Frankie Faison
Known for
A distinguished American character actor of stage and screen with a rich, resonant presence. Born in Virginia, he is the only actor to appear in all the Hannibal Lecter films, most memorably as Barney the orderly in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) and 'Hannibal' (2001), and he featured in 'Coming to America' (1988). Television audiences knew him as Ervin Burrell on 'The Wire'. A dependable, dignified performer with deep theatre roots, he brings authority and humanity to authority figures and everyday men alike.
Frankie Faison
73 Movies
31 Series
A distinguished American character actor of stage and screen with a rich, resonant presence. Born in Virginia, he is the only actor to appear in all the Hannibal Lecter films, most memorably as Barney the orderly in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) and 'Hannibal' (2001), and he featured in 'Coming to America' (1988). Television audiences knew him as Ervin Burrell on 'The Wire'. A dependable, dignified performer with deep theatre roots, he brings authority and humanity to authority figures and everyday men alike.
Movies
Plays Chief Elliott Gordon
White Chicks
2004
Plays Landlord
Coming to America
1988
Plays Det. Paretti
The Thomas Crown Affair
1999
Plays Barney
The Silence of the Lambs
1991
Plays William Matheson
The Grudge
2019
Plays Eulogist
Mississippi Burning
1988
Plays John Carthan
Till
2022
Plays James
The Money Pit
1986
Plays Det. Brandt
Cat People
1982
Plays Handy
Maximum Overdrive
1986
Plays Mike
Fatherhood
2021
Plays Coconut Sid
Do the Right Thing
1989
Plays Joseph
Sommersby
1993
Plays Rhamus Twobellies
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
2009
Plays Lt. Winship
Showtime
2002
Plays Sgt. Parker
C.H.U.D.
1984
Plays Eagle Man
Freejack
1992
Plays Ticket Salesman
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
2008
Plays Travis
My Blueberry Nights
2007
Plays Barney
Red Dragon
2002
Plays Whitney Daniels
Down to Earth
2001
Plays Barney Matthews
Hannibal
2001
Plays Art
I'm Your Woman
2020
Plays Joe Dubois
The Case for Christ
2017
Plays Jim Lewis
Gods and Generals
2003
Plays Corwin
In Good Company
2004
Plays Harlan
Adam
2009
Plays Will Macklin
Highwaymen
2004
Plays Cop Driver
Hanky Panky
1982
Plays The Lloyd
The Stupids
1996
Plays Augustus
Cowgirls n' Angels
2012
Plays L.B.
Meet the Browns
2008
Plays Richter Green
Breaking Point
2009
Plays Subject #42
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
2009
Plays Jojo Andersen
The Cookout
2004
Plays Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
2021
Plays Phil Kline
Oxygen
1999
Plays Gilly
Tio Papi
2013
Plays Henry Broker
Jaded
1998
Plays Gang Member No. 1
Ragtime
1981
Plays Levonne
City of Hope
1991
Plays Detective Ron Lewis
The Rich Man's Wife
1996
Plays Agent Marv Rose
Albino Alligator
1997
Plays Security Guard
Where the Money Is
2000
Plays Zack Monroe
Betsy's Wedding
1990
Plays Robert Sterling Wilson
Mother Night
1996
Plays Roland
The Sounding
2017
Plays Be Gee
Exterminator 2
1984
Plays Dick Lacey
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
2001
Plays Madigan
Money for Nothing
1993
TV Shows
Plays Ervin Burrell
The Wire
2002
Plays Sugar Bates
Banshee: Origins
2013
Plays Sugar Bates
Banshee
2013
Plays Ron Freeman
True Colors
1990
Plays Christopher 'Cutty' Clark
The Rookie: Feds
2022
Plays Ray Peterson
Prey
1998
Plays Ron Davis
The Village
2019
Plays Walter
Ripple
2025
Plays William Bailey
Grey's Anatomy
2005
Plays Pastor Jeremiah Easton
The Good Wife
2009
Plays Buck Manzell
Hello Tomorrow!
2023
Plays Self
Black in the 80s
2005
Plays Don Gaffney
The Langoliers
1995
Plays Henry 'Pop' Hunter
Marvel's Luke Cage
2016
Plays Christopher 'Cutty' Clark
The Rookie
2018
Plays Lester Crawford
Law & Order
1990
Plays Abraham Moores
The Blacklist
2013
Plays Zudo
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Cornelius Keane
Oz
1997
Plays Jeffords
Blue Bloods
2010
Plays Mayor Beverly
Unforgettable
2011
Plays Pepper Evans
Forever
2014
Plays Pastor Jeremiah Easton
The Good Fight
2017
Plays Leroy Davis
Hawaii Five-0
2010
Plays Lee Donaldson
Bull
2016
Plays Mr. Johnson
God Friended Me
2018
Plays Charles
The Expanse
2015
Plays Clarence
The Upshaws
2021
Plays General Baxter
Army Wives
2007
Plays Jack Lyle
Monsters
1988
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Till
Full Filmography
Ripple
Walter · 8 episodes
2025–
TV
Beyond the Rush
Arthur Yearwood
2024
Film
Hello Tomorrow!
Buck Manzell · 4 episodes
2023–
TV
Till
John Carthan
2022
Film
The Rookie: Feds
Christopher 'Cutty' Clark · 22 episodes
2022–
TV
The Blacklist
Abraham Moores · 1 episode
2020–2021
TV
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.
2021
Film
Fatherhood
Mike
2021
Film
The Upshaws
Clarence · 1 episode
2021–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Frankie Faison and where are they from?
Frankie Faison is 77 years old, born on June 10, 1949 in Newport News, Virginia, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Frankie Faison?
Frankie Faison is best known for roles in The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Coming to America.
How many movies has Frankie Faison been in?
Over a 52-year career (since 1974), Frankie Faison has appeared in 73 movies and 30 TV shows.
What was Frankie Faison's first movie?
The career of Frankie Faison began with King Lear (1974).
What is Frankie Faison's most recent movie or series?
Frankie Faison's most recent release is Killing Castro, which premiered on June 9, 2026.
What TV shows has Frankie Faison appeared in?
On television, Frankie Faison has appeared in Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Blacklist, The Rookie.
Frankie Faison
1949-06-10 · Newport News, Virginia, USA
Frankie Faison is an American stage and screen actor, best known for his role as Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell in HBO's television series "The Wire", and as Barney Matthews in the "Hannibal Lecter" franchise. He studied Drama at Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, and graduated from New York Universities' Acting Program.