Bio
Brian White (also credited as Brian J. White) is an American actor, dancer, football player, lacrosse player and youth activist best known for his role as Sylvester, the leader of the Theta Nu Theta fraternity, in the musical-drama feature film Stomp the Yard, in 2007.
He also starred as Joe Bishop, Catherine Chandler's (Kristin Kreuk) tough-but-fair boss, in the science fiction police procedural television drama series Beauty and the Beast, from 2012-2013.
A Boston native and son of a licensed financial consultant mother and professional basketball player father (legend JoJo White of the Boston Celtics), White was instilled with the importance of both sports and education throughout his childhood.
He studied political science, psychology and theatre at Dartmouth College.
White continued to play football and lacrosse throughout his college years and upon graduation was signed by both an NFL (New England Patriots) and NLL (Boston Blazers) team.
In 2000, due to an injury, White made the transition from professional athlete to investment broker. Later, a chance meeting with an entertainment executive led him to leave the world of finance to begin a new career in modeling and eventually acting.
White starred in Tyler Perry's romantic drama Good Deeds, and in Joss Whedon's horror film The Cabin in the Woods. Other notable film credits include Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Fighting, 12 Rounds, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, Stomp the Yard, The Game Plan, the Bollywood romantic comedy film Politics of Love, The Family Stone and Brick.
White is most recognisable to television audiences as Detective Tavon Garris on the crime drama The Shield. Other television credits include the popular role of Marcus in Men of a Certain Age, Moonlight, Moesha, The Parkers and Second Time Around, as well as Spyder Games.
White is co-founder of a multitude of ventures including the Helping Hands Celebrity Weekend (HHCW) in St. Thomas, US VI, which creates a unique arena where members of the entertainment industry, professional athletes and corporate leaders can unite and support one another's charitable efforts; Black Carpenter, which is a multi-platform youth empowerment brand that includes a book, feature documentary and speaking tour designed to create a tool box that represents the essential life skills for building a successful next generation; a professional dance company/community youth outreach organisation called Phunk Phenomenon Urban Dance Theatre.
He is also a founding partner of a full-service film, television and broadband production company based in Los Angeles, California.