Daniel Sunjata facts for kids

Daniel Sunjata (born Daniel Sunjata Condon on December 30, 1971) is an American actor. He is well-known for playing Franco Rivera in the TV show Rescue Me on the FX channel.

Early Life and Education

Daniel Sunjata grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a town near Chicago. He was adopted by Bill and Catherine Condon. His adoptive parents have Irish and Italian-German backgrounds. His father was a police dispatcher, and his mother worked for civil rights.

Daniel's name honors a famous African king named Sundiata Keita. This name means "hungry lion." He learned that his birth mother was a white teenager, and his birth father was African-American.

He went to Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. There, he played football as a linebacker. His team won two state championships. After high school, he studied at Florida A&M University. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Later, he received a Master of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Acting Career Highlights

Daniel Sunjata has appeared in many movies and TV shows. His first TV role after the 9/11 events was as a sailor in ... and the City.

Early Film and TV Roles

In 2004, he played the poet Langston Hughes in the movie Brother to Brother. Two years later, in 2006, he was in The Devil Wears Prada. In this film, he played James Holt, a fashion designer.

Notable TV Series Roles

Daniel Sunjata became very famous for his role as firefighter Franco Rivera. He played this character on the TV show Rescue Me. This show aired for many years, from 2004 to 2011.

In 2007, he also starred in the ESPN miniseries The Bronx is Burning. In this show, he played the famous baseball player Reggie Jackson. From 2010 to 2011, he played "Nurse Eli" on the popular medical drama Grey's Anatomy. His character had a relationship with Dr. Miranda Bailey.

Later, starting in 2013, he played FBI agent Paul Briggs. This was on the show Graceland, which aired on USA Network. The show ran for three seasons and ended in 2015. He also appeared as Mecca, a past love interest of Monet, in Power Book II: Ghost during its second season and as a guest in its fourth season.

Recent Projects

In 2024, Daniel Sunjata began starring in the ABC/Hulu series High Potential. He has appeared in all 13 episodes of the show that aired through early 2025.

Stage Performances

Daniel Sunjata is also a talented stage actor. In 2003, he won a Theatre World Award. This was for his amazing performance in the Broadway play Take Me Out. In this play, he portrayed a baseball player who makes a big personal announcement. This role also earned him nominations for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. He has also performed in other plays like Cyrano de Bergerac and Macbeth.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Video Games

Theater Performances

Awards and Nominations

Daniel Sunjata has received awards and nominations for his acting.

See also

In Spanish: Daniel Sunjata para niños