Harry Lennix
Harry Lennix | |
|---|---|
 Lennix at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Harry Joseph Lennix III November 16, 1964 |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) | Djena Graves (m. 2009) |
Harry Joseph Lennix III[1] (born November 16, 1964) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats (1991) and as Boyd Langton in the science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix currently co-stars as Harold Cooper, Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. Lennix played General and then Secretary of Defense Calvin Swanwick / J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe.
Early life[]
The youngest of four siblings, Lennix was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Lillian C. (née Vines), a laundress, and Harry Lennix Jr., a machinist.[2][3] His mother was African-American and his father was a Creole from Louisiana.[4] Lennix attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South and Northwestern University, where he majored in Acting and Direction. In his senior year at Northwestern, he was the coordinator of the African-American student organization, For Members Only.[5]
Career[]
Lennix starred in the Showtime Networks made-for-cable television film Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who was a legendary Harlem Congressman from 1944 to 1972; in the movie Titus (1999), based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, as Aaron the Moor; and in the ABC television series Commander in Chief. Lennix currently co-stars as Harold Cooper, Assistant Director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist, which debuted September 23, 2013.
In film, Lennix has had supporting roles such as The Five Heartbeats (1991), Comfortably Numb (1995), Get on the Bus (1996), Love & Basketball (2000), The Matrix series (1999–2003), Ray (2004), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007), and State of Play (2009).
In television, he had a recurring role in Diagnosis: Murder as Agent Ron Wagner as well as a voice-over role in the Legion of Super Heroes animated series. He also had a recurring role in the sixth season of 24 as fictional Muslim civil rights activist Walid Al-Rezani. He appeared on the series House M.D. as a paralyzed jazz trumpet player, and in six episodes of ER as Dr. Greg Fischer.[citation needed] He also appeared in the episode "The Blame Game" of the first season of Ally McBeal. He played the parts of Boyd Langton in Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse[6] and U.S. president Barack Obama in the comedy sketch show Little Britain USA.
In 2007, he was an official festival judge at the first annual Noor Iranian Film Festival.
In July 2014, he formed his own production company Exponent Media Group (EMG) along with long time business partner Steve Harris.[7] EMG had a distribution deal with NEHST studios for three of the company's titles Mr. Sophistication, H4 (a street version of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, which he also starred in), and Revival![7]
Personal life[]
In 2009, Lennix married business executive Djena Graves.[8][9]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Bad Boys | Inmate | Uncredited |
| 1989 | The Package | Field Soldier | |
| 1991 | The Five Heartbeats | Dresser | |
| 1992 | Mo' Money | Tom Dilton | as Harry J. Lennix |
| Bob Roberts | Franklin Dockett | ||
| 1994 | Guarding Tess | Kenny Young | |
| 1995 | Clockers | Bill Walker | |
| Comfortably Numb | Hamlin Day | ||
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Randall | |
| 1997 | Chicago Cab | Irate Boyfriend | AKA Hellcab, as Harry J. Lennix |
| 1999 | Titus | Aaron | Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Drama |
| 2000 | Love & Basketball | Nathan Wright | |
| 2002 | Pumpkin | Robert Meary | |
| Collateral Damage | FBI Agent Dray | ||
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Commander Lock | |
| The Human Stain | Mr. Silk | ||
| The Matrix Revolutions | Commander Lock | ||
| 2004 | Chrystal | Kalid | |
| Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Quentin Leroux | ||
| Suspect Zero | Rich Charleton | ||
| Ray | Joe Adams | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | |
| 2006 | Sharif Don't Like It | Tom | |
| 2007 | Stomp the Yard | Nate | |
| Resurrecting the Champ | Bob Satterfield Jr. | ||
| Across the Universe | Army Sergeant | ||
| 2009 | State of Play | Det. Donald Bell | |
| 2012 | The Last Fall | Ron Davis | |
| H4 | King Henry IV | ||
| A Beautiful Soul | Jeff Freeze | ||
| 2013 | Man of Steel | Calvin Swanwick | |
| Evidence | Ben | ||
| Mr. Sophistication | Ron Waters | ||
| They Die by Dawn | Sheriff Bass Reeves | ||
| 2014 | Cru (C.R.U.) | Diego Glass | |
| The Algerian | Suleyman | ||
| 2015 | Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | David Hyde / Black Manta | Voice role |
| Chi-Raq | Commissioner Blades | ||
| 2016 | Timeless | Johnson | |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Calvin Swanwick | ||
| 2018 | Canal Street | DJ Terrance Palmer | |
| 2020 | Emperor | Frederick Douglass | |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder's Justice League | J'onn J'onzz / Calvin Swanwick / Martian Manhunter |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Jack and Mike | Fraternity Brother | Episode: "Personal Foul" |
| 1989 | A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story |
Nero | Television film |
| 1991 | The Case of the Defiant Daughter | Prosecutor Keith Warner | Television film |
| 1992 | In the Best Interest of the Children | Tim Coffey | Television film |
| 1994 | Vanishing Son II | Andre Laine | Television film |
| 1994 | Vanishing Son IV | Andre Laine | Television film |
| 1995–96 | The Client | Daniel Holbrook | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Sergeant Rutledge | Episode: "Goodfella" |
| 1996–97 | Murder One | Mr. Parnell / David Bronson | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Friends 'Til the End | Prof. Gunderson | Television film |
| 1997 | ER | Dr. Greg Fischer | 6 episodes |
| 1997–98 | Diagnosis: Murder | Agent Ron Wagner | 6 episodes |
| 1997 | Living Single | Clayton Simmons | Episode: "The Best Laid Plans" |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Ballard | Episode: "The Blame Game" |
| 1998 | Any Day Now | Garrett | Episode: "Unfinished Symphony" |
| 1998 | The Practice | Attorney Wayland Holmes | Episode: "The Pursuit of Dignity" |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Mr. Newman | Episode: "An Impartial Bias" |
| 1999 | JAG | Agent John Nichols | Episode: "Contemptuous Words" |
| 2002 | Keep the Faith, Baby | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. | Television film Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie/Mini-Series Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2002 | Girlfriends | Earl | Episode: "My Mother, Myself" |
| 2003 | The Practice | Asst. Attorney General Parker | Episode: "Final Judgment" |
| 2003 | The Handler | DEA Handler | Episode: "Street Boss" |
| 2004 | Century City | Attorney Attwell | Episode: "Love and Games" |
| 2004 | Second Time Around | Dr. Oakes | Episode: "For Better or Worse" |
| 2005 | House M.D. | John Henry Giles | Episode: "DNR" |
| 2005–06 | Commander in Chief | Jim Gardner | 19 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2006 | Legion of Super Heroes | Dr. Mar Londo (voice) | Episode: "Timber Wolf" |
| 2007 | 24 | Walid Al-Rezani | 5 episodes |
| 2008 | Little Britain USA | President of the United States | 4 episodes |
| 2009–10 | Dollhouse | Boyd Langton | 25 episodes |
| 2010 | Undercovers | Gary Bloom | Episode: "Funny Money" |
| 2011 | Law & Order: LA | Agent Bossy | Episode: "Plummer Park" |
| 2012–13 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Tim Dupre | 6 episodes |
| 2013–present | The Blacklist | Harold Cooper | 132 episodes |
| 2013 | Quick Draw | Sheriff Nat Love | Episode: "Nicodemus" |
| 2016–20 | Billions | Franklin Sacker | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | The Blacklist: Redemption | Harold Cooper | Episode: "Whitehall" |
| 2017 | Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Cyclonus, Galvatronus (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Insecure | Marcus Walker | Episode: "Ghost-Like" |
| TBA | Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas | Boorman (voice) | Upcoming |
References[]
- ^ "Djena Graves and Harry Lennix III". The New York Times. June 28, 2009.
- ^ Herguth, Bob (April 16, 1991). "Harry J. Lennix". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ Harry J. Lennix Biography (1965?–)
- ^ Harrison, Eric (January 14, 2000). "In Titus, He's the Face of Pure Evil; Movies * Harry J. Lennix's role in Julie Taymor's film should bring him more opportunities—and recognition". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Harry Lennix". SpeakingOfStories.org. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- ^ Dos Santos, Kristin; Jennifer Godwin (April 15, 2008). "Exclusive Pilot Details: Welcome to the Dollhouse!". E! Online. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Harry Lennix – Andrew E. Freedman Public Relations". www.aefpr.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Djena Graves and Harry Lennix III". The New York Times. June 26, 2009. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Djena Graves Lennix: Executive Profile & Biography". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
External links[]
- Harry Lennix at IMDb
- Harry Lennix at AllMovie
- Harry Lennix at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Harry Lennix at the Internet Broadway Database
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- 1964 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from Chicago
- American male film actors
- Louisiana Creole people
- Northwestern University School of Communication alumni
- African-American male actors
- American male television actors
- African-American Catholics