Actor

Keith David: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films: 116
on screen: 1982–2026
box office: $1.66B
nomination: 1
average score: 56

Born: June 4, 1956 (age 70)
Birthplace: Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Full name: Keith David Williams
Citizenship: American
Occupations: Actor
Years active: 1977-present
Spouses: Margit Edwards, Dionne Lea Williams
Children: 3

Known for

The Best Keith David Movies

The highest-rated films Keith David is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox (2025) scores highest, at 88. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Keith David's Career in Numbers

Keith David's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Keith David works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Thing (1982) to Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026), and the 2020s were the busiest decade.

Keith David Movies by Decade

1980s 10
1990s 18
2000s 25
2010s 27
2020s 28

The 2020s were Keith David's busiest decade, with 28 films.

Keith David Movies by Genre

Drama 18
Comedy 15
Documentary 15
Action 14
Horror 9
Thriller 8
Adventure 5
Animation 4
Crime 4
Tv movie 3

Drama is the genre Keith David has worked in most, with 18 films, ahead of comedy (15).

Keith David Career Milestones

First film: The Thing 1982
Biggest box office hit: Mufasa: The Lion King $723M worldwide
Best-rated film: Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox Movie Echo Score 88
Newest film: Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice 2026

116 credits

Keith David Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Keith David is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 56. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Keith David Movies as an Actor

108

Keith David in Documentaries & Specials

1 nomination

Keith David: Awards & Nominations

1 nomination across 1 award body. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards

30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Keith David: Nominated Outstanding Cast American Fiction

Biography

Who Is Keith David?

Keith David was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. in 1956 and is 70 years old. Credited on films since 1982, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Keith David also known as Keith David Williams, was born on June 4, 1956. He is an American actor renowned for his deep voice and captivating screen presence which spans over 300 roles in various media such as film, stage, television, and interactive media. Some of his notable works include films like The Thing, Platoon, Novocaine, American Fiction, and many others. In television, he has had significant roles, such as playing Elroy Patashnik in the NBC series Community, and the character Bishop James Greenleaf on the drama Greenleaf from Oprah Winfrey Network.

Apart from his acting, Keith's voice-over career is exceptionally successful, having won an Emmy for his work in The War and Muhammad Ali, both by Ken Burns. Audiences may be familiar with his work as the narrator for these documentaries as well as his roles in animated films like The Princess and the Frog and Coraline. Even in the gaming industry, Keith David has made significant contributions; lending his voice to popular video games like Halo, Saints Row, and Mass Effect. Given his vast range of work, Keith's talent in acting and voice-over work has left a significant footprint across multiple platforms of entertainment media.

Works with

Who Keith David Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Keith David shares the most films with. John Carpenter comes first, with 6 films together, followed by Danny Trejo (4).

FAQ

Keith David: Questions & Answers

How many movies Keith David has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Keith David been in?

Keith David is credited on 116 films, from 1982 to 2026. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Keith David's highest-grossing movie?

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) is Keith David's biggest box office hit, with $723M worldwide, ahead of The Princess and the Frog (2009) ($267M). Across every film with box office figures, Keith David's movies have made $1.66B.

Keith David's biggest hits

What is the best Keith David movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Keith David's best-rated film is In Search of Tomorrow (2022) with a score of 89, followed by Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox (2025) (88).

Best Keith David movies, ranked

Has Keith David won an Oscar?

Keith David has not been nominated for an Oscar. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Keith David has 0 wins from 1 nomination.

How old is Keith David?

Keith David is 70 years old, born on June 4, 1956 in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, U.S..

What is Keith David's newest movie?

The most recent film on Keith David's filmography is Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026), in the role of Sosa.

Who does Keith David work with most often?

Keith David shares the most films with John Carpenter (6 films), Danny Trejo (4 films) and John C. McGinley (4 films).

The Best Keith David Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 116 credits.

See the ranking

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