Bill Duke

Born on February 26, 1943, in Poughkeepsie, New York, Bill Duke has established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. His impactful career in front of and behind the camera began in the early 1970s. Duke Media Entertainment, formerly known as Yagya Productions, has been under his leadership for more than 30 years, producing acclaimed film and television content. He has also been instrumental in expanding the brand into new media technologies, including cellphone apps, games, and virtual world experiences, consistent with his dedication to ‘Edutainment’. Throughout his career, Bill Duke has been a trailblazer for African Americans in the industry, alongside veterans like Michael Shultz and Gordon Parks.

His extensive acting and directing credits include celebrated television series such as “Falcon Crest”, “Fame”, “Hill Street Blues”, “Knotts Landing”, “Dallas”, and “New York Undercover”. In film, he has appeared in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit”, “Get Rich or Die Trying”, “Deep Cover”, “Hoodlum”, “Predator”, “Menace II Society”, and “Not Easily Broken”. As a director, he has helmed notable documentaries like “Dark Girls” and “Light Girls”, both of which received NAACP Image Award nominations and were highly successful on the OWN network. He also completed production on “Blexicans”, a television pilot.

Bill Duke’s contributions have been recognized by his peers and the wider entertainment community. He was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the National Endowment of Humanities and served on the Board of the California State Film Commission, appointed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Directors Guild of America has honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Tribute. He also held the position of Chair of Howard University’s Radio, TV and Film Department.