In a time when even Paris Hilton publishes her memoirs, it's rare to hear about a celebrity autobiography worth reading. Charles S. Dutton is telling his life story in a book for Random House's Crown Books. Dutton has done a lot of acting and directing for various TV shows, most notably Roc. He won a directing Emmy for The Corner as well as Outstanding Guest Actor Emmys for Without a Trace and The Practice.

What makes Dutton's success story unique is his personal life before he became an actor. When he was seventeen, he was convicted of manslaughter and spent seven years in prison. From Jail to Yale, the working title for the actor's book, will discuss Dutton's criminal history and his education at the Yale School of Drama.