Troy Winbush on Suits: LA, Playing a Strong Black Father, and Thriving in the Industry

For over three decades, Troy Winbush has been a consistent presence in television and film. First winning fans as Denny on The Cosby Show and later bringing his talent to roles across hits like Chicago Fire, The Big Bang Theory, and John Q. Now, in Suits: LA a West Coast spin-off of the fan-favorite legal drama Suits—Winbush plays Kevin, an ex-FBI agent whose no-nonsense truth-telling and quiet loyalty have made him one of the series’ most grounded, lovable characters.

Taji Mag caught up with Winbush to discuss his early beginnings, portraying complex Black men on screen, and why he still gets nervous stepping onto a set, decades into a thriving career.

Dapper Dr. Feel (DDF): What was the project that first made you want to act?

Troy Winbush (TW): Man, that’s a good one. You’re takin’ me back! I’m originally from New York, and one of my earliest professional gigs was actually in a Madonna movie called Who’s That Girl. I was about 15 or 16 at the time. I was so hyped to be on set, but it rained the whole two weeks I was scheduled to shoot. They ended up moving production to LA, and I got cut. I was crushed. That could’ve broken me, but I stayed with it. And shortly after that, I booked a principal role. Looking back, that moment taught me about patience and endurance. It lit the spark for everything that came after.

DDF: Let’s talk about Kevin Black (played by Stephen Amell) in Suits: LA. For people who aren’t familiar yet, who is he?

TW: Kevin is a straight-shooter. He’s an ex-FBI guy who got pushed out of the Bureau for standing on principle. He’s the kind of man who tells it like it is—no sugarcoating. If you want the truth, go to Kevin. If you want something dressed up, don’t bother.

What I love about him is that he’s a proud, intelligent Black man on primetime TV. That means something. I’ve got a five-year-old son and I want him to see that. The writers have really let us explore our characters, and I’m proud of what we’re building with Kevin. He’s layered. He’s real. And he represents something powerful.

DDF: Is there anything personal you bring to the character?

TW: Definitely. Kevin is upright, smart, and unapologetic—but also vulnerable. He’s got demons, like we all do. Flaws. Grief. We haven’t seen the full scope yet, but I’m hoping in season two we can go deeper. I want to show the man behind the badge. The one who’s still healing. That’s where the humanity is.

DDF: A lot of viewers see Kevin as the voice of reason, especially with Ted. What’s that relationship like?

TW: That’s my brother—on-screen and off. Kevin and Ted go way back to their days in the Justice Department. Even after Kevin got pushed out, that loyalty never left. There’s love there. There’s trust. Every time we share a scene, you feel that bond. It’s Black male friendship, built on respect and shared history. That’s rare to see on TV in this way, and I’m honored to help portray it.

DDF: Kevin seems like the friend who always tells you the truth, even when it’s hard.

TW: Exactly. He’s like a teddy bear with a spine of steel. He’s warm, but don’t push him. You’ll know when he’s had enough. That’s who he is. He’s not performative. He’s real.

DDF: We also see him struggling with grief. What’s it like channeling that emotion?

TW: That’s the beauty of playing Kevin—he doesn’t wear everything on his sleeve. His Justice Department background has trained him not to trust easily. He’s guarded. But you start to see that wall crack with Erica Rollins (played by Lex Scott Davis). There’s a softness there. He sees her as someone he needs to protect, maybe because he’s estranged from his own kids.

It’s like a second chance for him. And because Ted trusts her, Kevin starts to open up too. That dynamic is special. I treat her like a daughter, and I love that about our storyline.

DDF: That fatherly dynamic feels authentic. Speaking of authenticity, what advice would you give actors trying to bring nuance to their characters?

TW:I mean, find the truth in those characters, you know? And if you have an idea—or if you have the freedom to express it—ask the writers, ask the directors, ask the producers, “How do you see this guy?” Then apply your own backstory to it. There’s a lot of homework involved when you do stuff like this.

But if you really want to dig into the character, do your homework—it’s only going to benefit you in the long run.

As an artist, you want to feel a little nervous about what you do. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and every day I step on set, I still get a little shook because I want to be challenged. I’ll never stop learning. I just turned 55, and I’ve been doing this since I was 14 or 15.

I still want to be challenged. I still want to feel that fear. And I still want to enjoy every moment I get to do what I love.

DDF: You’ve had such a long, impressive run. Are there any past roles you’d love to revisit?

TW: Chicago Fire was a great one. The cast welcomed me with open arms. And I started in comedy—Cosby, Big Bang Theory, all of that. I’d love to get back into it someday. But drama… that’s where you get to challenge people’s hearts and minds. To make them feel something. That’s what keeps me going. So many people I came up with have stepped away from the game, and I’m still here, still hungry. That’s a blessing.

DDF: That longevity shows. You’ve been making people feel for years. Thank you, Troy.

TW: Appreciate that, brother. And thank you for digging deep. It means a lot.

Catch Troy Winbush in Suits: LA, now streaming on Peacock. New episodes premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. For more interviews and exclusive features, stay locked in with Taji Mag.