ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-193
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
April 2, 2024
To commemorate and recognize the contributions that the award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright
has made to the District of Columbia as a native Washingtonian.
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Wright grew up in Southeast Washington, D.C. with his mother and
aunt;
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Wright graduated from St. Albans School and received a bachelor’s
degree in political science from Amherst College;
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Wright gained his first job working at Douglass Pool through the
Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program at the age of 15 years old;
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Wright landed a role in Arena Stage’s 1988 production of Lorraine
Hansberry’s “Les Blancs” in Washington, D.C.;
WHEREAS, in 1994, Jeffrey Wright won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding
Debut Performance for his role in the Broadway production, Angels in America;
WHEREAS, in 1994, Jeffrey Wright won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding
Supporting Actor in a Play for his role in the Broadway production, Angels in America;
WHEREAS, in 1994, Jeffrey Wright won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a
Play for his role as Belize in the Broadway production, Angels in America;
WHEREAS, in 1996, Jeffrey Wright gained widespread acclaim for his first starring role
as Jean-Michel Basquiat in the film, Basquiat, directed by Julian Schnabel;
WHEREAS, in 2000, Jeffrey Wright played the role of Detective Peoples Hernandez in
the film Shaft;
WHEREAS, in 2002, Jeffrey Wright was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor
in a Play for his role as Lincoln in the Broadway production, Topdog/Underdog;
1
 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
WHEREAS, in 2004, Jeffrey Wright won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an
Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
for his role in Angels in America;
WHEREAS, in 2004, Jeffrey Wright won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his role as Belize in the Broadway production
and HBO miniseries, Angels in America;
WHEREAS, in 2022, Jeffrey Wright was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his role as The Watcher in the Disney+
Marvel Studios television show, What If…?;
WHEREAS, in 2024, Jeffrey Wright is nominated by the Golden Globe Awards for Best
Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his starring role in
the 2023 film, American Fiction;
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Wright was nominated for his first Oscar award on March 10, 2024
for playing Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in American Fiction.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Jeffrey Wright Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2024”.
Sec. 2. The Council recognizes Jeffrey Wright in the District of Columbia for his
outstanding contributions to film;
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
2