Warren E. Thomas was born in Brooklyn New York, in the Bedford Stuyvesant area. He joined the United States Marine Corps after High School and served for six years in the infantry Unit. After the Marines he moved to Maryland where he attended Montgomery College and obtained a degree in Criminal Justice. He served as a Federal Police Officer and instructor. Warren received his first television role on the hit series Homicide life on the streets, where it was filmed in Baltimore Maryland. He then had a supporting role on HBO's The Wire, where he played a arresting officer.