Young is a Washington D. C. native who grew up in South Central, LA, in the heart of Watts. At age 13, he discovered his gift and love for the performing arts. At age 15, his talents won him a scholarship to study at the Inner City Acting Academy. He later honed his skills at the USC School of Dramatic Arts under the direction of his mentor, John Houseman, who helped launch Young’s professional career. Young gained national attention when he landed the role of Jefferson Jackson in the NBC miniseries, Freedom Road. His talents quickly caught the eye of legendary filmmaker, Norman Jewison, who cast him as Pvt. Henson in the Academy Award-nominated film, “A Soldier’s Story.” He starred as Howard Bouchard on the ABC series, Mariah, and was the infamous Judge Ratner on CSI Miami. He won critical praise for his many performances in Women of Brewster Place, The Atlanta Child Murders, Simple Justice, The Day After, Any Day Now, Serving in Silence, and Lock Up. He appeared Off Broadway in the Mark Taper Forum production of In the Belly of the Beast, and followed with performances in Caucasian Chalk Circle, Taming of the Shrew (Masters Company); Fraternity, The Gospel at Colonus (Ebony Repertory Theater), and The Experience (one-man tour). Young recently starred as Dr. Rollie Guthrie on the CBS medical Drama, Code Black. He currently appears in multiple recurring roles on NCIS, 911:Lone Star, This Is Us, and Good Girls. WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG Young is widely respected in the arts & entertainment community for his role in helping to broker the historic Network Agreement to diversify the ranks of actors, writers, directors, and producers in Hollywood. He is also widely respected in the American nonprofit sector for creating opportunities for hundreds of disadvantaged youth to obtain a college education through his LA-based Young Center for Academic & Cultural Enrichment. Students from over 270 schools have participated in the organization's award-winning educational programs and its diverse alumni have been accepted at over 80 U.S. colleges and universities to date. Young is a distinguished USC graduate who was ranked as the ‘#1 College Speaker in the Nation’ when he led the Trojan Debate Squad to a National Championship. His prolific skills and reputation as a dynamic orator are legendary among American students of forensic speech. Young holds a Master’s degree in Sociolinguistics, a Bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric & Theater Arts, and an Associates degree in Communication Studies from El Camino College. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA, Directors Guild of America, Actors Equity Association, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and American Film Institute, and National Forensic Speech Assoc. Hall of Fame. Awards he has received over the years, include: Ford Foundation Freedom Unsung Award, President’s Icon Award, NAACP Social Achievement Award, Thomas Kilgore Jr. Service Award, Hero in Education Award, and Jenesse Silver Rose. He is married to educator, Dr. Helen P. Young (35+ years). The couple currently live in Los Angeles and have two sons and one granddaughter.