Leonard Dozier

Leonard Dozier was born in Somers Point, NJ and grew up in the small town of Pleasantville, NJ, about 7 miles outside of Atlantic City. After many years of notoriety as a basketball player, Leonard turned to acting during his sophomore year in high school after convincing the principal at his high school to pay for acting classes for him. A year later, he founded Cineplay Productions while also getting cast in Showmakers Theater's production of Bram Stoker's Dracula as the maniacal Renfield Later that year, he was cast in Showmakers Theater's riveting production of "A Few Good Men." His performance, according to director Helen Vaspoli, was "among the finest she had ever seen in her 40 years of theater." Following high school, and upon being selected as an Edward J Bloustein scholar, he was accepted to The University of the Arts, Montclair State University, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and Fordham University for which he chose in honor of one of his childhood heroes, Denzel Washington. Leonard began 2012 receiving rave reviews for his starring role as the fiery and impulsive trumpeter Levee in Open Stage of Harrisburg's production of August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." He previously starred in this regional theater's production of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." Less than a month after "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" ended, Leonard won a silver ADDY Award for best TV and radio spot for his work with Boomtown Casino. He has been their official voice since March 2011. Moreover, audiences on a larger scale will see him reprise his role as Richard Allen in "Fever: 1793" on ABC in April of 2012. He formerly starred in the role in the first landmark film about Allen "Apostle of Freedom," which was produced by Mother Bethel AME Church, the church Allen founded along with the AME tradition. He also replaced actor Delroy Lindo as the film's narrator. The film premiered to more than 3 million people worldwide courtesy of a sponsorship by New York Jets All-Pro Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. 2012 will also see Leonard in a couple of films, most notably "Turning Point" alongside Ernie Hudson, Todd Bridges, Cynda Williams and Jackie Appiah which will be released theatrically worldwide. Additionally, the indie feature "Hylo," in which Leonard stars, will be seen at a number of prominent film festivals across the country. If you watch VH1 or MTV you may have seen him as the spokesperson for the new CollisionMax commercials. Walk into the new museum of the Union League in Philadelphia and you will witness his cameo appearance in the film "Gentlemen in Crisis." Additionally, he has become a friend of the world-premiere stage production having starred as Colonel John Mckee in "A Gift From John Mckee" about the wealthiest African-American in the country circa 1900, "Heartbreaker"at the Eugene O' Neill Theater in Waterford, Connecticut and "Battlecry," in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania--directed by Tony-nominee and Broadway's Gabe Barre with music composed by Hollywood's Paul Bogaev. He is also set to star in a stage musical about the life of the legendary Luther Vandross, written by him, for which he will play Luther in 2013. He has starred off-Broadway and has toured in a couple of shows including "A Raisin in the Sun." , He was the voice behind American Idol Ruben Studdard's national television promo which was seen on BET, Lifetime, and MTV. Also, his audiobook narration of Dr. Creflo Dollar's "8 Steps to Create the Life You Want" is in major bookstores nationwide. An accomplished singer/songwriter as well, his song 'This Thanksgiving' has gotten commercial radio airplay across the country. In November of 2011, he produced and directed a music video based on the song.