Life in Film: Don Cheadle

Lights! Camera! Action!

Movie Icon - Don Cheadle is set to be honored with the Excellence in the Arts Award at the American Black Film Festival Awards. His contribution to the film world is hard to go unnoticed, with such a diverse filmography. From Devil in a Blue Dress to Hotel Rwanda, take a look at Don Cheadle's journey.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival) 

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Movie Icon - Don Cheadle is set to be honored with the Excellence in the Arts Award at the American Black Film Festival Awards. His contribution to the film world is hard to go unnoticed, with such a diverse filmography. From Devil in a Blue Dress to Hotel Rwanda, take a look at Don Cheadle's journey.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival) 

Moving Violations (1985) - Don Cheadle's humble beginning as an actor began when he played a burger joint employee in the 1985 comedy Moving Violations. This film was his introduction to the world as an actor on the rise.(Photo: Twentieth Century FOX Film Corporation)

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Moving Violations (1985) - Don Cheadle's humble beginning as an actor began when he played a burger joint employee in the 1985 comedy Moving Violations. This film was his introduction to the world as an actor on the rise.(Photo: Twentieth Century FOX Film Corporation)

Hamburger Hill (1987) - Two years after his appearance in Moving Violantions, he starred in the warm film Hamburger Hill about the assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. Cheadle played the role of rifleman/machine gunner David Washburn. (Photo: Alex Bowie/Getty Images)

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Hamburger Hill (1987) - Two years after his appearance in Moving Violantions, he starred in the warm film Hamburger Hill about the assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment. Cheadle played the role of rifleman/machine gunner David Washburn. (Photo: Alex Bowie/Getty Images)

Colors (1989) - Starring alongside Sean Penn and Robert Duvall, Don played Rocket in the 1988 American police action crime film Colors. His early roles showed that he had a passion for shedding light on the stories of those in the armed forces.(Photo: Orion/MGM)

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Colors (1989) - Starring alongside Sean Penn and Robert Duvall, Don played Rocket in the 1988 American police action crime film Colors. His early roles showed that he had a passion for shedding light on the stories of those in the armed forces.(Photo: Orion/MGM)

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) - The world really took notice of Cheadle for his portrayal of Mouse Alexander in the iconic film Devil in a Blue Dress. Starring alongside Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, the actor won a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance.(Photo: TriStar Pictures/Getty Images)

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Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) - The world really took notice of Cheadle for his portrayal of Mouse Alexander in the iconic film Devil in a Blue Dress. Starring alongside Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, the actor won a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance.(Photo: TriStar Pictures/Getty Images)

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Hotel Rwanda (2004) - With all eyes on him following his performance in Devil in a Blue Dress, Don went on to star in the genocide drama film Hotel Rwanda. His performance went on to earn him an Oscar nomination in the category for Best Actor.(Photo: Lions Gate Entertainment)

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Hotel Rwanda (2004) - With all eyes on him following his performance in Devil in a Blue Dress, Don went on to star in the genocide drama film Hotel Rwanda. His performance went on to earn him an Oscar nomination in the category for Best Actor.(Photo: Lions Gate Entertainment)

Crash (2005) - The actor wore two hats, both starring in and co-producing the film Crash, which went on to win the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture. He played the role of Detective Graham Waters in the film.(Photo: Lions Gate Entertainment)

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Crash (2005) - The actor wore two hats, both starring in and co-producing the film Crash, which went on to win the 2005 Academy Award for Best Picture. He played the role of Detective Graham Waters in the film.(Photo: Lions Gate Entertainment)

Traitor (2008) - For a second time, he starred in and produced the spy thriller film Traitor. He played Samir Horn, an Arabic-speaking Sudanese-American and devout Muslim in the film, showing his intensely diverse chops as an actor.(Photo: WENN.com)

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Traitor (2008) - For a second time, he starred in and produced the spy thriller film Traitor. He played Samir Horn, an Arabic-speaking Sudanese-American and devout Muslim in the film, showing his intensely diverse chops as an actor.(Photo: WENN.com)

Hotel for Dogs (2009) - Proving that he can't be put in a box, Don played Bernie in the 2009 DreamWorks Pictures film Hotel for Dogs. The film went on to become a major hit with two seques being released years after.(Photo: Dreamworks Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies)

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Hotel for Dogs (2009) - Proving that he can't be put in a box, Don played Bernie in the 2009 DreamWorks Pictures film Hotel for Dogs. The film went on to become a major hit with two seques being released years after.(Photo: Dreamworks Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies)

Iron Man 2 (2010) - Returning to the action route, Cheadle took on the role of James Rhodes in the 2010 superhero film Iron Man 2, where he replaced Terrence Howard. The Marvel film went on to gross more than $600 million in the box office.(Photo: Francois Duhamel/Marvel Entertainment)

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Iron Man 2 (2010) - Returning to the action route, Cheadle took on the role of James Rhodes in the 2010 superhero film Iron Man 2, where he replaced Terrence Howard. The Marvel film went on to gross more than $600 million in the box office.(Photo: Francois Duhamel/Marvel Entertainment)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - Standing the test of time and relevance for all these years, Don Cheadle recently reprised his role as Col. James Rhodes again, in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron. The film ended up being one of the biggest box office smashes in history, earning more than $1.4 billion to date.(Photo: Marvel Entertainment)

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Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - Standing the test of time and relevance for all these years, Don Cheadle recently reprised his role as Col. James Rhodes again, in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron. The film ended up being one of the biggest box office smashes in history, earning more than $1.4 billion to date.(Photo: Marvel Entertainment)