Cylk Cozart

With 30 films and more than 20 television shows to his credit, over 75 million viewers in the United States alone have seen 'Cylk Cozart' (qv)'s work. But, for Cozart, it is his love of children and helping others less fortunate that led him to Hollywood and what continues to underscore his reason for being in show business. 'Cylk Cozart' (qv)'s wide range of talents as an actor, producer, writer, singer, model and songwriter have made him one of Hollywood's most sought after artists. Cozart has an impressive list of film credits to his name that have garnered well over a half a billion dollars at the box office, including: _Conspiracy Theory (1997)_ (qv) ('Mel Gibson' (qv) and 'Julia Roberts' (qv)); 'Ron Shelton' (qv)'s _White Men Can't Jump (1992)_ (qv); _Three to Tango (1999)_ (qv) ('Matthew Perry' (qv) and 'Neve Campbell' (qv)); _Love Affair (1994)_ (qv) ('Annette Bening' (qv) and 'Warren Beatty' (qv)); _Eraser (1996)_ (qv) ('Arnold Schwarzenegger' (qv)); _Play It to the Bone (1999)_ (qv) ('Antonio Banderas' (qv) and 'Woody Harrelson' (qv)); _Blue Chips (1994)_ (qv) ('Nick Nolte' (qv) and 'Shaquille O'Neal (I)'); and _In the Line of Fire (1993)_ (qv) ('Clint Eastwood' (qv)).Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, to a Native American mother and an African-American father, Cylk was given the fuel he needed to fulfill his life-long dream. A natural athlete, Cozart excelled at sports in high school and was one of the best players on both the basketball and football teams. Graduating with high marks and outstanding athletic skill, he was offered numerous basketball and football scholarships to colleges across the country. He chose King College in Bristol, Tennessee, where he majored in Child Psychology. After college, Cozart pursued his goal of playing professional basketball, but a foot injury while playing in the NBA Summer Pro League ended his dream.After a successful modeling career in Miami, Cozart made his feature film debut in Warner Bros. _Blue Skies Again (1983)_ (qv) opposite 'Andy Garcia' (qv). Deciding to relocate to New York to study his craft, Cozart continued modeling and appeared in numerous publications such as Vogue, GQ, and Essence. His love for theatre soon led him to be in two prominent stage plays: "Diary of a Black Man" and "The Big Knife." He also trained at the American Repertory Theatre and the Sundance Institute under the tutelage of 'Robert Redford' (qv).Since then Cozart has appeared in the movies-of-the-week: _Johnny Tsunami (1999)_ (qv) for Disney; _Slam Dunk Ernest (1995)_ (qv) with 'Jim Varney' (qv) and _A Family Divided (1995)_ (qv) with 'Faye Dunaway' (qv), both for NBC. He also had recurring roles on NBC's _Reasonable Doubts (1991)_ (qv) with 'Mark Harmon' (qv), ABC's _Gabriel's Fire (1990)_ (qv) with 'James Earl Jones' (qv); and HBO's _Dream On (1990)_ (qv). He guest-starred on such shows as UPN's _Sister, Sister (1994)_ (qv); CBS's _Diagnosis Murder (1993)_ (qv) and _Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)_ (qv); Fox's _Ned and Stacey (1995)_ (qv) _Roc (1991)_ (qv), _M.A.N.T.I.S. (1994)_ (qv), and _Living Single (1993)_ (qv); NBC's _The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990)_ (qv); ABC's _Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992)_ (qv); and Lifetime's _Any Day Now (1998)_ (qv) with 'Annie Potts' (qv) in which Cozart also exhibits his singing talents. His early film work included roles in _School Daze (1988)_ (qv) directed by 'Spike Lee' (qv), and _Fire Birds (1990)_ (qv) with 'Nicolas Cage' (qv) and 'Tommy Lee Jones' (qv).President of his own production company, Cozart is also Co-Chairman of the newly formed production entity, P.O.V. Planet, which recently created and produced the _Wave to the World (2000)_ (qv) All-Star Celebrity Recording and Video "Spirit of Life" for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. "Spirit of Life" has earned, to date, the prestigious Videographer and Aurora 'Awards' (qv), the NY Film Festival Bronze Award, and the Telly Award. With a number of projects on his slate, Cozart is also producing the feature film _Baby of the Family (2002)_ (qv), which will star the award-winning 'Alfre Woodard' (qv). The film is inspired by award-winning author 'Tina McElroy Ansa' (qv)'s book of the same name and will be directed by 'Joneé Ansa'. Cozart is also producing and starring in the upcoming feature film _What's Going On? (2003)_ (qv) ('Marvin Gaye' (qv)) with legendary songwriter 'Ed Townsend' (qv) consulting, and is producing a unique documentary multi-part series based on the African-American Vernacular Art books called "Souls Grown Deep."Among his other creative pursuits, the multi-talented Cozart is completing his first co-produced music CD on which he sings lead vocals and has composed two original songs. He is also an active partner and celebrity spokesperson for a new, innovative, manufacturing company, The Original Ballbag Co., whose products are licensed by the NBA, NBA.com, Tommy Hilfiger, and others. Today, basketball continues to be one of Cozart's personal passions; he is the back-to-back 3-Point Shooting Champion and Team Captain for the NBA Entertainment League and is also Team Captain of the Hollywood Knights Celebrity Basketball Tour.His compassion, understanding and capacity to give are exemplified by his devotion to utilizing his celebrity status to advocate and support numerous charities and humanitarian events. Cozart is a spokesperson for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and is the founder of the "Hoops for Hope" Basketball Charity Game, a non-profit star-studded event. He is founder of the "'Cylk Cozart' (qv) Celebrity Classic All-Star Basketball Game" to benefit the Toni Stroman Fund, and is a celebrity spokesperson for the National Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He is also a celebrity supporter for the National Tourette Syndrome Association, The Lupus Foundation of America, The National Indian Council, and others, along with numerous non-profit celebrity sports tournaments and fund-raisers. In recognition of his outstanding charitable efforts and accomplishments, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.In February 2013 Cylk co-founded Cure4Hunger.org as their CEO & Co-Chairman. Cure4Hunger is the world's first legitimate and affordable cure for global hunger by integrating 7-technolgies into 1 sustainable solution. One acre of Cure4Hunger Food & Water Domes feeds 58,000 starving people 365 days a year.::Anonymous