TV.com

Charles Dumas has been part of the acting profession since the 1960s, when his original love was the theatre. He left for many years and focussed on teaching, eventually taking a position as an associate professor of Theater and African and African American studies at Penn State, but returned to acting in 1983, soon landing a minor role in the film Jumpin' Jack Flash. Minor roles continued, leading to appearances on Law & Order and 100 Centre Street, and beginning in 2001 he played the recurring role of Judge LaRue on the NBC series Ed, which led to a number of his students getting roles as extras on the series. Dumas continues his duties as a professor at Penn State, but continues to act from time to time as well, and is also a noted playwright.