Reel Urban News Exclusive
When Obba Babatundé of The Bold and the Beautiful won the Emmy for Guest Performer at the 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards, the actor said, “I stand here tonight before you a man who is humbled by the experience, appreciative of the acknowledgement.”
Babatundé, who plays Julius Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful, spoke exclusively with Reel Urban News from the soap’s Los Angeles set about his Emmy triumph and his distinguished career. “For CBS the network there is only one actor that won an Emmy for CBS Daytime and you’re talking to him. I hold that with great pride.”
Babatundé, a protégé of the late Sammy Davis, Jr., has excelled on both stage and screen. The New York native first received rave reviews for his role as C. C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. That role earned Babatundé a Tony Award nomination.
Babatundé recalls that the role of Avant was originally slated for a short stint on The Bold and the Beautiful. “I came on initially to do a 15-show arc and here we are one year later, they still feel kind enough to have me on the show. I’m thrilled.”
The role of the Avant family patriarch has earned Babatundé praise from both fans and colleagues. With a talented cast that includes Karla Mosley, Anna Maria Horsford and Felisha Cooper, the Avants have become the first and only central African American family in the show’s long history.
“Julius Avant, he’s a complex individual,” says Babatundé. “He’s a man who believes in family first and foremost. He is not a perfect individual as none of us are. But he is a man of conviction. He stands by his conviction. He even admits when he’s wrong – if he believes he’s wrong.”
Babatundé’s long list of TV and film credits have made him a familiar face to viewers – and producers. Four decades of fine performances have made him one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood today.
“I say self-praise is no praise,” Babatundé explains. “So while exciting, I’m simply doing the work and hopefully the work is something that represents us well around the world.”
of The Bold and the Beautiful won the Emmy for Guest Performer at the 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards, the actor said, “I stand here tonight before you a man who is humbled by the experience, appreciative of the acknowledgement.”
Babatundé, who plays Julius Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful, spoke exclusively with Reel Urban News from the soap’s Los Angeles set about his Emmy triumph and his distinguished career. “For CBS the network there is only one actor that won an Emmy for CBS Daytime and you’re talking to him. I hold that with great pride.”
Babatundé, a protégé of the late Sammy Davis, Jr., has excelled on both stage and screen. The New York native first received rave reviews for his role as C. C. White in the original cast of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls. That role earned Babatundé a Tony Award nomination.
Babatundé recalls that the role of Avant was originally slated for a short stint on The Bold and the Beautiful. “I came on initially to do a 15-show arc and here we are one year later, they still feel kind enough to have me on the show. I’m thrilled.”
The role of the Avant family patriarch has earned Babatundé praise from both fans and colleagues. With a talented cast that includes Karla Mosley, Anna Maria Horsford and Felisha Cooper, the Avants have become the first and only central African American family in the show’s long history.
“Julius Avant, he’s a complex individual,” says Babatundé. “He’s a man who believes in family first and foremost. He is not a perfect individual as none of us are. But he is a man of conviction. He stands by his conviction. He even admits when he’s wrong – if he believes he’s wrong.”
Babatundé’s long list of TV and film credits have made him a familiar face to viewers – and producers. Four decades of fine performances have made him one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood today.
“I say self-praise is no praise,” Babatundé explains. “So while exciting, I’m simply doing the work and hopefully the work is something that represents us well around the world.”
