
Clarke Peters
Acting
🎂 1952-04-07
Peter Clarke (born April 7, 1952), known professionally as Clarke Peters, is an American actor, writer, and director, who has spent much of his adult life in the United Kingdom. He is best known for his roles as Lester Freamon in the television series The Wire (2002–2008) and Albert Lambreaux in the television series Treme (2010–2013). He also wrote the book for the musical revue Five Guys Named Moe (1990). Peters is also known for his roles in the films Silver Dream Racer (1980), Endgame (2009), John Wick (2014), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Harriet (2019), and Da 5 Bloods (2020), the lattermost of which earned him a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Peters was born Peter Clarke, the second of four sons, in New York City, and grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. At the age of 12, he had his first theater experience, in a school production of My Fair Lady. He began to have serious ambitions to work in the theater at the age of 14. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1970. In 1971, Peters' older brother enabled him to work as a costume designer for a production of the musical Hair in Paris, in which Peters later starred. In 1973, Peters moved to London and changed his name to Clarke Peters, because Equity already had a few namesake members. While in London, he formed a soul band, The Majestics, and worked as a backup singer on such hits as "Love and Affection" by Joan Armatrading, "Boogie Nights" by Heatwave, and some David Essex songs. However, music was not Peters' main ambition, and he preferred to work in the theater. His first West End theatre musical roles, which he received with assistance from his friend Ned Sherrin, were I Gotta Shoe (1976) and Bubbling Brown Sugar (1977). Other West End credits include Blues in the Night, Porgy and Bess, The Witches of Eastwick, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, and Chess. Peters starred in the Sean Connery space Western Outland (1981) as the treacherous Sgt. Ballard, and he played an almost wordless role as Anderson, a vicious pimp in Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa (1986). Peters is familiar to television viewers as Detective Lester Freamon in the HBO series The Wire. Peters also starred in the HBO mini-series The Corner, portraying a drug addict named Fat Curt, as well as the FX series Damages, as Dave Pell. Both The Wire and The Corner were created by writer and former The Baltimore Sun journalist David Simon. Peters also stars in Simon's HBO series Treme, in the role of Mardi Gras Indian chief Albert Lambreaux. Peters appeared in two episodes of the American time-travel/detective TV series Life on Mars (2008) as NYPD Captain Fletcher Bellow. He also appeared in the British show Holby City, as Derek Newman, the father of nurse Donna Jackson. He voiced a part in the Doctor Who animated episode Dreamland, and in the In Plain Sight episode "Duplicate Bridge" as a man in Witness Protection named Norman Baker/Norman Danzer. In 2010, Peters read Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption for BBC 7. In that year, he also had a guest appearance as Professor Mark Ramsay in the pilot episode of the USA Network TV series Covert Affairs. From 2012 to 2013, Peters had a recurring role as Alonzo D. Quinn in the CBS TV series Person of Interest.
Cast credits(110)

Frank Wainwright
1997

Abbas
2021

Nathan Anderson
2010

Marlon Croft
2011

Minister
2014

Lester Freamon
2002

Alonzo Quinn
2011

Self - Guest
2006

Popeye (voice)
2009

Afsana
1997

The Master
2019

Det. Oscar Clemons
2015

Howard Boorstin
2001

Harry
2014

President Ojuka
1977

Dave Pell
2007

Frederick Treves
2025

Norman Baker / Norman Danzer
2008

Jerry Charters
2014

Self - Narrator
1986

'Helix' Lead Actor
1999

Otis
2020

George
2024

Hewie Harper
1997

Abercrombie
2017

1992

Rex da Silva
2005

God (voice)
2024

Albert "Big Chief" Lambreaux
2010

Editor
2008

Captain Bellow
2008

Jonas Pierce
2021

Josiah Falls
2022

Morgan Dupree
2014

Deshaun (voice)
2023

American
1991

Richard Whitehall
2017

Carl
2016

Carl Allan
2016

Chet Donald
2025

John Houston
2022

Ben Ross
2019

The American
2015

Robert Mayhawk
2015

Linen Man
2021

Professor Campbell
2007

Mad Hatter
2020

Ken
2024

Sgt. Ballard
1981

Reverend Longway
2006
Charles
2020

Studio Boss
2009

Maurice
2008

Reverend Powell Sr.
2024

Fundraiser Demo-Tape Man
2003

Julius Hersheimmer
2015

Ronald Pike Snr
2018

Self
2007

Phillip Lamm
2019

Whitlock
1993

Self
2018

Anderson
1986

Ralph Coates
2016

Fat Curt
2000

Clem Marshwell
2019

Dr. Romano
2015

Narrator
2016

Roger Stovall
2008

Self
2007

Commander Andrews
2015

Grover T. Fleming
1989

Da Good Bishop Enoch Rouse
2012

Father Michael
2014

Moe
1998
A.B. Turnipseed
2009

Self
2015
Carson
2008

Roy Orbison (Voice)
2015

Subject #31
2009

Isaiah Page
2014

Dr. Fuchs
2019

Nelson Mandela
2009

Narrator
2019

Ola Adenuga
2010

2003

Yankee Billy
1980

Night Eagle (voice)
2009

Cider Jones
1980

Self
2007

Bob Jangles
1984

Soldier
1983

Jones
1989

Walter de Courcy
2009

Theo Sykes
1992

Alex du Bois
1987

Voice of Count Basie
2020
Wynton
2021

Frank
2010
Art

Narrator
1992

Perelman
2017

Stevie
1984

Narrator
2016

2021

1994

Laurie
1979
Harvey Fuqua

Self
2021

Singer
2022

The Narrator
2011