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Photo of Roscoe Orman

Roscoe Orman

Actor
Born June 11, 1944 (80 years)
While a student at New York's High School of Art and Design, Orman made his theatrical debut in the 1962 topical revue "If We Grow Up." He was an early member of the Free Southern Theater for two years in the mid-1960s and a founding member of Harlem, New York's New Lafayette Theatre, where he acted in and directed numerous plays. His many other stage appearances have included roles in "Julius Caesar" and "Coriolanus" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, the Broadway production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences", and Matt Robison's one-man play "The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit" at the American Place Theatre. Orman is the recipient of an Audelco Theatre Award and a five-time nominee.

He made his feature film debut in the title role of Universal Studios' 1974 drama, Willie Dynamite and has also appeared in such films as F/X, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Follow That Bird, Twilight's Last Gleaming,The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and "Jeremy Fink And The Meaning of Life". His television credits include work on such shows as All My Children, Kojak, Sanford and Son, Cosby, Sex and the City, The Wire, andLaw & Order. He most recently appeared on episode 5 of the Garry Trudeau/Amazon streaming production Alpha House. In June 2006, Orman's memoir Sesame Street Dad: Evolution of An Actor was released. In September 2007, his children's book Ricky and Mobo was released. On October 8, 2008, he became the Chief Storyteller of AudibleKids.com (a service of Audible.com), a website for parents, teachers, and children to connect with one another and download and listen to audiobooks oniPods, MP3 players, and computers. In his role as Chief Storyteller, Orman narrates audiobooks and communicates with children, parents and teachers online and at community, literacy and library events, lectures and conferences, and via other media to encourage the use of audiobooks to help build an interest in reading and develop literacy skills. He commented on being Chief Storyteller on October 8, 2008: “When Sesame Streetbegan, television was a new and even controversial medium. But we showed how that technology, if used correctly, could become a powerful learning tool...I see the same kind of opportunity emerging today as parents and educators increasingly view iPods with skepticism. With AudibleKids.com, I believe we can help turn these players into magnificent storytellers, tools for learning, and a way to promote a lifelong love of stories and language.”

His new role was announced at a community event at The Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office commended Orman’s life work and willingness to embrace new technology to help encourage children to read books, by naming October 8, 2008 AudibleKids Day in New York City. Orman is a resident of New Jersey. He has four children, Rasheda, Solana, Miles, and Cheyenne. His son, Miles Orman, was on Sesame Street playing Gordon and Susan's adopted son Miles Robinson from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Follow That Bird
Known For
  • F/X
  • Sesame Street
  • Willie Dynamite
  • The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
  • You Can't Take My Daughter
  • Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
  • Elmo's Potty Time
  • Elmo's World: Elmo Has Two! Hands, Ears & Feet
  • Sesame Street: C is for Cookie Monster
  • Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers
  • Kids' Favorite Songs
  • Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital
  • Sesame Street: Play-Along Games and Songs

Filmography

2024
Jim Henson: Idea Man · as Gordon (archive Footage)
2020
2020
2020
2019
Holiday Rush · as Reginald Miller
2019
2018
All These Small Moments · as Dr. Rogers
2018
New Amsterdam (2018) (TV Series) · as Rodger Conway
2016
The Night Of (TV Series) · as Jury Foreman
2013
Alpha House (TV Series) · as Randall
2012
2011
2011
2010
Blue Bloods (TV Series) · as Ethan Goodwin
2010
2010
2009
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days · as Gordon (uncredited) (archive Footage)
2009
Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo · as Gordon Robinson
2007
Ready for School · as Gordon
2006
2006
30 Days · as Jo Jo
2006
Elmo's Potty Time · as Gordon
2005
2004
2003
2003
2002
2002
The Wire (TV Series) · as Off. Oscar Requer
1999
American Pimp · as Willie Dynamite
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Bryant Davis
1999
1999
1998
Sex and the City (TV Series) · as Train Waiter
1998
Elmopalooza! · as Gordon
1996
Elmo's World (TV Series) · as Hand
1996
1996
Cosby (TV Series) · as Mr. Mason
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Gordon
1995
New Jersey Drive · as Judge
1994
1993
1993
1991
1990
Law & Order (TV Series) · as Mr. Cameron
1990
1989
1989
Hard Time on Planet Earth (TV Series) · as Captain Ralston
1989
A Man Called Hawk (TV Series) · as Malcolm
1988
1987
Sing Along · as Gordon
1986
F/X · as Captain Wallenger
1986
1986
1985
1983
1979
Coriolanus · as Adrian
1979
Julius Caesar · as Marcus Brutus
1978
1974
Willie Dynamite · as Willie
1973
Kojak (TV Series) · as Lieutenant Connors
1973
Sesame Street (German) (TV Series) · as Gordon Robinson
1972
Sanford and Son (TV Series)
1970
All My Children (TV Series) · as Tyrone (1976)
1969
Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Gordon Robinson
1960
Insight (TV Series) · as Body Guard

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