Calvin “Cylk” Cozart was born on February 1, 1957, in the Great Smoky Mountains region near Knoxville, Tennessee. He is of mixed heritage: his mother is Cherokee (Native American) and his father is African American. Cozart grew up in the Knoxville area (in the community of Karns, Tennessee) during the 1960s and 1970s. His family lived in a small rural-suburban environment near the foothills of the Smokies.
As a child and teenager, Cozart was active in school and community life. He attended Karns High School on the outskirts of Knoxville, where he advanced quickly (skipping two grades) and became captain of the school’s basketball team despite being younger than most classmates. In addition to sports, Cozart helped in his community. At age 14 he volunteered as a firefighter in the Karns area, even going out on emergency calls. These experiences show that he was engaged in teamwork and service from a young age.
After high school, Cozart continued his education on a sports scholarship. He enrolled first at Montreat-Anderson College in Montreat, North Carolina, for his freshman year of college. He then transferred to King College (now King University) in Bristol, Tennessee, where he completed his degree. (King University later recognized him as an alumnus.) This education was supported by his basketball skill and led him to earn a college degree.
Cozart also showed creative interests in childhood. His mother recalled that around age 14 he played the wolf in a school production of “The Three Little Pigs.” He said he often imagined himself in television shows and quietly acted out scenes from old TV programs, indicating an early interest in storytelling and performance.
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Calvin “Cylk” Cozart |
| Birth Date | February 1, 1957 |
| Birthplace | Near Knoxville, Tennessee, USA |
| Heritage | Cherokee and African American |
| Education | Montreat-Anderson College; King College |
| Early Career | High school basketball captain |
| Profession | Actor, director, writer, producer |
| Notable Films | White Men Can’t Jump, Eraser |
| Production Company | CEO of CozArts Entertainment |
| Major Award | Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) |
| Cylk Cozart Net Worth 2026 | Not publicly disclosed |
Cylk Cozart Net Worth 2025 From Acting To Directing Success Cylk Cozart is an American actor, director, writer and producer whose multi-decade entertainment career spans film and television. According to published profiles, he has appeared in over forty feature films and more than twenty television episodes.
He is known for leveraging his athletic background in many roles, and he also heads his own production company CozArts Entertainment. Cozart’s films have collectively grossed over a billion dollars, reflecting his work in commercially successful projects. Throughout his career he has built a reputation as a versatile Hollywood character actor and media entrepreneur.
Cozart’s screen debut came in the sports comedy Blue Skies Again(1983), where he played Alvin “Wallstreet” Chandler. He soon took roles in action movies and sports dramas that matched his athletic physique.
For example, he portrayed an Army helicopter pilot in the war film Fire Birds(1990). He gained wider notice with a supporting part as Robert in the basketball comedy White Men Can’t Jump(1992).
The Ball of Confusionfilmmakers noted he “played a noted role” in that popular Ron Shelton movie. Cozart continued to book roles in early 1990s studio films, including a part as Agent Cozart in the political thriller In the Line of Fire(1993).
He also appeared as the character “Slick” in the college-basketball drama Blue Chips(1994). During this period Cozart supplemented his film work with television guest spots, for example, he had an episode role in Saved by the Bell(1990) and the HBO comedy Dream On(1990), building experience in both film and TV as his acting career took off.
Cylk Cozart Major Achievements In the late 1990s and 2000s Cozart appeared regularly in Hollywood productions. He often played supporting roles in action and drama films.
Notably, he portrayed Agent Lowry in the conspiracy thriller Conspiracy Theory(1997) and played the character Darryl in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film Eraser(1996). In 1999 he appeared in the boxing drama Play It to the Bone(as Rudy) and the romantic comedy Three to Tango(as Kevin Cartwright). He also took roles in family-oriented movies, such as playing Sgt. Sterling in the Disney Channel skateboard movie Johnny Tsunami(1999).
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s Cozart maintained a steady presence on television. He guest-starred on series like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airand Walker, Texas Ranger(all in the early 1990s), among many others. In all, Cozart’s acting credits include a mix of sports dramas, action thrillers and comedy series roles that became well-known to TV and film audiences.
Beyond acting, Cozart has built a parallel career behind the camera. He is president and CEO of CozArts Entertainment and has served as co-chairman of the independent studio P.O.V. Planet.
Cozart has co-produced several projects, especially those tied to sports. For example, he helped create and produce the music video “Spirit of Life”for the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games; that project won industry awards.
His producing credits also include the independent film Baby of the Family(2002). In 2020 Cozart made his feature film directing debut with Ball of Confusion: The History of Basketball, a documentary examining the game’s origins and cultural impact. The film premiered in late 2019 and was slated for a wider release. He also acted as executive producer and director on Ball of Confusion.
More recently Cozart has directed and starred in the historical documentary series Inherit the Land(2022–2023), which adapts a Jim Crow–era true story; that film won a Best Historical Documentary award at a 2022 Hollywood Weekly festival. His diverse roles as filmmaker, writer and producer demonstrate his leadership and creativity off-screen. Knoxville actor Cylk Cozart (right) receiving a lifetime achievement award at a local gala.
Cozart’s professional achievements have been recognized with multiple honors. In 2012 he was presented with the Knoxville Area Urban League’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to arts and entertainment.
In the sports community he earned the 2019 Larry Smith Award, which honors former college athletes who use sports to give back to others. Academic and civic institutions have also celebrated his work; for example, the University of Tennessee’s College of Communication gave him a diversity award in 2018 (celebrating his entertainment career and leadership).
Most notably, in 2022 Cozart’s national impact was acknowledged by Congress and the White House: a U.S. flag was flown over the Capitol in his honor, and President Biden presented him with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. These milestones, from local accolades to presidential honors, underscore Cozart’s standing as a respected entertainment professional.
Over nearly four decades, Cylk Cozart has built a legacy as a reliable Hollywood character actor and multi-hyphenate creator. His frequent casting in sports-themed and action films has made him a familiar face, while his expansion into directing and producing has broadened his impact in the industry.
In his hometown of Knoxville, he is regarded as one of the city’s most successful entertainment figures; entertainment leaders even called him “one of the great products of this town” during his award ceremony. Cozart’s career is often noted for how he bridged basketball and acting; he is cited in interviews and profiles for using that background to inform his roles.
In sum, his sustained output of character roles and his transition into filmmaking have established him as an influential veteran whose professional journey inspires both fans and aspiring actor-athletes.
In recent years Cozart has remained active in both production and public appearances. He oversaw the release of Ball of Confusion(2019–2020) and has talked about distributing it nationally. He continues to work on new film projects. For example, the documentary Inherit the Land(2022–2023) is one of his latest undertakings as director and star.
Cozart’s media presence includes interviews and speaking engagements on topics ranging from entertainment to sports. In 2022, his ongoing contributions were highlighted by the news of his Presidential Award.
As of 2026, he is listed as the CEO of CozArts Entertainment, and he continues to develop film and television projects. His official profiles and press coverage emphasize his dual roles as an actor and a creative leader, indicating that he remains a working industry professional with new projects in the pipeline.
As of 2026, Cylk Cozart’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His income primarily comes from his long career in the entertainment industry. Cozart has appeared in more than thirty films and over twenty television shows as an actor, and he has also worked behind the scenes as a director, writer, and producer. These film and television projects represent his main sources of earnings through acting salaries as well as directing and production fees, although the exact financial details of these projects have not been publicly released.
Earlier in his career, Cozart also worked as a model, which likely provided an additional source of income, though those earnings have not been publicly documented. Overall, his income is derived from his work in film and television including acting, directing, writing, and producing along with related media ventures. However, no official breakdown of his total earnings or overall net worth has been published.
Cylk Cozart is an American actor, director, writer, and producer from Knoxville, Tennessee. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1980s and also leads the production company CozArts Entertainment.
Cylk Cozart was born on February 1, 1957, in the Great Smoky Mountains region near Knoxville, Tennessee. He grew up in the nearby community of Karns.
Cylk Cozart is known for his supporting roles in films such as White Men Can’t Jump, Eraser, and Conspiracy Theory. He is also recognized for directing and producing projects through his company CozArts Entertainment.
Yes, Cylk Cozart played competitive basketball during his youth and college years. He was the captain of the basketball team at Karns High School and later attended college on a basketball scholarship.
Cylk Cozart is the founder and CEO of CozArts Entertainment, a production company focused on film and media projects. Through this company, he has worked as a producer, director, and creative executive.