Carl Winston Lumbly (born August 14, 1951) is an American film, stage, and television actor. He is best known for his roles as NYPD Detective Marcus Petrie on the CBS police drama Cagney & Lacey, CIA Agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC espionage drama series Alias, and as the voice of the Martian Manhunter for the animated series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, as well as the direct-to-DVD animated film Justice League: Doom and the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us.

Biography

Born to Jamaican immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lumbly graduated from South High School there and Macalester College in nearby St. Paul.

Lumbly began his professional career as a journalist in Minnesota. While on assignment for a story about a workshop theatre he was cast as an actor and stayed with the improvisational company for two years (along with then-unknown Danny Glover).

His first major role was Detective Marcus Petrie on the television series Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988). In 1985 he appeared as Theseus in "The Gospel At Colonus," an African-American musical iteration of the Oedipus legend, which starred Morgan Freeman and The Blind Boys Of Alabama, on PBS' 'Great Performances' series.

In 1987, he garnered positive reviews for his portrayal of Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale in the HBO television movie Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8. In 1989-90, he portrayed ongoing character Earl Williams (named for the prisoner in Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's story The Front Page), a teacher falsely accused of the rape/murder of a female student, in the hit TV series L.A. Law.

From 1994-1995, Lumbly starred as the main character in the short-lived science fiction series M.A.N.T.I.S. Perhaps his most visible role was as Marcus Dixon in the American television series Alias (2001–2006). Other prominent roles include providing the voice the for Martian Manhunter on Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, and a recurring role on L.A. Law as a college professor unjustly accused of first-degree murder. He also appeared in Superman: The Animated Series as the voice of the Mayor of Metropolis on the episode "Speed Demons" in 1997, and as an alien military general in the episode "Absolute Power" in 1999. He also appeared as the voice of the villain Stalker on Batman Beyond.

In 2000, Lumbly portrayed activist and Congressman Ron Dellums in the Disney Channel original movie, The Color of Friendship. Although the movie was focused on Dellums' daughter's friendship with a white South African girl, the film also discussed Dellums' role in ending apartheid in South Africa.

Also in 2000, Lumbly guest starred in a season one episode of The West Wing entitled "Six Meetings Before Lunch" as Jeff Breckenridge, a nominee for U.S. Assistant Attorney General who supports reparations for slavery.

Lumbly appeared as Lt. Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek in the 2004 television series Battlestar Galactica. He also plays a role in the video game Command and Conquer 3 's expansion pack Kane's Wrath. Most recently, Lumbly played police captain Joe Rucker on TNT's Southland.