Dulé Hill - The West WingDulé Hill (born May 3, 1975) is an American actor and tap dancer. He is known for his roles as personal presidential aide (body man) Charlie Young on the NBC drama television series The West Wing, and as pharmaceutical salesman-private detective Burton “Gus” Guster on the USA Network television comedy-drama Psych. He has also had minor roles in the movies Holes and She’s All That. Hill also serves as a member of the Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Board of Directors.

Early Life

Hill was born in East Brunswick, New Jersey, to parents Jennifer and Bertram Hill (both are from Jamaica). He studied ballet from an early age, and performed in the musical The Tap Dance Kid as Savion Glover’s understudy on Broadway, then played the part on the show’s national tour. Hill graduated in 1993 from Sayreville War Memorial High School, in Sayreville, New Jersey, and studied business finance at Seton Hall University and acting at William Esper Studio. While at Seton Hall, he accepted a role on Jim Henson’s CityKids.

Career

His first film role, in Sugar Hill, came in 1993 during his second senior year of high school. During his time at Seton Hall, he was cast in a starring role in Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk on Broadway.

In 1999 Hill was cast on The West Wing as Charlie Young, personal aide to President Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen). During the sixth season of the series, Charlie became a Special Aide to the Chief of Staff. Hill starred as Charlie for six seasons before he chose to leave the show at the beginning of the seventh season (September 2005) to star in the pilot for the new television show Psych for the USA Network, which premiered July 7, 2006. However, when the announcement was made that The West Wing would be ending in May 2006, Hill returned for the show’s last episodes.

Hill also had roles in She’s All That in 1999 starring Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook (he later reunited with Cook & Prinze in Psych), as a Los Angeles doctor named Owen in the movie and series 10.5, and the Disney movie Holes as Sam the Onion Man (the movie itself was referenced in the Psych episode “65 Million Years Off”), and in The Guardian.

Hill also has appeared on Broadway in Stick Fly (December 2011 to February 2012) and After Midnight (November 2013).

Personal Life

Hill married actress Nicole Lyn in 2004. Hill filed for legal separation from her in 2012 citing irreconcilable differences.

Awards and Honors

  • Emmy Awards
    • 2002, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series- “The West Wing” (Nominated)
  • Image Awards
    • 2009, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series-“Psych” (Nominated)
    • 2008, Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series-“Psych” (Nominated)
    • 2005, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special- 10.5 (Nominated)
    • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Nominated) 2001, 2002, 2004 & 2005
  • Screen Actors Guild Awards
    • 2006- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Nominated)
    • 2005- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Nominated)
    • 2004- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Nominated)
    • 2003- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Nominated)
    • 2002- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Won)
    • 2001- Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series-“The West Wing” (Won)

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