Pictured: Glenn Davis

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro has announced the addition of Glenn Davis to the Steppenwolf ensemble.

Davis recently appeared as Pastor Joshua in Steppenwolf’s production of THE CHRISTIANS by Lucas Hnath. Additional Steppenwolf productions include THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS, HEAD OF PASSES (both directed by ensemble member Tina Landau and written by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney), as well as A LESSON BEFORE DYING.

Currently, Davis is developing several film and television projects with his production company, 4th and Long Productions, whose partners include fellow ensemble members Tarell Alvin McCraney and Jon Michael Hill, among others. Next season he will appear in Steppenwolf’s production of  YOU GOT OLDER.

“Glenn is a bright, talented and committed artist, whose ongoing relationships with so many members of our company make him a perfect addition. He has been an integral part of the Steppenwolf family for many years—we have seen him grow and thrive here and we are all thrilled to finally make it official,” says Shapiro.

“I grew up in Chicago. I took my first acting class with Austin Pendleton at The School at Steppenwolf. He was the first to tell me I was talented and convinced me that I could do this for a living,” says Davis. “I remember being invited by Terry Kinney to sit in on rehearsals for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST and watching Gary Sinise, Amy Morton, K. Todd Freeman and the entire cast ‘going for broke’. I saw these actors working in a way that was very unique. They were working on one instinct, ‘get to the truth by any means’. I wanted to work in that way. I see it as my responsibility as an artist to get to the truth by any means.

In addition to his frequent work at Steppenwolf and other Chicago area theaters, Glenn Davis starred in the Broadway production of BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO opposite Robin Williams. His Off-Broadway credits include WIG OUT! (Vineyard Theatre, directed by Tina Landau). International credits include EDWARD II, THE WINTER’S TALE and AS YOU LIKE IT (The Stratford Festival) as well as OTHELLO at The Shakespeare Company. He’s also known for his television appearances in 24, THE UNIT, JERICHO, and THE GOOD WIFE. He received his BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University (formerly the Goodman School of Drama) and was the first African-American to graduate from the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at The Stratford Festival.

Formed by a collective of actors in 1976, the Steppenwolf ensemble has grown to 49 members. Since 2015, Audrey Francis, Sandra Marquez, Caroline Neff and Namir Smallwood have also been welcomed into the ensemble.

“It is an honor to be a member of this extraordinary group of artists. My start was here at Steppenwolf and I have considered it my unofficial residence for many years. It brings me great joy to now truly call it home,” comments Davis.

Steppenwolf ensemble members include: Joan Allen, Kevin Anderson, Alana Arenas, Randall Arney, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Robert Breuler, Gary Cole, Glenn Davis, Kathryn Erbe, Audrey Francis, K. Todd Freeman, Frank Galati, Francis Guinan, Moira Harris, Jon Michael Hill, Tim Hopper, Tom Irwin, Ora Jones, Terry Kinney, Tina Landau, Martha Lavey, Tracy Letts, John Mahoney, John Malkovich, Sandra Marquez, Mariann Mayberry, Tarell Alvin McCraney, James Vincent Meredith, Laurie Metcalf, Amy Morton, Sally Murphy, Caroline Neff, Bruce Norris, Austin Pendleton, Jeff Perry, William Petersen, Yasen Peyankov, Martha Plimpton, Rondi Reed, Molly Regan, Anna D. Shapiro, Eric Simonson, Gary Sinise, Namir Smallwood, Lois Smith, Rick Snyder, Jim True-Frost and Alan Wilder.

For more information on Steppenwolf visit steppenwolf.org.