History's Deadliest: Who is Ving Rhames?
Join Sky HISTORY for a deep dive into the life and career of Ving Rhames, the new host of 10-part docu-series History’s Deadliest.
Image: History's Deadliest with Ving Rhames
Gravelly, deliberate and baritone, Ving Rhames has one of the most recognisable voices in Hollywood. His measured pacing and authoritative tone have secured him standout roles across TV and film, from exciting action thrillers to tense dramas.
Now, his latest venture sees him stepping away from fiction into the realm of history. Starting this January, the Golden Globe award-winning actor lends his voice and gravitas to Sky HISTORY’s new series History’s Deadliest with Ving Rhames, starting 26 February 9pm on Sky HISTORY and HISTORY Play. The show offers a firsthand look at some of the world’s most dangerous people, places and events.
Although he needs little introduction, read on as the Sky HISTORY team takes a closer look at who Ving Rhames is and why he’s the perfect narrator for history’s darkest and most pivotal stories.
Who is Ving Rhames?
Ving Rhames was born Irving Rameses Rhames in Harlem, New York City, in 1952. At the time, the neighbourhood was notorious for poverty and social instability, with many young people drawn into crime as a means of survival. However, thanks to the positive influence of his religious stay-at-home mother, Ving avoided that path. Instead, he found an outlet in poetry reading and performance, eventually using acting as a ticket out of his environment.
As a teenager, he was accepted into New York's High School of Performing Arts, where fellow actor Stanley Tucci gave him the nickname 'Ving'. From there, he transferred to Juilliard, one of the world's most prestigious drama schools. Alumni include the late Robin Williams, Jessica Chastain, Adam Driver and Viola Davis.
After graduating in 1983, Rhames joined the theatre company Shakespeare in the Park, taking on classical roles that shaped the controlled delivery and commanding aura he’s known for today. In an interview with the Washington Post, he discussed his love of the stage, saying: 'I don't give Hollywood the power to limit me… I can do Ibsen, I can do Macbeth, I can do Chekhov, I can do Molière, Othello, I can do Richard III.'
Iconic film and TV roles
Over his illustrious four-decade career, Ving Rhames has earned a reputation for playing intelligent, authoritative and sometimes menacing characters who pull audiences into fictional worlds. His magnetic stage presence in the theatre easily translated to the big screen, where he quickly landed early roles in Patty Hearst, Casualties of War and Miami Vice.
However, his big break came in 1994, when he played Marsellus Wallace in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction
. Despite limited screen time, Rhames delivered a memorable performance that unsettled viewers and critics. His knack for projecting emotion without melodrama earned him another leading role as Luther Stickell in the Mission Impossible franchise, starring alongside Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg.
As well as crime dramas and superhero stories, Rhames also demonstrated his ability to handle complex subject matter in historical projects, including Rosewood - a gut-wrenching film based on the true story of the 1923 Rosewood massacre. He went on to win a Golden Globe in 1998 for his standout portrayal of boxing promoter Don King in the HBO series Don King: Only in America, with critics praising his exceptional vocal control and emotional range.
Of course, Rhames also has a lighter side. Kids will remember him as the stern but heartfelt social worker Cobra Bubbles in Lilo & Stitch.
Ving Rhames and History’s Deadliest
Thanks to his decades of screen and stage experience tackling challenging themes, Ving Rhames is a perfect fit for History’s Deadliest. The brand-new series examines the people, events and forces that have shaped the world today, from devastating natural disasters to lethal weapons of war.
As a master storyteller, Rhames manages to present the facts without slipping into sensationalism. His signature intensity and commanding presence invites audiences to share the horror and humanity of some of the world’s most consequential stories. Expert interviews and never-before-seen footage add to the dynamic visual storytelling, offering a more detailed insight into why these events proved so lethal.
Where to watch History’s Deadliest
History’s Deadliest premieres on Sky HISTORY and HISTORY Play on Thursday, 26 February. The 10-part docu-series explores some of the most extreme killers, weapons, battles and natural disasters in world history, combining expert interviews and rare archival footage with dramatic reconstructions.
The series reveals the real science, circumstances and missteps that turned extraordinary events into unimaginable disasters.
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