CCH Pounder
Guyana
25th December 1952
Georgetown, Guyana
CCH Pounder began her career by playing roles in regional and classical repertory theatre. She played a role in the production of ‘The Mighty Gents’ alongside Morgan Freeman at the New York Shakespeare Festival. Pounder preferred warmer climates and so she moved to Hollywood in the late 70s. She continued her theatre work and appeared in productions such as ‘All that Jazz’ in 1979 and ‘I’m Dancing as Fast as I can’ in 1982. Before long, CCH Pounder moved onto TV work, and this soon became her most popular style of work. Pounder appeared in many highly acclaimed topical dramas such as: Common Ground (1990), Murder in Mississippi (1990), Funny Valentine (1999) and Boycott (2011). Additional TV credits include: Warehouse 12, Sons of Anarchy and Law & Order: SVU and NCIS: New Orleans.
What really drew us to CCH Pounder however, was not necessarily her contributions as an actress, but more the ways she uses her success to put her in a position to give back. Along with all her acting work, CCH Pounder has found time to be involved in a variety of projects and causes. She is a founding member of ‘Artists for a New South Africa’ and serves on the Board of the African Millennium Foundation (AMF). Both are non-profit organisations committed to social and economic empowerment of the people of Africa, especially women, those living with or orphaned by HIV/AIDS and at-risk youth. Through AMF, Pounder works closely with the Tilla children in Mozambique. This large of group of children live on their own due to losing their parents to HIV/AIDS. Affectionately known as ‘mother’ to the children, Pounder supports them to lead the lives all children deserve, enough food, clean clothes and an education among some of the things the children were going without.
Along with all that we have mentioned, CCH Pounder also creates one-of-a-kind jewellery. She used to own a jewellery shop called ‘Banji Girls’, but now pieces are sold through her website. Such an interesting and I’m sure busy woman. Pounder continues to bless us with her creative (in all forms) prowess. CCH Pounder, a strong and confident actress, an advocate of the arts, a Mother to many, Caribbean1st absolutely salutes you.