Keith David was born in Harlem and already as a child, playing the Cowardly Lion in a school production of 'The Wizard of Oz', firmly decided that he would become an actor. To fulfill his dream, after school Keith enrolled in the Manhattan School of Arts.

In 1980-81, David honed his skills while touring the country with 'The Acting Company' and performing in Shakespeare's play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', as well as in S. Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'. And two years later, the actor appeared in the legendary science fiction horror film 'The Thing' alongside Kurt Russell – thus began his long and successful career in cinema.

In 1986, Keith David starred in Oliver Stone's film 'Platoon', in 1988 – in 'They Live' (the film was directed by John Carpenter, the same one who created 'The Thing'), then in the films 'Stars and Bars' (1988), 'Roadside Diner' (1989), and 'Men at Work' (1990). In 1995, he played the one-legged war veteran Kirby in the famous film 'Dead Presidents' and in the same year starred in Spike Lee's film 'Clockers'.

And ahead were major Hollywood mainstream films: 'Volcano' (1997), 'Armageddon' (1998), 'There's Something About Mary' (1998), 'Pitch Black' (2000), 'The Chronicles of Riddick' (2004), 'Agent Cody Banks' (2003) and 'Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London' (2004), 'Crash' (2004), 'Outlaw' (2006), 'Gamer' (2009), etc., including such hits as 'Transporter 2' and 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'.