Irving Rameses Rhames (/ˈreɪmz/; born May 12, 1959) is an American actor. He is known for his supporting roles as IMF Agent Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible film series and gang kingpin Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction. He also appeared in Jacob's Ladder (1990), Dave (1993), Striptease (1996), Con Air (1997), Only in America (1997), Out of Sight (1998), Entrapment (1999), Bringing Out the Dead (1999), Dawn of the Dead (2004), I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007), Jamesy Boy (2014). He voiced Cobra Bubbles in the animated films Lilo & Stitch (2002), Stitch! The Movie (2003), and Leroy & Stitch (2006).

Early life and education
Rhames was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. He was named "Irving" after NBC journalist Irving R. Levine.

Rhames entered New York's High School of Performing Arts, where he developed his love of acting. After high school, he studied drama at SUNY Purchase, where fellow acting student Stanley Tucci gave him his nickname "Ving". Rhames later transferred to the Juilliard School's Drama Division (Group 12: 1979–1983) where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1983.