He married his wife Elisabeth Omilami on September 11, 1985. She is an Actress, minister, and a civil rights leader. They have two children: son Awodele and daughter Juanita..
He has appeared in many films such as Glory (1989), The Firm (1993), Gordy (1995), Remember the Titans (2000), Hounddog (2007), The Blind Side (2009), and Terminator Genisys (2015). He is perhaps best known for his role as the Drill Sergeant in Forrest Gump (1994). He was nominated for "Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" in the 2013 NAACP Image Awards for his performance in Lifetime's Steel Magnolias as Drum Eatenton.
