[1] He appeared in the original production of Six Degrees of Separation as Paul Poitier,[5] and received the Clarence Derwent Award for his performance.

[8] Early roles on television include guest appearances on sitcom Kate & Allie and crime drama Gabriel's Fire.

[9] He portrayed police officer Franklin Rose on the short-lived and poorly received series Cop Rock.

[10][9] McDaniel had a minor role in the Woody Allen film Alice (1990), was a banker in Strictly Business (1991)[11] and portrayed Brother Earl in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992).

[15] He also received three consecutive NAACP Image Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

[21] McDaniel has also appeared extensively in television films, namely Silencing Mary (1996), Unforgivable (1996),[22] and Out of Time (2000), the latter in a rare role as the main character.