BY AAGD STAFF
January 24, 2019
55-year old, Kansas City, (M0) native and actor Don Cheadle Jr. has a lot more going on in his life than films and movies these days. This distinguished actor, author, director, producer and writer, has been tapped to help the USGA promote its various missions. Specifically, the NAACP Award Winning Cheadle will help the USGA raise awareness about the value of public golf while brandishing his soulfully smooth voice in PSAs throughout the year.
Known for his early roles in Hamburger Hill, and as the gangster “Rocket” in the film Colors, Cheadle built his career in the 1990s with roles in Devil in a Blue Dress, Rosewood and Boogie Nights. These days, a 15-second U.S. Open promo featured the golfer/actor Cheadle ahead of a Sunday NFL wild-card playoff game. The commercial was intended as a teaser for this year’s championship at Winged Foot in June.
An avid golfer, who has played as low as to a 7-handicap, In 2008, Cheadle’s family history was profiled on the PBS series African American Lives 2. A DNA test revealed that Cheadle is of Cameroonian descent. Another DNA test revealed that among his African ancestry, one-third comes from the region from Senegal to Liberia, just over one-quarter comes from the Congo-Angola region, and the rest comes from western Nigeria and Benin.
“Growing up, I used to play public courses with my father, and I have some great memories of those rounds,” Cheadle said in a press release. “I want to make sure that future generations of golfers are able to have access to the same opportunities that I was able to benefit from.”
Cheadle will help highlight the USGA’s research efforts and technological innovations to promoting golf’s role in being good environmental stewards. He’ll also serve as a brand ambassador for the U.S. Open as the USGA launches a new brand campaign around the national championship at the USGA Annual Meeting in February.
“We are thrilled to work with someone as passionate about the health of the environment and the state of the game of golf as Don Cheadle,” says Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “His prominence and support for these important causes make him a perfect fit for a collaboration with the USGA and to serve as a voice for fans of the U.S. Open.”
