Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder(born December 25, 1952)[2]is an American actress. She portrayed Mo'at in theAvatarfranchise,Amanda Wallerin various DC media, andClaudette Wymsin theFXpolice drama seriesThe Shield(2002–2008). She has received fourPrimetime Emmy Awardnominations for her roles inThe X-Files,ER,The Shield,andThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

CCH Pounder
Pounder in 2002
Born
Carol Christine Hilaria Pounder

(1952-12-25)December 25, 1952(age 72)
NationalityAmerican
EducationEast Sussex College
Ithaca College(BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Boubacar Kone
(m.1990; died2016)
[1]
Children3
Websitecchpounder.netEdit this at Wikidata

Pounder portrayed Dr. Angela Hicks in the medical drama seriesER(1994–1997), Irene Frederic inWarehouse 13(2009–2014), and District Attorney Tyne Patterson inSons of Anarchy(2013–2014). From 2014 until the show's conclusion in 2021, she portrayed medical examiner Dr.Loretta Wadeon the police drama seriesNCIS: New Orleans.Pounder was also the voice of the recurring role of Kadma onW.I.T.C.H.,as well as the voice ofAmanda Wallerin the animated showJustice League Unlimited(2004–2006), a role that she has reprised in laterDC Comicsmedia.

In film, she appeared inAll That Jazz(1979),Go Tell It on the Mountain(1984),Prizzi's Honor(1985),Bagdad Cafe(1987),Postcards from the Edge(1990),Psycho IV: The Beginning(1990),Benny & Joon(1993),Demon Knight(1995),Face/Off(1997),End of Days(1999),Orphan(2009),Avatar(2009),The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones(2013), andGodzilla: King of the Monsters(2019).

Early life

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Pounder was born inBritish Guiana(nowGuyana)[3]on December 25, 1952.[4]Her full name of Carol Christine Hilaria was given in honor of her grandmothers and godmothers.[3]She was raised on asugar plantationthat her father Ronald Arlington Pounder managed.[3]Her mother Betsy Enid Arnella (nee James) worked at theUnited States Embassywhile the family lived in London, England.[5]Pounder attended aCatholicboarding school inSussex, England.[5]

She matriculated atHastings College of Arts and Technologywhere Pounder studied painting, but dropped out as a freshman after moving to the United States.[6]Her family had already settled inNew Yorkwhile she was attending school.[6]Pounder graduated fromIthaca Collegein 1975.[7]Pounder stated her parents did not support her choice to be an actress, with her mother instead wanting Pounder to be a newscaster.[3]

Career

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Pounder made her acting debut in the filmAll That Jazz(1979).[8]She continued her career in New York City theater,[9]where she appeared inThe Mighty Gentsby playwrightRichard Wesley,andOpen Admissionson Broadway. She moved to Los Angeles in 1982.[10]She starred in the filmBagdad Café,[11]and has made smaller appearances in many other films.

She focused primarily on her television career. In the early 1980s, Pounder first appeared in guest roles onHill Street Blues,and then on several shows (The Cosby Show,L.A. Law,The X-Files,Living Single,andQuantum Leap) before landing a long-running recurring role asDr. Angela HicksonERfrom 1994 to 1997. She also co-starred in theTales From the Cryptfeature filmDemon Knight(1995). She then returned to guest appearances on other shows, includingThe Practice,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,Millennium,The West Wing(where she was considered for the role ofC. J. Cregg), and the short-lived sitcomWomen in Prison.

Pounder withAvatarco-starLaz Alonsoin December 2009

From 2002 to 2008, she starred as DetectiveClaudette Wymsin theFXpolice dramaThe Shield.[12]For this role she was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Seriesin 2005 and anNAACP Image Award.[10]She had previously been nominated for an Emmy in 1995 for guest starring inThe X-Filesand in 1997 for her supporting role onER.She has also lent her voice to several video games and animated projects, includingAladdin and the King of Thieves,True Crime: Streets of LA,Gargoylesas Desdemona and Coldfire, andJustice League Unlimitedas government agentAmanda Waller,which role she reprised for the animated film adaptation of the comic bookSuperman/Batman: Public Enemies[13]as well as the video gameBatman: Arkham Origins,its sequelBatman: Arkham Origins Blackgate,and another animated film that takes place in continuity with the games,Batman: Assault on Arkham.

Pounder was also one of the readers for theHBOfilmUnchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narrative(2003). She appeared on theSyfyseriesWarehouse 13from 2009 until its finale on May 19, 2014. Pounder also was one of the stars ofFox's cancelled 2009 sitcomBrothers.Pounder was nominated for theEmmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Seriesfor her appearance in theBBC/HBOseriesThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.She had a recurring role asDA Thyne Pattersonon the FX crime drama seriesSons of Anarchy(2013–14).[14]She co-starred inThe Mortal Instruments: City of Bones(2013). In Disney'sThe Lion Guardshe voices Kongwe, the wise old turtle.

In 1996, Pounder served as a guest judge for the 1996 Miss USA Pageant, in South Padre Island, Texas.

Advocacy

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As one of the founders of Artists for a New South Africa, Pounder has energized awareness ofpost-apartheidandHIV/AIDSissues.[15]In an interview, she said about the pandemic: "When it's this massive disease, and it's affecting things in 5,000 different ways, it requires great strength and power—and there is power in numbers. So we need to involve as many people as we can, like we do with ANSA. I call it my little engine that could. It is a remarkable, tiny organization with a huge outreach. We use actors and artists with the biggest voices so they can use every opportunity to talk about AIDS."[16]

CCH Pounder andGlenn Closeat the Peabody Awards 2006

Acting credits

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 All That Jazz Nurse Blake
Coriolanus Valeria Video
1980 Union City Mrs. Lewis
1982 I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can Anne
1984 Go Tell It on the Mountain Deborah
1985 Prizzi's Honor 'Peaches' Altamont
1987 Bagdad Cafe Brenda
1990 Postcards from the Edge Julie Marsden
1992 The Importance of Being Earnest Miss Prism
1993 Benny & Joon Dr. Garvey
RoboCop 3 Bertha
Sliver Lieutenant Victoria Hendrix
1995 Demon Knight Irene
1996 Aladdin and the King of Thieves The Oracle Voice, direct-to-video
1997 Face/Off Hollis Miller
1998 Melting Pot Lucinda Davis
Blossoms and Veils - Short
1999 Funny Valentines Ethel B.
The Big Day Pearl
End of Days Detective Marge Francis
2001 Things Behind the Sun Judge
2002 Tét Grenné Sally
Baby of the Family Nurse Bloom
2003 Unchained Memories Reader
2008 Rain Ms. Adams
Breaking the Maya Code Narrator Documentary
2009 Orphan Sister Abigail
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Amanda Waller Voice, direct-to-video[17]
Avatar Mo'at
2010 My Girlfriend's Back Constance
2012 Home Again Dulsay Mooreland
2013 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Madame Dorothea
2014 Batman: Assault on Arkham Amanda Waller Voice, direct-to-video[17]
2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Senator Williams
2022 Avatar: The Way of Water Mo'at
2023 Rustin Anna Arnold Hedgeman
2025 The Naked Gun Post-production
Avatar: Fire and Ash Mo'at Post-production
2029 Avatar 4 Filming
2031 Avatar 5 Pre-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1981 Hill Street Blues Jasmine Episode: "The Second Oldest Profession"
1982 Hill Street Blues Wilna Tucker Episode: "Little Boil Blue"
1984 Booker Jane Television film
1985 American Playhouse Deborah Episode: "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
The Atlanta Child Murders Venus Taylor 2 episodes
1986 If Tomorrow Comes Ernestine Littlechap Episode: "Episode #1.1"
Resting Place Ada Johnson Television film
As Summers Die Priscilla Television film
Valerie Mrs. Davis Episode: "Full Moon"
Cagney & Lacey Timmons Episode: "Disenfranchised"
Hill Street Blues Ms. Jones Episode: "Amazing Grace"
1986–92 L.A. Law Judge Roseann Robin Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 5-6)
1987 The Line Anna Mae Demesy Television film
On the Edge - Television film
1987–88 Women in Prison Dawn Murphy Main cast
1988 Run Till You Fall Janice Television film
Leap of Faith Roberta Television film
1989 CBS Schoolbreak Special Renee Cook Episode: "My Past Is My Own"
227 Lucinda Markle Episode: "Babes in the Woods"
Third Degree Burn Julie Cartwright Television film
Miami Vice Yvonne Episode: "Too Much, Too Late"
No Place Like Home Prue Television film
1990 Murder in Mississippi Fannie Lee Chaney Television film
Common Ground Rachel Twymon Episode: "Part I & Part II"
Quantum Leap Mama Harper Episode: "Black on White on Fire"
Psycho IV: The Beginning Fran Ambrose Television film
Cop Rock Willa Phelan Recurring cast
1991 Lifestories Roxanne Tevis Episode: "Darryl Devis"
True Colors Judge Fallows Episode: "Presumed Guilty"
1992 Home Improvement Assistant Episode: "What About Bob?"
The Cosby Show Clair's friend Episode: "Clair's Reunion"
1993 The Ernest Green Story Daisy Bates Television film
For Their Own Good Naomi Brinker Television film
Lifepod Mayvene Television film
The Disappearance of Christina Detective Davis Television film
Return to Lonesome Dove Sara Pickett Main cast
New Year Eudora Kellogg Television film
1994 Birdland Nurse Lucy Main cast
South Central Dr. LeBrock Episode: "Co-op"
Biker Mice from Mars Stonecutter Episode: "Stone Broke"
The X-Files Agent Lucy Kazdin Episode: "Duane Barry"
Robin's Hoods Vivian Castro Episode: "Unto Thyself Be True"
1994–95 Sweet Justice Judge Addison 2 episodes
1994–97 ER Dr. Angela Hicks Supporting cast (season 1-4)
1995 Zooman Ash Television film
White Dwarf Nurse Shabana Television film
Living Single Nina Shaw Episode: "Mommy Not Dearest"
Jack Reed: One of Our Own Mrs. Harris Television film
1995–96 Gargoyles Desdemona Voice, 3 episodes[17]
1996 All She Ever Wanted Dr. Marilyn Tower Television film
If These Walls Could Talk Nurse Mrs. Ford Television film
1996–98 Millennium Dr. Cheryl Andrews Recurring cast
1997 Things That Go Bump Harriet Napolean Television film
House of Frankenstein Dr. Shauna Kendall 2 episodes
1998 Final Justice Danielle Kline Television film
Little Girl Fly Away Dr. Geddes Television film
Histeria! Harriet Tubman Voice, episode: "General Sherman's Campsite"[17]
Ghost Cop Detective Episode: "Pilot"
1999 Batman Beyond Anchorwoman Voice, episode: "Rebirth"[17]
NetForce FBIDirector Sandra Knight Television film
Detention Miss Powers Voice, episode: "The Contest"
A Touch of Hope Lily Keyes Television film
1999–2000 Rocket Power Officer Shirley Voice
2000 The West Wing Deborah O'Leary Episode: "Celestial Navigation"
Rude Awakening Stacey Episode: "Plastered"
The Outer Limits Stranger Episode: "Decompression"
Cora Unashamed Ma Jenkins Television film
Disappearing Acts Mrs. Swift Television film
2000–01 Static Shock Mayor Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2001 The Practice Elaine Washington 2 episodes
Crossing Jordan Libby Bell Episode: "Mortality"
Boycott Jo Ann Robinson Television film
Strong Medicine Libby Bell Episode: "Mortality"
The District Eilen Carmicheal Episode: "To Serve and Protect"
2001–10 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Carolyn Maddox Recurring cast
2002 For the People Millie Towns Episode: "To DNA or Not to DNA"
2002–08 The Shield Claudette Wyms Main cast
2003 Jackie Chan Adventures Miss Kimber Voice, episode: "The Shadow Eaters"
2004 Girlfriends Dr. Myers Episode: "Prophet & Loss"
Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story Winnie Mandela Television film
2004–06 Justice League Unlimited Amanda Waller Voice, recurring role[17]
2005 Numb3rs Lieutenant Lee Havercamp Episode: "Vector"
2006 W.I.T.C.H. Queen Kadma Voice, recurring cast (season 2)
2007 American Masters Narrator Voice, episode: "Novel Reflections: The American Dream"
2008 The Tower Evie Television film
2009 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Mrs. Curtin Episode: "The Boy with an African Heart"
Brothers Adele Trainor Main cast
2009–14 Warehouse 13 Mrs. Irene Frederic Recurring cast
2011 Revenge Warden Sharon Stiles 2 episodes
2013 Perception FBI Psychiatrist Episode: "Warrior"
2013–14 Sons of Anarchy District Attorney Tyne Patterson Recurring cast (season 6-7)
2014 NCIS Dr. Loretta Wade[18] Episode: "Crescent City"
Beware the Batman Marion Grange Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2014–21 NCIS: New Orleans Dr. Loretta Wade Main cast
2015 Archer Claudette Kane Voice, episode: "The Kanes"
2018 The Lion Guard Kongwe Voice, episode: "The Wisdom of Kongwe"[17]
2021 The Good Fight Vinetta Clark 2 episodes
2023 Full Circle Savitri Mahabir Miniseries
2024 3 Body Problem Secretary General Lilian Joseph 2 episodes[19]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
1984 Open Admissions Mrs. Brewster Shirley Lauro Music Box Theatre,Broadway [20]

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
1997 Fallout Head Scribe Vree [17]
2003 True Crime: Streets of LA Chief Wanda Parks [17]
2013 Batman: Arkham Origins Amanda Waller
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
2014 Skylanders: Trap Team Golden Queen [21]
2016 Skylanders: Imaginators [22]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1995 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The X-Files Nominated
1996 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ER Nominated
1997 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
Audie Award Inspirational/Spiritual Grow Old Along with Me, the Best Is Yet to Be Won
Multi-Voiced Performance Nominated
Grammy Award Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album
1998 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ER Nominated
Audie Award Multi-Voiced Performance Women in the Material World Won [23]
Nonfiction, Abridged
2002 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie Boycott Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nominated
2003 Satellite Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama The Shield Won
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2004 Satellite Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Won
Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story Won
2004 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series The Shield Nominated
2005 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2006 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2007 Nominated
2008 Nominated
2009 Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Nominated
2010 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Brothers Nominated
Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Won [24][25]
Multi-Voiced Performance
2017 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series NCIS: New Orleans Nominated
2019 Nominated

References

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  1. ^Langenhennig, Susan."CCH Pounder of 'NCIS: New Orleans' turns a downtown condo into her personal art showcase".NOLA.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 20,2018.
  2. ^"CCH Pounder".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedAugust 3,2022.
  3. ^abcdElber, Lynn (March 13, 1995). "CCH Pounder's name and face are eyecatchers".The Bryan Times.
  4. ^"Today's Birthdays".The Lewiston Tribune.December 25, 2004. p. 12A.
  5. ^abBuck, Jerry (March 23, 1990). "Families' stories related in two-part CBS miniseries".The Bulletin.
  6. ^ab"CCH Pounder in new... RoboCop 3".Baltimore Afro-American.October 30, 1993. p. B4.
  7. ^"CCH Pounder '75".Ithaca College.RetrievedNovember 9,2022.
  8. ^Murray, Noel (May 18, 2010)."CCH Pounder".The A.V. Club.RetrievedNovember 9,2022.
  9. ^Scott, Vernon (June 7, 1993)."CCH Pounder -- never mind what the initials stand..."United Press International.RetrievedNovember 9,2022.
  10. ^ab"San Diego Westways by AAA, p. 61, May 2015
  11. ^Pounder's role was later played byWhoopi Goldbergin a short-lived televisionsitcom
  12. ^Barney, Chuck (September 1, 2008). "'The Shield' gears up for finale ".Reading Eagle.p. D10.
  13. ^"Superman: The Animated Series DVD news: Announcement for Superman/Batman: Public Enemies".TVShowsonDVD.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2014.RetrievedOctober 30,2014.
  14. ^Rosenberg, Alyssa (September 23, 2014)."CCH Pounder takes her wonderful voice to 'NCIS: New Orleans'".The Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 9,2022.
  15. ^"ANSA".Ansaafrica.org. Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2014.RetrievedOctober 30,2014.
  16. ^"A&U:America's AIDS Magazine".Aumag.org. Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2013.RetrievedOctober 30,2014.
  17. ^abcdefghijk"CCH Pounder (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedAugust 26,2023.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^Mitovich, Matt (February 3, 2014)."Scoop: NCIS: New Orleans Pilot Adds Sons of Anarchy's CCH Pounder, JAG Alum".Tvline.com.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
  19. ^3 Body Problem (TV Series 2024– ) - IMDb,retrievedMarch 22,2024
  20. ^"Open Admissions (Broadway, 1984)".Playbill.RetrievedJuly 13,2024.
  21. ^Toys for Bob.Skylanders: Trap Team.Scene: Closing credits, 8:40 in.
  22. ^Toys for Bob.Skylanders: Imaginators.Scene: Closing credits, 8:40 in.
  23. ^"1998 audie-awards".
  24. ^"2010 audie-awards".
  25. ^"Mandelas Favorite Folktales – Performers".August 3, 2020.
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