Age: 61
male
Donald Frank Cheadle Jr. (born November 29, 1964) is an American actor. Known for his roles in film and television, he has received multiple accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and 11 Primetime Emmy Awards. He is among a few actors who have received nominations for the EGOT. Cheadle's career started with supporting roles in Hamburger Hill (1987), Colors (1988), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Rosewood (1997), Boogie Nights (1997), and Bulworth (1998). He collaborated with director Steven Soderberghacting in Out of Sight (1998), Traffic (2000), The Ocean's Trilogy (2001–2007), and No Sudden Move (2021). Cheadle was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for portraying Paul Rusesabagina in the historical drama film Hotel Rwanda (2004). He was the co-producer of Crash, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2005. Cheadle joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe portraying James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine, beginning with Iron Man 2 (2010). On television, Cheadle earned nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his roles as Marty Kaan in House of Lies (2012–2016) and Maurice Monroe in Black Monday (2019–2021). He was further Emmy-nominated for The Rat Pack (1998), A Lesson Before Dying (1999), Things Behind the Sun (2001), ER (2002), and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). In 2016, he received his first Grammy Award, winning Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for Miles Ahead's soundtrack. In 2022, he received a second Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his narration of the audiobook Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis; he also received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.
Now publicly known to the world as Superman, Kal-El has become a global symbol of hope, while still protecting his secret identity as Clark Kent. As his presence reshapes geopolitics, the U.S. government and military grow increasingly interested in Kryptonian technology, seeing it as a potential asset they cannot afford to leave uncontrolled. Superman himself is struggling. The weight of constant scrutiny, expectations, and power brings inner conflict, as Clark is haunted by memories of two fathers: Jor-El, who believed he could lead humanity, and Jonathan Kent, who taught him humility, restraint, and compassion. This emotional pressure manifests in moments of doubt and instability, even as Clark tries to maintain a normal life at the Daily Planet. Behind the scenes, Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S. keep Clark under close surveillance. Waller repeatedly confronts Superman with the legacy of Krypton, hinting that hidden knowledge left behind by Jor-El may be the key to understanding both Superman’s limits and his future role on Earth. To monitor him more closely, A.R.G.U.S. places Dinah Lance undercover at the Daily Planet as a new reporter. Her sharp instincts and guarded demeanor create tension with the staff, especially as she quietly studies Clark’s behavior. John Corben, a bitter soldier, carries a lifelong vendetta against Superman. On the day Kal-El arrived on Earth as a baby, Corben’s father was killed and Corben himself was gravely injured when Kryptonian debris ( and what would later be known as kryptonite) fell from the sky. Years later, Corben’s hatred is reignited and exploited by Lex Luthor, a brilliant billionaire industrialist who publicly champions innovation but privately believes Superman is the greatest danger humanity has ever faced. Luthor partners with Corben to create a new kind of weapon: Kryptonian based armored technology, using different forms of kryptonite as experimental variables. Without Superman realizing it, Luthor begins testing these elements on him in public encounters. The first test occurs during a high-speed confrontation with Corben (now transformed into Metallo) while the Daily Planet staff documents the battle. Blue kryptonite unexpectedly energizes Superman, giving him an electrical surge that allows him to defeat Metallo with ease, reinforcing the public’s faith in him. The second test is far more insidious. At a lavish Luthor Gala, attended by the Daily Planet staff and designed as a media spectacle, Metallo reappears. This time, red kryptonite is used. Its effects are immediate and dangerous: Superman becomes angrier, reckless, and aggressive, causing widespread damage and making the world question whether their hero can truly be trusted. As Clark’s instability worsens, the military intervenes, unwilling to rely solely on Superman anymore. Clark’s friend John Henry Irons steps forward, donning a powerful armored suit of his own to become Steel, aligning himself with military oversight. Their friendship is tested as Steel represents a more controlled, human alternative to Superman’s unchecked power. The story reaches its climax at the Luthor Expo, Lex’s grand showcase celebrating humanity’s technological future. There, Superman must face Metallo, Luthor’s manipulation, and the truth about Kryptonian technology.
