James Pickens Jr.

Biography: Pickens began his career on the stage, first in his in hometown of Cleveland, and then in New York City, appearing in critically hailed productions such as the Roundabout Theatre Company's 25th anniversary revival of A Raisin in the Sun and the Negro Ensemble Company's legendary mounting of A Soldier's Play (in which he starred opposite Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson). His theater chops served him well on the big and small screen in the 1990s, where Pickens usually played noble men of authority like detectives, judges, doctors, along with slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Ghosts of Mississippi. Recurring roles on Beverly Hills, 90210, The Practice, The X Files and Roseanne made him a familiar face to tube viewers, but the fiftysomething finally became a bold-faced name when he landed the role of Dr. Richard Webber on Grey's Anatomy. Though Webber is a recovering alcoholic, Pickens doesn't drink because his late father struggled with alcoholism, and he abstainsPickens began his career on the stage, first in his in hometown of Cleveland, and then in New York City, appearing in critically hailed productions such as the Roundabout Theatre Company's 25th anniversary revival of A Raisin in the Sun and the Negro Ensemble Company's legendary mounting of A Soldier's Play (in which he starred opposite Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson). His theater chops served him well on the big and small screen in the 1990s, where Pickens usually played noble men of authority like detectives, judges, doctors, along with slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Ghosts of Mississippi. Recurring roles on Beverly Hills, 90210, The Practice, The X Files and Roseanne made him a familiar face to tube viewers, but the fiftysomething finally became a bold-faced name when he landed the role of Dr. Richard Webber on Grey's Anatomy. Though Webber is a recovering alcoholic, Pickens doesn't drink because his late father struggled with alcoholism, and he abstains as a way of honoring him. To unwind, Pickens competes in rodeo and roping events---he owns a horse and is a member of the U.S. Team Roping Championship.… Expand