Don Cheadle is a highly decorated and celebrated Hollywood talent who has crafted an illustrious resume over his nearly four-decade career. Having first made a name for himself in roles in acclaimed films like Devil in a Blue Dress, Boogie Nights, and Out of Sight, Cheadle’s ongoing collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh helped land him memorable roles in celebrated flicks like Traffic, the Ocean’s trilogy, and No Sudden Move.
Cheadle famously replaced Terrence Howard as Rhodey/War Machine in Iron Man 2, launching an enduring and lucrative partnership for the actor with the MCU. He received an Academy Award nomination for his career-defining role in Hotel Rwanda and has also been the recipient of two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Let’s take a peek at some of Don Cheadle’s best performances so far.
10 Devil in a Blue Dress
Don Cheadle shared the screen with Denzel Washington and Tom Sizemore in the 1995 neo-noir mystery thriller Devil in a Blue Dress, which takes place in 1940s Los Angeles and follows out-of-work World War II veteran Easy Rawlins (Washington) as he is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a mysterious woman (Jennifer Beals), and he quickly realizes the case is far more complicated and dangerous than he ever could have imagined.
Cheadle stars as Easy's old friend Mouse in the underrated '90s hit, whom he enlists to help solve the baffling mystery, and the duo set out to discover the truth by any means necessary
9 The Guard
In the 2011 buddy cop comedy The Guard, rude-and-crude Irish officer Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is forced to team up with buttoned-up American FBI agent Wendell Everett (Cheadle) in an effort to investigate and uncover an international drug-trafficking ring and potential police corruption among their old superiors. The mismatched partners must get over their mutual disdain for one another if they hope to crack the case, leading to sidesplitting shenanigans from the polar opposite pair.
The entertaining flick was a knockout with critics and audiences, garnering rave reviews for its offbeat storyline, lively humor, and the undeniable chemistry between Gleeson and Cheadle; the latter star went on to win a Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor.
8 Crash
Paul Haggis directed the star-studded 2004 crime drama Crash, which touts a dynamic cast of Hollywood's finest performers including Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillion, Don Cheadle, and Brendan Fraser, and chronicles the interconnected lives of a group of Los Angeles citizens as they are faced with racism and mounting social tensions over the course of a 36-hour period.
Cheadle was phenomenal as Detective Graham Waters, who is tasked with investigating a series of murders related to racial tensions alongside his partner Ria (Jennifer Esposito) and makes an eye-opening discovery.
Despite being a triumph upon its release, Crash attracted some controversy when it won the Academy Award for Best Picture over heavily favored Brokeback Mountain, with many considering it a major Oscar upset. Regardless, Cheadle delivered a compelling performance as Waters, earning a BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild nod for his memorable role.
7 Out of Sight
George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez showcased their sizzling chemistry on the big screen when they starred in Steven Soderbergh's 1998 crime comedy Out of Sight. The movie focuses on notorious career bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney) as he breaks himself out of prison and kidnaps the beautiful and fiery Federal Marshal Karen Sisco in the process, with sparks flying between the two despite being on opposite sides of the law. Cheadle, Ving Rhames, and Isaiah Washington appear as fellow thieves that Jack teams up with to carry out a high-stakes robbery, in hopes of getting cash quick to go on the run.
Out of Sight was a smash hit with both critics and audiences, earning over $77 million and attracting praise for its slick screenplay and unforgettable characters, while the fantastic pairing of Clooney and Lopez was also singled out. The comedy won three awards from the National Society of Film Critics including Best Film, and has gone on to become a celebrated cult classic of its genre.
6 Ocean's Trilogy
Don Cheadle once again joined forces with Steven Soderbergh when he co-starred in the brilliant director's 2001 blockbuster heist comedy Ocean's Eleven, a remake of the '60s Rat Pack staple.
It follows ex-con Danny Ocean (George Clooney) as he concocts an intricate and high-stakes heist that involves stealing $160 million from Las Vegas casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy García). Hollywood heavy hitters like Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and Elliot Gould joined the big screen extravaganza, portraying various members of Danny's crew, with Cheadle appearing as the fast-talking explosives expert Basher Tarr.
Ocean's Eleven was a massive critical and commercial success and helped launch a lucrative and beloved franchise that spawned two popular sequels and a women-led spin-off, with the film series taking in over $1.4 billion total at the box office. The charismatic and exciting performances of its dynamic cast without a doubt helped the heist comedy become the major triumph that it became.
5 House of Lies
For five sensational seasons, Don Cheadle portrayed the charming yet manipulative management consultant Marty Kaan in the acclaimed 2012 Showtime dramedy series House of Lies. It chronicles the scheming and money-hungry firm and its eccentric associates as they attempt to get new clients by any means necessary while dealing with their own personal relationships with one another. The engrossing show featured the additional talents of stars like Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, and Josh Lawson and was a ratings success for the network throughout its television tenure.
Cheadle attracted widespread praise for his role as Kaan, winning both a Golden Globe and NAACP Image Award for his scene-stealing performance as the immoral proprietor. The Hollywood Reporter complimented the gifted actor in their review and wrote, "There's an exceptional cast in House of Lies, but everything revolves around the fact that Cheadle is riveting and impressively deft at being funny one moment, serious the next and always filled with charisma."
4 Traffic
Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones headlined the 2000 crime drama Traffic, which takes place in the dangerous world of drug trafficking and follows interwoven storylines such as two DEA agents (Cheadle & Luis Guzmán). They're determined to protect their informant and a tough-on-drugs conservative judge (Douglas) who is stunned when he discovers his teenage daughter is struggling with a drug addiction. The gritty picture depicts the United States' war on drugs as viewed from the perspectives of those directly involved in the deadly crisis.
Traffic won four Academy Awards including Best Director for Steven Soderbergh and the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, while garnering critical acclaim for its intricate story, pulse-pounding suspense, and commanding performances by its impressive ensemble. The revered crime drama helped showcase Cheadle's impeccable range as an actor and further established his growing star power in Hollywood.
3 Iron Man 2
Don Cheadle took over the role of Tony Stark's right-hand man and ultimate confidante James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the 2010 superhero blockbuster hit Iron Man 2. It follows the eponymous hero (Robert Downey Jr.) as he faces off against an unhinged Russian scientist (Mickey Rourke) determined to seek vengeance against the Stark family for past wrongdoings. Cheadle was cast as Rhodey/War Machine after Terrence Howard left the series, and only had a few hours to accept the part, doing so without knowing the character's storyline in the film.
Fans of the Marvel superhero were impressed by Cheadle's charming portrayal of Rhodes, and his on-screen camaraderie and banter with Downey Jr.'s Stark quickly became one of the flick's greatest attributes. Iron Man 2 launched Cheadle's ongoing involvement in the MCU, with the actor reprising the role in 6 future installments as well as three Disney+ original series. Cheadle will once again portray War Machine in the upcoming film Armor Wars.
2 Boogie Nights
Paul Thomas Anderson directed the 1997 period dramedy masterpiece Boogie Nights, starring Mark Wahlberg as busboy-turned-famous pornstar Eddie Adams, who after being discovered by an aspiring porn director (Burt Reynolds) becomes a sex film sensation and transforms himself into the smooth and suave star Dirk Diggler in the late '70s and early '80s.
Cheadle appears as fellow porn star Buck Swope, who skyrockets to prominence alongside Diggler and ultimately marries adult film actress Jessie St. Vincent (Melora Walters) while riding high on his success.
Widely regarded as one of the best films of all time and Anderson's greatest achievement, Boogie Nights had its worldwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was celebrated for its savvy screenplay and career-defining performances by its charismatic cast. The Chicago Tribune commended the dramedy in their review and wrote, "A beautifully made survey of '70s excess, filtered through the trashy world of the burgeoning porno film industry in southern California.
1 Hotel Rwanda
Without a doubt, Don Cheadle's most memorable and acclaimed performance was as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina in the poignant 2004 docudrama Hotel Rwanda, which chronicles the courageous efforts of the hotel manager and his wife Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo) to provide shelter and safety to refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, with his profound act of bravery saving the lives of over 1,200 refugees during the violent and deadly period in the country's history.
Cheadle was absolutely exceptional in his riveting portrayal of the human rights activist, earning both a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination for his tremendous contributions to the drama. Hotel Rwanda was regarded as one of the greatest releases of the year (and one of the most inspirational of all time) and further cemented Cheadle's status as a brilliant actor.
He opened up to Entertainment Weekly about the lauded film, stating that it "literally changed my life" while elaborating that "it brought me into a whole other aspect of activism and being out there attempting to garner support and raise awareness."
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