus and at 6 p.m. April 10 in the Great Hall at UVI’s St. Croix campus.
The public is invited to both events, which are free.
"Having Charles Dutton at UVI is a major boost to our theatre program,” said UVI President David Hall. “UVI faculty and students have produced numerous outstanding plays, and to attract an actor of his caliber will place in front of our students a shining example of excellence in the performing arts."
Best known for his title role in the television sitcom “Roc,” which aired on Fox in the early 1990s, Dutton’s career has spanned theater, television and film. He received several nominations for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award for “Roc,” which he also produced for HBO.
Dutton, a middle school dropout, was convicted in his youth of manslaughter after a fight resulted in the death of a man he claimed had attacked him. He spent several years in prison. Several months after his release, Dutton was arrested for possession of a deadly weapon and sentenced to three years in prison.
A few months into his second prison term, Dutton was sentenced to six days of solitary confinement, which allowed prisoners to select one book. He chose an anthology of black playwrights.
Dutton said he enjoyed the plays so much that, upon his release from confinement, he petitioned the warden to start a drama group for the Christmas talent show. The warden agreed on the condition that Dutton go back to school and get a General Education Development certificate.
While in prison, he earned his GED and completed a two-year college program at Hagerstown Community College. Upon release, he enrolled as a drama major at Towson University. Dutton later earned a master’s degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama.
“The true life story on Charles Dutton is not to be missed,” said UVI Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dionne V. Jackson. “We at the University of the Virgin Islands strive to bring impactful and relevant speakers through the Alfred O. Heath Lecture Series, and Dutton exemplifies this goal. Through his story, our sons and daughters will learn of the importance of life’s choices and know that through hard work and education anything is possible.”
Dutton is also known for his roles in the films “Rudy” and “Alien 3.”
He received multiple Tony award nominations for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “The Piano Lesson.”
He was also nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for The Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of “The Piano Lesson.”
Dutton made his directorial debut in 1997 with the HBO movie “First Time Felon.” He also directed the award-winning HBO miniseries “The Corner,” for which he received a 2001 Best Director Emmy. His feature film directorial debut was the 2004 Paramount movie “Against the Ropes.”
In 2006, Dutton directed multiple episodes of the Showtime series “Sleeper Cell,” for which he was nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award. Most recently he directed the Lifetime movie “Racing for Time” and the pilot “Under” for A&E.
Dutton will be the honored guest at special fundraising receptions being held from 8 to 10 p.m. April 9 on St. Thomas, and from 3 to 5:30 p.m. April 10 at the Research and Technology Park on the Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Tickets for both events are $250. Funds raised will support the male initiative at UVI.
The Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series offers the public a setting in which to hear nationally and internationally recognized individuals discuss issues related to the challenges and opportunities faced by the global community. As a UVI trustee emeritus and chairman of the Foundation for the University of the Virgin Islands, Heath is an ardent, longtime supporter of the mission of the university.
More information about the Alfred O. Heath Distinguished Lecture Series and the receptions are available by calling UVI’s Senior Coordinator of Donor Relations and Special Events Liza Margolis at 1-340-693-1053.
