The Piano Lesson

The Charles family is the main focus ofThe Piano Lesson , and the focus on the group ’s history turn up that the Charles family tree spans far beyond Boy Willie and Berniece . ThroughoutThe Piano Lesson , the chronicle of the titular piano reveals that the Charles family is absolutely massive , with Doaker Charles invariably telling story about the various generations of Charles relatives . So , here is a full breakdown of every named appendage of the Charles family Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that is mentioned inThe Piano Lessonand how they relate to one another .

2024 has brought with it thelatest adaptation of one of August Wilson ’s acclaimed play , with it this time being in the form of director Malcolm Washington’sThe Piano Lesson . The pic follow a feuding family who can not decide what to do with a piano that has is an heirloom from their enslaves ancestors , withthe plaster cast ofThe Piano Lessonmostly consisting of character from the Charles menage . While the feud is chiefly between two siblings , Boy Willie and Berniece , several other family members get regard , making the difference even bigger .

Boy Willie Charles (John David Washington)

Brother Of Berniece, Nephew Of Doaker, Uncle Of Maretha

One of the protagonists ofThe Piano Lessonis Boy Willie Charles , play by John David Washington . Boy Willie Charles is the brother of Berniece Charles , with their founding father Boy Charles being deceased before the result ofThe Piano Lessonkick off . Boy Charles died after stealing the titular piano from the slaveowner Sutter , with Boy Willie seeing him for the last time when he was very vernal . Boy Willie is unmarried and has expend most of his life sentence getting into bother with his ally and business pardner , Lymon .

Malcolm Washington ’s soulful adjustment and directorial debut feel like a therapeutic discovery of trauma reliever through memory and bequest .

Boy Willie is the nephew of Doaker Charles , who lives with Berniece , as well as Doaker ’s older sidekick Wining Boy . Boy Willie is also the uncle of Berniece ’s girl , Maretha . Boy Willie has been go for much longer than the rest of the Charles phratry , with him not being as engrained into the folk as his sister .

The Piano Lesson 2024 Film Poster

Berniece Charles (Danielle Deadwyler)

Sister Of Boy Willie, Mother Of Maretha, Niece Of Doaker

Berniece Charles , played by Danielle Deadwyler , is the other agonist ofThe Piano Lesson , with her not wanting to sell the titular pianoforte . Berniece is the onetime brother of Boy Willie , with her often speak down to him and believing he had a role in the death of her tardy husband , Crawley . Berniece lives with her 11 - year - old daughter Maretha , as well as her uncle Doaker , with Boy Willie stay in their household upon his arriver in Ithiel Town . Berniece is also the girl of Boy Charles and the niece of Wining Boy .

Doaker Charles (Samuel L. Jackson)

Uncle Of Boy Willie & Berniece, Brother Of Wining Boy

When it come to the Charles family tree diagram , Samuel L. Jackson ’s Doaker Charles is the house fellow member who knows the most about it . Samuel L. Jackson ’s age and hereditary connections allows him to constantly recite narrative about the story of the pianissimo and how it have to where it is today . Doaker is the uncle of Boy Willie and Berniece , as well as the great uncle of Maretha , although he act like a begetter figure to her due to the death of Crawley . Doaker also has an elderly blood brother named Wining Boy Charles , with Wining Boy coming by to visitduring the consequence ofThe Piano Lesson .

Maretha Charles (Skylar Aleece Smith)

Daughter Of Berniece, Niece Of Boy Willie

Maretha Charles , act as by Skylar Aleece Smith , is the youngest fellow member of the Charles home . Maretha is the daughter of Berniece Charles , and while Berniece does give Maretha lesson on the family piano , she intentionally restrain the history of the piano a secret from her . Maretha Charles is also the daughter of the later Crawley , who snuff it during an event with her uncle Boy Willie . Maretha is also the great - niece of Doaker Charles , although he act more like a father figure to her , as well as the great - niece of Wining Boy Charles .

Boy Charles (Stephan James)

Father Of Boy Willie & Berniece

Boy Charles , played by Stephan James , is one of the most important characters inThe Piano Lesson , although he is n’t in it very much . Boy Charles is the founder of Boy Willie and Berniece , although he was drink down after stealing Sutter ’s piano when the children were very vernal . The death of Boy Charles is one of the consequence that tore the family asunder , with Berniece believe that Boy Willie ’s heartache led him to kill Sutter . However , Boy Willie blames the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog , something that becomes more likely after Sutter ’s ghost begins seem .

Crawley (Matrell Smith)

Husband Of Berniece, Father Of Maretha

Crawley , act as by Matrell Smith , is the late husband of Berniece Charles and father of Maretha Charles , with him having tragically died before the event ofThe Piano Lesson . Crawley helped Boy Willie and Lymon with a schemeto slip some forest , although things lead wrong when they were caught and Crawley was obliterate . Berniece blame Boy Willie for the death of Crawley , saying that she embroil him into his scheme , while Boy Willie claims that Crawley know what he was getting into . Either direction , Crawley only appears in flashback inThe Piano Lesson .

Wining Boy Charles (Michael Potts)

Brother Of Doaker, Husband Of Cleotha

Another major member of the Charles family Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is Wining Boy Charles , played by Michael Potts . Wining Boy is the older brother of Doaker Charles , with him dropping by for the first clock time in a while during the events ofThe Piano Lesson . make headway Boy attempts to come off as a professional musician and successful gambler , with him and Lymon becoming tight throughout the film . win Boy is also the uncle of Boy Willie and Berniece and the great - uncle of Maretha , although his aloofness from the family means they are n’t quite as close-fitting .

John David Washington steady builds his acting career with a filmography showcasing raw talent , elevating these movies into some of his unspoiled work .

Cleotha Charles

Wife Of Wining Boy

The final phallus of the Charles category tree is n’t actually seen inThe Piano Lesson , with this being Cleotha Charles . Cleotha is the late wife of Wining Boy , with her having died sometime before the events of the movie . Although she is n’t interpret and does n’t act a role in the story , Wining Boy does mention her a few times , although her manner and fourth dimension of death is never made clean . Cleotha is related to the rest of the Charles mob due to her marriage to Wining Boy , with her wrapping upThe Piano Lesson’sCharles family tree .

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In The Piano Lesson , a brother and sister jar over selling a kinsperson heirloom piano — he sees it as a track to riches , while she catch it as a vital inter-group communication to their heritage . Their uncle attempt to mediate , but the conflict reveals deep truths about identity , legacy , and the past tense .

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Danielle Deadwyler stares down her family in The Piano Lesson

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Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece in The Piano Lesson

John David Washington puts his hands on a piano with a family member in The Piano Lesson

The family gathered around the piano in The Piano Lesson

Woman getting baptized in The Piano Lesson

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Members of the Charles family in the kitchen in The Piano Lesson

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Samuel L. Jackson headshot

Headshot Of John David Washington in The World premiere of ‘Amsterdam’ at Alice Tully Hall

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The Piano Lesson