Leon: From Basketball Court to Stage and Screen

Leon Robinson takes us on an intimate journey through his extraordinary career path, revealing how a pivotal moment—choosing a theater performance over a basketball game—changed the trajectory of his life forever. 

From his early days as an "all-everything" basketball star with multiple scholarship offers to becoming one of Hollywood's most versatile actors, Leon shares candid insights about the unexpected turns that shaped his multifaceted career. His refreshing honesty about working with legends like Dennis Hopper, John Candy, and Tupac Shakur offers a rare glimpse into the collaborative nature of filmmaking.

The conversation explores Leon's iconic roles across films that have touched different audiences—"Cool Runnings" internationally, "The Five Heartbeats" in African American communities, "The Temptations" broadly, and "Waiting to Exhale" among female viewers. He reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes details, including the truth about the singing performances in biographical films: "No one can sing like David Ruffin," he explains, describing how productions use remastered recordings to maintain authenticity.

Beyond acting, Leon discusses his passion for music with his reggae-soul band Leon and the Peoples, his deep commitment to theater (which he calls "the mother of all acting"), and his current work as a producer-director through Motion Mob Films. His upcoming project "The Pope of Avenue B" showcases his continued dedication to unique storytelling.

Throughout our conversation, Leon's philosophy emerges clearly: he considers himself first and foremost a storyteller, finding different mediums to express this core passion. Whether on screen, stage, or through music, his artistic versatility and commitment to authentic representation shine through. Follow Leon's journey as he continues creating compelling stories across multiple entertainment platforms.