Louisiana native and "The Wire" and "Treme" actor Wendell Pierce has created a 30+ year career that has spanned both television and film. No matter what his character on screen may be, off-screen, Pierce is always a man who loves his hometown of New Orleans.
Pierce was born in New Orleans, one of three sons of a teacher and a decorated World War II veteran who worked as a maintenance engineer. His father's segregated Army unit helped Marines win the Battle of Saipan in 1944. Pierce has said of his father's experience: "When the country wasn't loving my father, my father was loving his country. It's the ultimate act of patriotism."
Pierce was raised in the black middle-class community of Pontchartrain Park, the first African-American post-war suburb. His father, along with many other black veterans moved into the neighborhood after returning home from the war. The neighborhood was wiped out during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, including Pierce's family home which was flooded by 14 feet of water.
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Pierce graduated in 1981 from both Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (most NOCCA students attend traditional secondary school in the mornings and the arts school in the afternoons). In 1981, Pierce was named a Presidential Scholar of the Arts. As a young actor, he appeared in The Winter's Tale at the Tulane Shakespeare Festival. He produced and hosted Think About It, a youth-themed talk show, for the local NBC affiliate station, and also hosted a weekly jazz show on WYLD-FM Radio called Extensions from Congo Square.
Pierce then attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division from 1981 to 1985 graduating as a member of Group 14 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Pierce, who played Detective William “Bunk” Moreland on the series, was notably at a loss when fellow actor Michael K. Williams died earlier this year. He took to twitter to share his love.
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“His name was Michael K. Williams,” Pierce said in the long twitter thread, which also cited an iconic scene in Season 3 of The Wire on a park bench. “He shared with me his secret fears then stepped out into his acting with true courage, acting in the face of fear, not in the absence of it. It took me years to learn what Michael had in abundance.
He added: “He was proud of the artist he had become, asking for my advice long after he had surpassed any incite I could have shared,: he wrote of Williams. “Always truthful, never inauthentic. The kindest of persons…”
"The depth of my love for this brother, can only be matched by the depth of my pain learning of his loss. An immensely talented man with the ability to give voice to the human condition portraying the lives of those whose humanity is seldom elevated until he sings their truth."
In 2016, Pierce's home was again destroyed by flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, years after his childhood home was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Pierce was literally at a loss for words when he was asked about it by a TMZ reporter at LAX airport.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," the stated. "I just lost everything."
A noticeably shaken Pierce called the destruction "a private pain" in the video. He says he was just coming from Baton Rouge and returning to the city soon. But that's all he offered up in that brief encounter.
More than 20,000 had to be rescued in some of the worst flooding the state has ever seen. About 40,000 homes have been affected by torrential rain and devastating flooding in southeastern Louisiana, which Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has called "unprecedented" and "historic."
Yet, even with all of that pain, Pierce took to twitter and didn't think about himself. When asked by a follower how people can help him, Pierce simply said,
"Help the people of Louisiana: American Red Cross – Baton Rouge/Louisiana Chapter (225-291-4533)Baton Rouge Food Bank (225-359-9940)"
After Katrina, Pierce was very visible in the effort to rebuild and worked on several projects to help with New Orleans' recovery, including opening the Sterling Express convenience store and Sterling Farms supermarket in the city.
"My neighbors & I have flooded in Baton Rouge. I am reminded of the generosity given to my family during Katrina. Now we will care for you"
If you feel for the people of Louisiana and want to help, here's a few ways to get involved:
Money
You can donate to the Red Cross at redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by texting "LAFLOODS" to 90999.
Necessities
United Way of Southeast Louisiana is accepting donations including toiletries, cleaning kits, infant products and pet products to help families recovering from the flooding. You can find where to send goods online at www.unitedwaysela.org
Food
Second Harvest Food Bank, a Louisiana organization, says it is sending thousands of pounds of food, water and cleaning supplies to the flood victims. The group is accepting supplies and nonperishable food as well as monetary donations. Visit Give No Hunger to donate.
