Jean-Claude La Marre

American actor

Jean Claude La Marre is a Haitian American actor, writer, and director. His acting credits include the films Malcolm X and Dead Presidents. On television, he has guest starred on New York Undercover, Law & Order, and NYPD Blue. He is also the writer and director of the independent films Gang of Roses and Go for Broke.

La Marre was born in Brooklyn and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Brooklyn College. At 22 years old, he served as chairman of the University Student Senate at the City College of New York. LaMarre also won the 1992 National Collegiate debate tournament held in Boulder, Colorado. He was discovered by Spike Lee at a commencement brunch. He is an American of Haitian descent.

In 1994, La Marre appeared as Jake in Fresh. La Marre's Color of the Cross, is a film that portrays Jesus as a black man, and implies that Christ's persecution was a racially motivated hate crime. His directorial debut was the film Higher Ed. In 2007, LaMarre set up a distribution output deal for his film label, Nulite Media Group. During the period, he was credited for releasing over 60 feature films. Among the films released through the label are the revisionist western, Gang of Roses, Trapped: Haitian Nights, Broom Wedding, and Nora's Hair Salon, with a cameo by Whitney Houston in the film. In 2017, he wrote and directed "Kinky", a 50 Shades of Grey esque erotic thriller. The film as released on 700 screens around the country. In 2018, he wrote and directed the upcoming film "Gangland" with singer Tamar Braxton and actors Wood Harris and Clifton Powell.

+YearTitleRoleNotes1992Malcolm XBenjamin 2X1994FreshJake1995The Walking DeadPvt. Earl Anderson1995Denise Calls UpCab Driver1995Sweet NothingBeany1995Dead PresidentsRamsuer1996BasquiatShenge2001Higher EdMelvin2002Go for BrokeMouse2003Gang of RosesBaby Face Malone2004Nora's Hair SalonDevin2004Sugar ValentineSugar Valentine2005Go for Broke 2Mouse2005County GeneralCraig2005Brothers in ArmsSlim2005Ride or DieLucky2005Pastor JonesPastor Jones / Grandpa SlickDirect to video2006VooDoo Curse: The GiddehTribal Leader2006Pastor Jones 2: Lord Guide My 16 Year Old DaughterGrandpa Slick / Pastor JonesDirect to video2006Color of the CrossJesus Christ2007Black Woman's Guide to Finding a Good ManThe HostDirect to video2007Pastor Jones: Sisters in SpiritPastor JonesDirect to video2008Don't Touch If You Ain't Prayed 22008Pastor Jones: Samuel and Delia2008Color of the Cross 2: The ResurrectionYeshua2008Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut AboveDevin2009Pastor Jones: Sisters in Spirit 2Pastor JonesDirect to video2009Pastor Jones: Preachin' to the Choir2009Pastor Jones: My Sister Loves You2010Trapped: Haitian NightsDetective Stewart2010Pastor Jones: The Complete First SeasonPastor JonesDirect to video2011Kassava JerksTrevor2011BffJacque2011Sugar Valentine 2Sugar2011Nora's Hair Salon 3: Shear DisasterDevin2012Gang of Roses II: Next GenerationJacob2012What Men ThinkPastor Jones2013The Sins of Deacon Whyles2014Assistant Motives2014Basketball GirlfriendThe Hatian2015Chocolate CityPastor Jones2017Chocolate City: Vegas Strip2018KinkyDr. Richardson2018GangLandDetective Williams