How tall is Bill Duke

Bill Duke's Height

6ft 4 (193 cm)

Peak height was 6ft 4 ½ (194.3 cm)
American actor and director, best known for films such as Predator, Exit Wounds, Commando, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Payback, Deep Cover and A Rage in Harlem. In a 1990 Orange County Register article he says of directing: "There are certain people that aren't used to being told what to do by a 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound black man who is a director. I'm supposed to be either robbing their car or opening their door". In a 1980 news article in Clarion-Ledger, he was described as "6-foot 4 1/2"

How tall is Bill Duke
Photo by PR Photos
I’m six feet five, if you were black and big you were not allowed to play not a gladly or platinum ceiling, in terms of the roles you could play. I think I scared a lot of people with my size and just being dark skinned, but I’m a person who laughs a lot. The media at that time saw me as threatening.
-- Consciousness Magazine,

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Add a Comment102 comments

Average Guess (37 Votes)
Peak: 6ft 4.62in (194.6cm)
Current: 6ft 3.91in (192.8cm)
Sandy Cowell said on 29/Apr/23
Bill reminds me rather of the juju man from the film The Devil Rides Out! There was also a juju in American Horror Story. They are enormous!

Even at his huge height of 6ft4.5, Bill would need to have quite a few extra inches to be as big as these freaky spirit men!
Hong said on 16/Oct/22
Click Here Here's Bill with 6ft2 listed Forest Whitaker,now Bill is hunching and still looks over 6ft4 in comparison, imagine if he was standing tall he would look an easy 6ft5.This guy definitely needs to be upgraded.
Becheese said on 11/Aug/22
Tallest of the predator team.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 2/Jul/22
Posing the way he does in the picture up top, Bill reminds me
of a Juju man, AND he has the height!

6ft4.75 peak and 6ft4.25 today.
IceCold said on 14/Apr/22
Looks taller with Arnold than MJ does Click Here
Click Here
IceCold said on 14/Apr/22
legit 6'4.5 peak. Still looks huge
Mike voorhees said on 28/Feb/22
Legit. Dwarfed arnie in predator
Arch Stanton said on 25/Feb/22
Well he is stood by Don Cheadle. He was definitely taller than Seagal in Exit Wounds. Benicio really looks to have lost a lot of height and looks bloated in that photo, he's not looked healthy since the mid 90s anyway though, sallow skin, must be a heavy smoker and drinker.
Tall Sam said on 28/Jul/21
Bill still looks insanely tall, he looks to have a lot of height in a line that includes Jon Hamm and Benicio del Toro, of other over six footers.
Click Here
Canson said on 10/Mar/21
@MrTBlack: yea I think a bit over. I’m sure he measured 6’4.5” just not sure what time of day. Could be a lunchtime height or even an afternoon but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s only 2 hours out of bed either. He’d be similar with me in his peak at least within 1/4” of me
MrTBlack said on 8/Mar/21
@Canson

I’ve seen him listed as 6’6” which sounded a bit asinine to me but I definitely think being slightly over 6’4” was possible for him.
Lomax said on 11/Dec/20
Definitely 6’4 and he’s almost 80yo peak I could see 6’5 1/8
recapa said on 12/Nov/20
194.5 peak,193cm today.he was easily 196cm out of bed peak.
OriginalAnon said on 3/Nov/20
194.5cm peak
193cm today

I wouldn't put 195cm past Duke back when he was in Commando. I loved his performance.
VitoCheng said on 23/Aug/20
Bill Duke's figure is indeed very strong, but when he and Arnold meet again next time, will there be awkward scenes?
I believe he is strong 6'4"
Peak: 6'4.5"
Dolan 184cm said on 27/Jun/20
Honestly I watched predator a good 30 times when real young and I always thought he was of average height or even below I was shook when I saw him towering Arnie in commando years later and even more so to learn he was over 194cm. Guess as a child height was never something I noticed.
Josh Jeffords said on 21/Apr/20
Very big guy odd his height claim was a bit skewed but the weight seems to low he was a thick guy.
Id guess max height 6 foot 5 easily with normal footwear maybe peak in am and 245 average weight.
Arny was 6 1-2 and 275 and duke was much taller and never looked thin hed have to be like mj to be 220.
Canson said on 25/Jul/19
I think peak probably 6’4.25-.5 range
Today 6’3.75-4
berta said on 5/Mar/18
this guy never looked shorter than 194. the average guess seems little low. i think he could have been 195 cm on good days and strong 194 guy on bad days.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 16/Oct/17
Solid 6ft4½ peak if not a weak 6ft5…
James B said on 18/Jul/17
He was wearing quite thick shoes when he was with gere in that film
James B said on 17/Jul/17
Rob when I saw him with richard gear in american giggilo I would have guessed him bigger than 6'4.5.

Gear didnt look 5'10 with him I thought taking into account his hair advantage but maybe I am underestimating how big 6.5 inches is?
Editor Rob
Duke at times could look a 6ft 5 guy
Dmeyer said on 10/Jul/17
In person 13 years back not less than 6'4,5 i had less shoes he fooled me for 6'5
berta said on 5/May/17
i think the listing sounds good
Arch Stanton said on 26/Sep/16
Rob can you add Exit Wounds and a few more films and a photo?

Looked 6'5 with Seagal, true.
Tarinator said on 21/Aug/15
I guess he's one of those guys who downgrades his peak height (at least according to Google). Although he may be around 1-2 cm shorter than Tony Todd. 1.27 cm to be exact.
James B said on 25/Jun/14
Would have guessed 6'5
176,2Tunman said on 16/Mar/14
Dmeyer he looked about 6'5.5 (196,5-97?) Minus 3cm this would be maybe 6'4.25?
He looked about the same as Jack Conley in Payback so solid 6'4 maybe 6'4.25.
dmeyer said on 12/Feb/14
I had 1.3cm trainers he had bigger shoes like 3cm but he towered me if I was about 6ft shoes on he was 6'5.5 shoes this was 12 years ago defenetly 6'4+
sabonis said on 11/Oct/13
yes,he look like 6ft4 gue.
K from LA said on 12/Dec/11
Click Here
Shaun said on 23/Sep/11
I'd have guessed 6'4.5" and 250-260 pounds.
dmeyer said on 9/May/11
he had footwear advntage but gave me impresion of 6 ft 6 this guy could be 6 ft 5 i guess if he claim 6 ft 4 he isnt over 6 ft 4.5 he is huge in person and nearer 250
jtm said on 15/Jan/11
this is correct.
5'7.37 said on 15/Jan/11
This dude is slightly taller than Segal, so 6'5 sounds correct.
tubbs said on 9/Jun/09
He looked atleast 5 inches taller than Carradine in Bird on a Wire, maybe more, I think he my have been 6'5.5" in that movie.
adam said on 17/Mar/09
Nicky, I agree. Definitely a solid 6-5 young. But you have to be proud for what I did: I made Rob to upgrade his height by half an inch. That is a rare situation. Old Rob here doesn
Nicky said on 16/Mar/09
the man have 5 inches over 50 cent and 3 inches over Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
id say he 6'4 but when he was young he was 6'5.5 for sure!
this guy iven have inche over segal
Patrick said on 4/Mar/09
Yeah this is a well deserved peak.
adam said on 3/Mar/09
That was a good decicion even though he was still taller than 6-4
adam said on 2/Mar/09
Whatta? That post came through! Well thank you. =)

Come on Rob! It would be 100% of solid justice. Give the man an inch more. Not an opinion, it`s the truth! In ALL of his films (especially in the early ones) he looked clearly over 6-4! This man towered over Arnold and was taller than Steven Seagal who is at WORST 6-4!

Editor Rob
I am giving him a peak 6ft 4.5.
adam said on 27/Feb/09
Frank2 says on 15/Aug/08
I met him. I'd guess at least 6'5". This is one tall dude!

So how about, Rob? A good inch more would be very justified, at least in his prime, wouldn
adam said on 26/Feb/09
I can post now? Just an experiment because earlier I couldnt.
adam said on 25/Feb/09
Yes, correct Rob. Duke sure looks more than three inches taller (if we say that Holloway is 6-1 which is minimum for him and I think he is closer to 6-2). And by then Duke could have even shrunk a bit.

And I`d like to repeat again that in Commando he towered over Arnold "almost 6-2" Schwarzenegger by about four inches or so. Come on man, it would be a very fair decicion to add at least one inch to the guy`s peak height.
adam said on 15/Feb/09
In Lost he towered over Josh Holloway who is probably 6-1
Mr. R. said on 13/Feb/09
I saw Bill Duke tonight at The NAACP Awards. He is a big man with a huge presence. The problem is he was wearing a hat, so it was hard to judge. But he is not over 6-4.
adam said on 5/Feb/09
Duke looks at least an inch more, possibly two. And he has very very likely shrunk. Definitely 6-5 in his youth.
Patrick said on 13/Jan/09
This is Bill Duke with Leon 6
adam said on 1/Jan/09
This man was taller than Steven Seagal who is over 6-4 and wears big boots. In "Lost" there`s an episode where Duke is with Josh Holloway. Cant remember how many inches Duke had on the 6-1
adam said on 4/Nov/08
Guys, I certainly agree. Rob, why do you have this guy as tall as let`s say Donald Sutherland, Eastwood and even Steven Seagal since it`s pretty obvious that Duke is taller than all of them.

Come on man. The man is clearly 6-5 minimum.
Anonymous3 said on 23/Oct/08
i'd say 6'5 at least
Patrick said on 21/Oct/08
Thanks Lynn

Rob can you please take a look at these pictures and put some consideration into them.

The first picture is to show the massive pavement advantage Gibson has

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here
Lynn said on 16/Oct/08
@Patrick,

good job. I have just finished to see that movie and I was really surprise that Seagal is clearly shorter than Duke.

And Duke did not stand straight!
adam said on 15/Oct/08
Seagal is more than just 6-4. I would put Seagal a close 6-5 and Duke even more.

Seagal: 6-4 and 3/4
Duke: 6-5
Patrick said on 5/Oct/08
Bill Duke and Steven Segal shouldn
anonymous said on 5/Oct/08
He looks a minimum of 4 inches on louis gosset jr. Click Here
adam said on 19/Sep/08
A huge hulk, take a look at his films. No way only 6-4... Again, he towered over Arnold and was taller than Seagal! Arnold is 6-2 and Seagal is 6-5. You do the math.
adam said on 28/Aug/08
Well Viper, you can judge his height with the aid of one pic. I judge his height with the aid of many many movies.

If Duke is a weak 6-4 then how tall is Arnold? You are one of those wackos who think he was 5-10 peak? Watch Commando. Made in 1985. Both men, Arnold and Duke where in their prime. And Bill Duke looked a good 3-4 inches taller than the 6-2 Arnold.

If Duke is only 6-4, then Arnold is barely an even six feet peak and Josh Holloway the same height! But Arnold is a close 6-2 just like Holloway. And Duke is minimum 6-5. The fact that person claims only 6-4 (which in many ways is commonly considered as the best height) doesn`t mean that he could be taller. Hell, if I were like let`s say 6-5
Viper said on 28/Aug/08
Magic is no taller than 6-7. Hes barely taller than Charles Barkley. Bill Duke looks to be 6-3 1/2 - 6-4 next to him. And Magic would look even taller with better posture.

And it is the best to just with an athlete, LOL. You gotta be kidding me with that statement.
adam said on 28/Aug/08
Rob, you said in Yaphet Kotto`s page that Duke gave his height as 6-3
adam said on 28/Aug/08
Rob, you said in the Dolph Lundgren page that Duke could be 6-4
adam said on 27/Aug/08
Here comes Viper again putting everyone down with one picture. Well are you sure that Magic Johnson is only 6-7? Postures? Duke may have shrunk and so on...

It isnt always the best way to judge height by looking at one photo. Especially when there is some basketball guy.

Come on... Jesus: Arnold was a very close 6-2 and Duke appeared AT LEAST a solid 3 inches taller than him. Watch Commando. In Predator Governor wore lifts.

Frank2, Im not always on your side but now you have it right: At least 6-5. Definitely. Rob, time to upgrade. No way in hell that he is only 6-4. Bill Duke thinks (like many many others..) that "6-4 is an awesome height, I`ll say that! Im taller but 6-4 sounds perfect, I`ll stick with that!"
Viper said on 15/Aug/08
He looks 6-3 or 6-4 with 6-7 Magic Johnson standing straight as possible. While Magic is even bending down. Click Here

6-6 is crazy.
Viper said on 15/Aug/08
Mr R. says hes no taller than 6-4 when he met him.
Frank2 said on 15/Aug/08
I met him. I'd guess at least 6'5". This is one tall dude!

Editor Rob
maybe he's rounding down his height then.
Viper said on 15/Aug/08
Apparently Magic Johnson is close to 6-10 since he has Bill Duke by 3-4 inches.
adam said on 14/Aug/08
SuperAnonymous, correct. 6-6, definitely.
SuperAnonymous said on 14/Aug/08
Bill Duke was 6'6" and not 6'4". He towered over a very strong 6'4" Steven Seagal in "Exit wounds", towered over 6'1.5" - 6'2" by 3.4 - 4 inches and was tallest guy in the "Predator" cast which was most over 6 foot people (except Richard Chaves and Elipidia Carillo).
cesare said on 24/Jul/08
larry bird is more than 6'9', looks like a solid 6'10, the correct height of Magic is 6'8', 203 cm. i saw him in many pictures standing close to players in the range of 6'6'-6'7' and you can see that is taller than them. isaw larry many times taking the position for the rebound against James Worthy, that he was listed 6'9', and he towered on him.
adam said on 14/Jul/08
He was more than 6-4 peak. Closer to 6-6.
Robbie H said on 4/Jun/08
Yeah he towered schwarzneggar, i thought he was like 6'6 or something
James28 said on 24/May/08
He looked huge in Commando. Just imagine, he dwarfed 6'1 Schawrzenegger. He's easily 6'4. And I'd even reckon his peak height to be 6'5. I love the guys acting as well. Funny but awesome at the same time!
chris175 said on 9/Jan/08
this guy is huge, defo 6-4, wouldnt suprise me if he is 6-5 though
JohnP said on 6/Jan/08
Or it could be that Ventura isn't 6-4. I first thought so too, but I got proved wrong when I found out that he appearently always wore large boots in the 80s.
Viper said on 20/Dec/07
I think hes aways been 6-4.
Anonymous said on 19/Dec/07
I say 6'5" at peak. I seem to recall that he looked a little taller than 6'4" Jesse Ventura in Predator and he definately looked about 3-4" taller than Ahnold in Commando. He has probably lost a little bit of height over the years, which explains for the 6'4" appearance with Magic Johnson.
Joshua said on 26/Oct/07
Looks a solid, legit 6ft 5!!
Cat Stevens said on 9/Oct/07
Rob, i just watched Exit Wounds again, this guy was clearly at least an inch taller than Seagal, so he is a legit 6'5

Pic: Click Here
dmeyer said on 25/Apr/07
he seemed a bit taller than 6'4 in person
dmeyer said on 15/Jan/07
he seemedtaller to me but i had low heeled shoes and he had 1.5 dress shoes
Mr. R said on 1/Dec/06
I saw him a few weeks ago in Hollywood at a club. 6'4" is correct.
Viper652 said on 12/Nov/06
Segal isnt 6-4.
Bob H. said on 11/Nov/06
Just watched "Exit Wounds". Duke hulks over Steven Seagal in finale. Assuming Seagal is 6'4"... which seems very realistic... Duke is taller than listed. Very huge man.
Andreas said on 25/Sep/06
hey Richard....NBA listings are in shoe and inflated...that's a no-brainer. Magic is 6'7" tops.
anonymous friend said on 22/Sep/06
hey this is the same poster from earlier, and know I dont think there is 2 in ces between them, it actually looks like there is atleast 4! Maybe bill has shrunk over the years. As for arnold comared to that 6'3" guy I am going to have to check that movie out again. But I do remember the man having a longer body however arnolds head was much larger and it couhgt up to him.
Viper652 said on 22/Sep/06
Magic isnt 6-9 Richard. Hes 6-7. Its pretty widely known now. He was always 2 inches shorter than 6-9 Larry Bird in their legendary matchups.
Richard said on 22/Sep/06
Magic Johnson is 6-9 not 6-7. That picture with Bill Duke he is slumped over and not fully erect. Check Magic bio from college and NBA profile or get a photo of him and Bird standing together. Standing the same darn height. I guess you all be saying Karl Malone isn't 6-9 also..haha
Jason said on 21/Sep/06
Anonymous, if you think there was only 1 inch between Arnold and James Olson in Commando then you need glasses pronto.

Viper, there's very easily 3 1/2 inches between Magic and Bill. Our Anonymous friend will probably say 2.
Viper652 said on 21/Sep/06
Jason, how many inches do you see between Bill and Magic? I see 3-4. Could be marginally under 6-4 like you say.
Viper652 said on 20/Sep/06
Bill only looks 6-4 at best with 6-7 Magic Johnson. Click Here
dmeyer said on 20/Sep/06
he looked 6 feet5 or 6 when i met him and he iis more 280
dmeyer said on 20/Sep/06
he looked 6 feet5 or 6 when i met him
Anonymous said on 20/Sep/06
"Arnold was also 2-3 inches shorter than 6'3'' James Olson who played General Kirby."

um yeah that only looked an inch to me
Viper652 said on 20/Sep/06
Actually here is the right link. Click Here
Viper652 said on 20/Sep/06
With 6-7 Magic Johnson. Click Here
Jason said on 20/Sep/06
Bill seemed a good 3 inches taller than Arnold in Commando. Arnold was also 2-3 inches shorter than 6'3'' James Olson who played General Kirby.

Seagal is well known for wearing big footware.
Anonymous said on 19/Sep/06
Its funny I always thoguht that hsi 6'6" height listing was actually legit, I mean he looked huge in commanddo, he was the tallest guy in predator and he also looked quite a bit taller then steven seagal who I always believed to be a legit 6'4"

He is def the most legit 6'4" in hollywood taller then all of the other who are listed at 6'4"
TNTinCA said on 19/Sep/06
Oddly enough, in Predator, he did not seem that tall. I have a suspicion they used some interesting camera angles to convey that effect and to give the impression that Arnold and Jesse were the big boys.
Viper652 said on 19/Sep/06
That quote is hillarious. I agree with 6-4.
Jordan said on 19/Sep/06
yes --he had arnold by a solid 2 inches. Even if arnold is not 6'2 and he is 6'1 1'2. Bill is still at least 6'3 1/2. Prolly 6'4.
Derek said on 19/Sep/06
He always seemed more than 6'4". In Commando, he was significantly taller than Arnold, who was without a doubt 6'2" at the time.
Jason said on 19/Sep/06
Close enough. I would say 6'3 1/2''.

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

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