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Julius Tennon

Julius Tennon

Actor and producer · Born December 24, 1953 (72) · Travis County, Texas, USA

Julius Tennon is an accomplished film, television, and theatre producer and actor with over thirty years of experience. A native of Austin, Texas, he began as both a thespian and a star linebacker. Julius was offered a full football scholarship to the University of Tulsa, where he became the very first African American to graduate from the theatre department. His notable screen credits include: The Simone Biles Story, Batman v. Superman, Get On Up, Fame, Friday Night Lights, and Dazed and Confused, and popular television shows such as Criminal Minds and Lonesome Dove, among many others. In 1999, Julius was blessed to meet the love of his life, Viola Davis, on the set of the CBS series City of Angels. They were married four years later. A couple in every sense of the word, their greatest joy comes from sharing both their life and art together. Julius and Viola have shared both the stage and screen, appearing in such notable projects as How to Get Away With Murder and Lila and Eve, the first film they also produced together.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 24, 1953 (72)
From
Travis County, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 37% in 30 days

What are Julius Tennon's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Self
19%
Survival
16%
Bonds
14%
Society
14%
Power
13%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 3 · Dark 7

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Hopeful
8
Melancholic
6
Triumphant
5
Contemplative
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Julius Tennon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Julius Tennon's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • ASALI: Power of the Pollinators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Executive Producer

  • G20(2025)

    Producer · as CIA Director Mikkelson

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Silver Dollar Road(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Air(2023)

    as James Jordan

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Woman King(2022)

    Producer · as Moru

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The First Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

  • Hungry for Answers(2022)

    Show Producer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Giving Voice(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • In a Man's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 4 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer

  • Operation Othello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Captain Othello

  • Emanuel(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Last Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 7 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar(2018)

    as Ron Biles

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Night Shift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Executive Producer

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)

    as General Security Chief

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Custody(2016)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Lila & Eve(2015)

    Producer · as Ben

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Desmond

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Get on Up(2014)

    as Grandpa Byrd

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Fame(2009)

    as Denise's Dad

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Architect(2006)

    as Arthur Freeman

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story(2006)

    as Mr. Emanuel

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Buford

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Det. Waters

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Friday Night Lights(2004)

    as Coach James

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Screen Door Jesus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Fallon Conroy

  • Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer

  • City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. James Holly

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer #1

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • NewsRadio(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Stegman · as Uniform Cop

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnie Carlson

  • Dazed and Confused(1993)

    as Mr. Payne

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Shadow Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ron Fuller

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as FBI Agent

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life(1992)

    as Tug McFall

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Hard Promises(1991)

    as Football Coach

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind(1991)

    as Ranger Harvey

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Pair of Aces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Ranger Harvey

  • Trapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Detective

  • Riverbend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sgt. Tony Marx

  • It Takes Two(1988)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains(1987)

    as Nub

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Red Headed Stranger(1986)

    as Messenger

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Confessions of a Serial Killer(1985)

    as Arresting Officer #2

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • North & South: Book 1, North & South(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Micah

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • A Menina Que Voa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Ally Clark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Ascent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Black Boys Don't Sew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Mfinda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Ripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

  • Rise of the Empress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Executive Producer

  • The Personal History of Rachel DuPree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • The Untamed: A Sinner's Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Two Butterflies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles, 47 of them dated from 1985 to 2025; peak year 2022.

Biggest box office

The Woman King (2022)

$98M worldwide

Highest rated

Air (2023)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

The Woman King (2022)

Film career

19852025

Peak 2022 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 57: 39 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thProducing18 of 57: 15 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew1 of 57: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

57 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s7 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s10 · 7 acting · 3 crew2020s6 · 3 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Julius Tennon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 23; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 37 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · producer

Hungry for Answers (2022)

99th percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dazed and Confused (1993)

Midcredits 94th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 58. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Julius Tennon's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 68 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 19 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 16 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Julius Tennon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Julius Tennon's MovieCove titles; Viola Davis shares the most, 10.