Carl Gilliard
Carl Gilliard hails from Chicago and Detroit and is a veteran actor, director, producer, and marketer with over three decades of experience in entertainment and media. Known for his commanding baritone voice and fearless character portrayals, Carl has captivated audiences on both stage and screen.
As an actor, his credits include major film and television projects such as Inception, Coach Carter, Red Eye, Contact, House M.D., and 24. His extensive theatrical background spans dozens of productions that showcase his depth, versatility, and passion for storytelling.
Happiness is not having what you want, it’s wanting what you have.“
– Carl Gilliard
Building on his success in performance, Carl has established himself as a discerning producer with a strong eye for talent and story development. His producing credits include the Pan African Film Festival Audience Award–winning feature Retiring Tatiana, along with Section 8 (which he also directed), Applause for Miss E, and Peaches — all available on DVD. He also produced Steel Magnolias and Dr. Gloria Morrow’s The Things That Make Men Cry, as well as the 2014 NAACP Theater Festival.
Before turning to full-time entertainment production, Carl excelled as a sales and advertising executive, holding senior positions with Variety and The Los Angeles Times, where he managed high-profile entertainment and sports advertising accounts.
Currently, Carl partners with legendary filmmaker and actor Bill Duke on a range of reality and narrative projects, including Black Diamonds, a documentary chronicling the evolution of African Americans in baseball. Together, they co-lead the Duke Media Youth Media & Financial Literacy Bootcamp, an innovative program teaching high school students in Los Angeles—and soon nationwide—about media, finance, and emerging technologies shaping the entertainment industry.