TRIO Upward Bound college-prep program while in high school. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Honors In 2004, People named him one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" of the year. In 2007, he was a recipient of the 2007 Georgia Arts and Entertainment Legacy Award for his contributions to Georgia's cultural legacy. In 2010, Leon won the Drama League's award for Excellence in Directing for the play Fences. In 2014 he won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for A Raisin in the Sun. Leon was awarded the 2016-2017 "Mr. Abbott" Award for outstanding artistry and creativity, which is presented by the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) Foundation, in recognition for his over 40-year career. In October 2017, Leon was the recipient the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities for the State of Georgia. He held the Denzel Washington Endowed Chair in Theatre at Fordham University, previously held by Joe Morton and Phylicia Rashad. Works Television As a director As an actor Stage As a director Awards and nominations References External links Kenny Leon Productions African-American film directors African-American television directors American television directors American theatre directors Broadway theatre directors Clark Atlanta University alumni Living people 1956 births People from Tallahassee, Florida Film directors from Florida Tony Award winners 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people