Winfield was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Sounder. He appeared in many television shows, and was a voice on The Simpsons. He died at the age of 62 from a heart attack.
Winfield plays the judge in Presumed Innocent -- a part he says is a rare, substantial and mature role for an African American actor. He was nominated for an Emmy for his roles on television in Roots and as Martin Luther King, and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Sounder.
Winfield won an Academy Award for his role in Sounders, and is a featured actor in the television show Wiseguy. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his career to date, and his involvement with black arts and civil rights movements.