BIOGRAPHY
ACTOR
Robert X. Golphin | Acting Reel
Robert X. Golphin, SAG-AFTRA, is best known for his performance as Dunbar Reed in the Golden Globe-nominated film The Great Debaters, alongside Denzel Washington and Nate Parker.
For his portrayal in the multi-award-winning Essential (2020), a short drama that he wrote and directed, Robert won 'Best Actor' awards at international film festivals. He won 'Best Supporting Actor' on the festival circuit for his role in the award-winning coming-of-age LGBTQ+ drama How To Tie A Tie (2022). He also has a leading role in the short drama, The Good of Man (2023) - based on a true story.
The Wire and John Adams (HBO), The Underground Kings, Rounding First, and Remember The Daze are among Robert's film and television credits. He's also appeared in commercials, short films, and internet series.
Antigone and Zoo Story are just a few of Robert's theater credits. The Storm: An Original Pop/Rock Musical (Los Angeles) and Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues by author and Barrymore Lifetime Achievement recipient Edgar J. Shockley are among his musical theatre credits.
Robert is also the host of the multi award-winning RXG: Exclusives, an internet talk series about entertainment and pop culture, as well as national and international creatives and community members' experiences navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, politics, and social upheaval.
WRITER | DIRECTOR
Robert X. Golphin is the Founder and CEO of the newly launched Robert X. Golphin Entertainment, a performing arts production company.
Robert wrote and released the novella, Cold Night In A Warm Season (2021), now available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.com and other platforms.
Robert directed the feature-length HBCU comedy Freshman Friday (2020), now streaming on Amazon Prime. The film stars an ensemble cast including NAACP Theater Award Winner Jerrel O'Neal and singer/songwriter Brian McKnight, Jr. (son of Grammy nominated R&B icon Brian McKnight and international recording artist Julie McKnight).
Robert has written, produced and/or directed multiple award-winning short films, music videos, documentaries, spec TV pilots, commercials and screen and stage-plays. He has also produced multiple projects alongside Niki Koss (star of the ABC/Freeform series Famous In Love).
Robert's notable achievements in screenwriting includes accolades at the 2022 WeScreenplay TV Pilot screenwriting competition, ABC (American Broadcasting Company) Talent Development Program, and Set In Philadelphia Screenplay Competition (sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Oscar nominated Stephen J. Rivele, Comcast and NBCUniversal).
Robert previously authored the YA novella, Abandoning Adam: Confessions of an HBCU Scholar, available through thousands of retailers nationwide.
On and off the set, Robert mentors and is shadowed by young people. He hosts weekend filmmaking workshops for high school students. Other teaching credits include acting and filmmaking camps helmed by Kathy Wickline and Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre. He is a steering committee member of Mozley Kids Create, an Atlanta based arts education program and family film festival. He is also a previous judge for the Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition and a 2020 Barrymore Award nominator.
Robert holds an MFA in Screenwriting (Spalding University), B.A. in Theatre & Film (Magna Cum Laude, Saint Augustine’s University) and Diploma in Creative Writing (Philadelphia H.S. for Creative & Performing Arts).