Ernest Dickerson was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1951. Dickerson initially studied architecture at his alma mater Howard University. However, he still nurtured a love for film and photography instilled by his uncle. He explored this fascination by becoming a photographer for Howard’s campus newspaper and developed his understanding of creating images. After he graduated, he was accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts as a cinematography major. While there, he linked with Director Spike Lee and would photograph most of Lee’s early feature films. As a cinematographer, Dickerson worked successfully but still harbored a desire to direct his own films. In 1992, he directed his feature film debut, Juice.
Dickerson’s credits cross decades and genres including feature films Surviving the Game (1994), Ambushed (1998), Blind Faith (1998), Bones (2001), and Never Die Alone (2004). He directed multiple movies for television such as Strange Justice (1999), Our America (2002), and Monday Night Mayhem (2002). Additionally, Dickerson has developed a long career in episodic television with credits including ER, Weeds, The Wire, Lincoln Heights, Dexter, Treme, The Walking Dead, Interrogation, Bosch, and DMZ.
Dickerson is an eight-time nominee for the NAACP Image Award, winning their Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series award for his 2009 Lincoln Heights episode, “The Day Before Tomorrow” and his 2011 Treme episode, “Treme: Do Watcha Wanna.”
Dickerson has been a member of the Directors Guild since 1992.