Director, producer, writer, actor, Film, theatre, TV, literature, Internet, Drama, comedy inspiration. You name the creative act, and Bill Duke's done it always with the same devotion to integrity, quality and great entertainment. Mr. Duke just added another title to his accomplishments. Chairperson at Howard University, School of Communications, Department of Radio, Television and Film. He is looking forward to the challenge.

Mr. Duke just finished directing the A&E television film, THE GOLDEN SPIDERS starring Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton. Mr. Duke recently completed some co-starring roles in the following projects; FOOLISH with Master P, THE LIMEY with Peter Fonda, FEVER with Henry Thomas, Walter Mosley's ALWAYS OUTNUMBERED, ALWAYS OUTGUNNED with Laurence Fishburne, PAYBACK with Mel Gibson, BLACKJAQ with Nia Long and John Landis' SUSAN'S PLAN with Dan Akroyd, Nastassja and Billy Zane. Mr. Duke recently finished directing two episodes of the UPN drama LEGACY. He also directed and executive produced the $3.5 million Harlem crime drama HOODLUM. HOODLUM starred an ensemble cast that included: Laurence Fishburne, Vanessa Williams, Tim Roth and Andy Garcia. Duke has taken HOODLUM to the Internet with RAWWW, the start-up new media division of his already existing YAGYA PRODUCTIONS. RAWWW will develop film-related and other entertainment: based original programming for on-line audiences.

The HOODLUM website (hoodlumonline.com) is RAWWW's first project and will be produced as a co-venture with MGM/UA. This unique website goes beyond the usual collection of photos and bios to become a comprehensive, interactive diary of the production. Duke envisioned the website team being part of the production from the vary beginning - and the result will be a hands-on journey into exactly what it takes to make a movie, from picking the locations to designing the sets to choosing the movie poster. The first portion of HOODLUM online features historical background on real-life HOODLUM gangsters Bumpy Johnson, Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano, and gives a multi-media tour of the glamorous world of 1930's Harlem.

This unique behind-the-scenes experience also includes exclusive Production Diary elements that were added on a weekly basis.

The diversity of Bill Duke's career has been growing steadily in scope since its beginnings. In the film world, Duke made an auspicious directorial debut with RAGE IN HARLEM, based on Chester Himes' celebrated novel and starred Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines, Danny Glover and Robin Givens. He went on to direct the emotionally harrowing action drama DEEP COVER, starring Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum; the romantic comedy THE CEMETARY CLUB starring Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis and Diane Ladd, and the hit sequel SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT, starring Whoopi Goldberg.

Duke has been equally successful in television. Most recently, Duke received a CableACE Award for his direction of "America's Dream: The Boy Who Painted Christ Black," and directed the pilot for the critically acclaimed Fox series "New York Undercover," which starred Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo. In episodic television, he has directed award-winning segments of "Cagney & Lacey" and "Hill Street Blues" as well as episodes of such ratings giants as "Knot's Landing," "Dallas" and "Miami Vice."

He has also directed several award-winning, high-profile dramas. He directed two teleplays for PBS which each received an NAACP Image Award nomination: "The Meeting" and "A Raisin In The Sun." The latter also earned Duke an Emmy nomination. His direction of THE KILLING FLOOR FOR American Playhouse garnered a total of 10 awards from film festivals across the globe and was chosen to compete in the Critic's Week of judging at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival.

Yet even as Duke's work behind the camera has expanded into every conceivable genre, he has continued to be a presence in front of the camera. Duke has been sent in memorable roles in AMERICAN GIGOLO opposite Richard Gere, PREDATOR and COMMANDO opposite Arnold Schwarznegger and BIRD ON A WIRE opposite Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for his role in ACTION JACKSON and had a starring role in the highly praised Alex Haley television series "Palmerstown, USA."

Duke's talents also extend into publishing. In 1994, he completed Black Light; The African American Hero, an inspiring photo essay celebrating 90 of the greatest black heroes of the 20th century through whom the depth and achievements of the African American experience are illuminated. His newest book, The Journey, a book for people of all ages, was published in August 1997.

Just as Duke finds it essential to explore every aspect of his talent, he also believes in making his talent a part of the community. He has devoted much of his time to work with non-profit and charity organizations, including heading the Los Angeles-based Artists Against Homelessness and organizing benefits for the St. Joseph's Center for the Homeless in Venice, California.

Duke is a native of Poughkeepsic, New York and was educated at Boston University and NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned his MFA. He began his career directing off-Broadway plays, including the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Unfinished Women," for which he won the 1974 Adelco Award. He then went on to study for two years at the American Film Institute. His AFI student project, a short film called THE HERO earned him the Life Achievement Award as Best Young Director and subsequently the Gold Award at the Houston International Film Festival.

It was clearly a harbinger of things to come - and with new productions ranging from major motion pictures to break-out Internet sites on the horizon for Bill Duke, there is much, much more ahead.