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David Harewood

OBE
David Harewood 2015.jpg
Harewood in 2015
Born (1965-12-08) 8 December 1965 (age 58)
Occupation Actor, presenter
Years active 1990–present
Spouse(s)
Kirsty Handy
(m. 2014)
Children 2

David Harewood OBE (born 8 December 1965) is a British actor. He is best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director David Estes in Homeland (2011–2012), and as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter and Hank Henshaw / Cyborg Superman in Supergirl (2015–2021).

Early life

Harewood was born on 8 December 1965 in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, the son of a couple from Barbados who had moved to England in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His father was a lorry driver, while his mother was a caterer. He has a sister, Sandra, and two brothers, Rodger and Paul. He attended St Benedict's Junior School and Washwood Heath Academy. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre. At the age of 18, he gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career

Harewood began acting in 1990 and has appeared in The Hawk, Great Moments in Aviation, Harnessing Peacocks, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Blood Diamond, The Merchant of Venice and Strings. He is known for his television appearances on Ballykissangel, The Vice and Fat Friends. He played Don Coleman in Hustle (Series 7 The Fall of Railton FC (2011)). In 1997, he was the first black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre in London.

In 2008, he played Major Simon Brooks in The Palace; he also appeared (that December) on Celebrity Mastermind, with specialist subject Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. He appeared in the BBC film adaptation of the Philip Pullman novels The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North, both of which are titles from the Sally Lockhart Mysteries.

In 2009, Harewood appeared in the BBC single drama Mrs Mandela, playing Nelson Mandela. He played Brother Tuck in the third series of Robin Hood. He appeared in the Doctor Who story "The End of Time". He played Martin Luther King Jr. in the premiere of The Mountaintop, written by American playwright Katori Hall, directed by James Dacre, which opened at Theatre503 in London on 9 June 2009.

Harewood next appeared in two episodes of Chris Ryan's Strike Back as Colonel Tshuma. From June to September 2010, he played Theseus in the premiere of Moira Buffini's play Welcome to Thebes at the National Theatre in London. He played Martin Viner in an episode of New Tricks. He narrated Welcome to Lagos, a BBC documentary about Lagos, Nigeria. He also starred in British independent film The Hot Potato, the film also starred Ray Winstone, Colm Meaney and Jack Huston. He played Frankenstein's monster in the TV live event Frankenstein's Wedding.

From 2011, Harewood starred as David Estes, the director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, in the Showtime series Homeland. After appearing in 24 episodes, his character was killed off in a bomb explosion at the end of season 2. Also in 2011, he voiced Captain Quinton Cole in the video game Battlefield 3.

In June 2014, he appeared in Tulip Fever. In October 2015, he appeared as a core cast member on the CBS television series Supergirl as Hank Henshaw. Since his character was revealed (in the episode Human for a Day) to be J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter posing as Henshaw, he portrays J'onn J'onzz with Henshaw's likeness as his human form and has a dual recurring role as the real Hank Henshaw / Cyborg Superman.

In 2017, Harewood was in London to attend the BT British Urban Film Festival at BT Tower. The following year, for his performance in "Free in Deed", Harewood won Best Actor at the 2018 British Urban Film Festival awards. Harewood was included in the 2019 edition of the Powerlist, ranking the 100 most influential Black Britons. Also in 2019, he played the position of goalkeeper for England in Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2019. Psychosis and Me, a documentary hosted and produced by Harewood received a BAFTA Television Award nominated for Single Documentary.

In October 2021, it was revealed that Harewood will make his feature directorial debut with For Whom The Bell Tolls, a boxing film about the rivalry between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.

In November 2021, The Guardian published an article focusing on Harewood and actor Ricardo P Lloyd comparing both of their lives and careers and the struggles black British actors face in the UK. This was part of Black British culture matters, curated by Lenny Henry & Marcus Ryder for The Guardian Saturday Culture Issue No7.

Harewood was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to drama and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity. Harewood delivered the 2023 Richard Dimbleby Lecture.

Other interests and activities

Slavery reparations

Harewood is an advocate of the British government apologising for Britain's participation in the slave trade. His great-great-great-great grandparents had been slaves on a plantation in Barbados owned by Henry Lascelles, 2nd Earl of Harewood. Slaves were given surnames derived from those of their owners, hence Harewood's ancestors had to take their name from the Lascelles' title. Harewood has engaged with David Lascelles, the 8th and current Earl of Harewood and a descendant of the 2nd Earl, who also believes the government should apologise for the slave trade. As part of a BBC Look North programme in 2007, David Harewood visited Lascelles' ancestral home, Harewood House, which was built with the profits of slavery, and interviewed Lascelles on the subject. He did so again for a Channel 5 documentary in 2021.

In September 2023, a portrait of Harewood, commissioned by Lascelles, was put on display at Harewood House as an acknowledgement of their families' connected history. It will become part of the stately home's permanent collection. The portrait's unveiling was accompanied by a temporary exhibition at the house focussing on Harewood's life and career. Harewood described the hanging of the portrait as "well overdue for me and my ancestors" and commented that he hoped visitors to the house would

see a picture of a black person that they may recognise from the television, they will enquire as to why his picture is there, and then they'll understand… all of the unpaid work that my ancestors did, and the brutality of what they suffered… helped build this house.

Politics

In May 2012, Harewood presented a Party Election Broadcast for the British Labour Party. In the 2019 European Parliament election, Harewood pledged his support for Change UK.

Health and charitable interests

In 2007, Harewood donated his bone marrow and as a result saved the life of a patient. In October 2013, Harewood voiced an interactive video campaign for the British Lung Foundation.

Harewood is an avid supporter of Birmingham City Football Club. Harewood appeared in Soccer Aid 2018 as England's celebrity goalkeeper. He saved two penalties during the penalty shootout, helping England to win the charity match. The event raised more than £5 million for UNICEF, a charity that Harewood supports.

Personal life

Harewood married his long-term girlfriend Kirsty Handy in February 2013 in Saint James, Barbados. They have two daughters and the family resides in Streatham, London.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Hawk Sergeant Streete
1995 Mad Dogs and Englishmen Jessop
1999 I Wonder Who's Kissing You Now Moses
1999 Between Dreams Orderly Short film
2004 Strings Erito (voice) English dub
The Merchant of Venice Prince of Morocco
2005 Separate Lies Inspector Marshall
2006 Blood Diamond Captain 'Poison'
2010 Second Chance Rob Jenkins Short film
2011 The Hot Potato Harrison
Victim Mr Ansah
2012 The Man Inside Eugene Murdoch
The Last Bite Rook Short film
2013 Third Person Jake
2015 Free in Deed Abe Wilkins
Spooks: The Greater Good Warrender
2016 Grimsby Black Gareth
2017 Tulip Fever Prater
2018 Parallel Mr Parkes
2022 Wendell & Wild Lane Klaxon (voice)

Television

Year(s) Title Role Notes
1990 Casualty Paul Grant Episode 5.9: "A Will to Die"
1990–1997 The Bill Williams / Malcolm Jackson / Ed Parrish / Robbie Coker Four episodes
1991 For the Greater Good David West TV film
Minder Vinny's Minder Episode 8.10: "Too Many Crooks"
Murder Most Horrid Jonathan Episode 1.5: "Murder at Tea Time"
Pirate Prince Jean-Baptiste TV film
1991–1993 Spatz Derek Puley Three episodes
1993 Anna Lee: Headcase Stevie Johnson TV film
Press Gang Doctor Episode 5.2: "Friendly Fire"
Medics Nick Episode 3.6
Harnessing Peacocks Terry TV film
1994 Great Moments in Aviation Steward TV film
Bermuda Grace Trevor Watkins TV film
Capital Lives Unknown Episode 1.5: "Fall"
1995 Hearts and Minds Trevor
Game On Paul Johnson Episode 1.5: "Big Wednesday"
Agony Again Daniel Seven episodes
1997 Macbeth on the Estate Macduff TV film
Kavanagh QC David Adams Episode 3.1: "Mute of Malice"
Comedy Premieres: Cold Feet Police Sergeant
1998 Ballykissangel Henry Episode 4.9: "As Stars Look Down"
1999–2001 Always and Everyone Mike Gregson Main cast
1999–2003 The Vice Sergeant / D.I. Joe Robinson Main cast
2001 An Unsuitable Job for a Woman D.I. Peterson Episode 1.4: "Playing God"
The Fear Storyteller
2001–2002 Babyfather Augustus 'Gus' Pottinger Main cast
2004 Silent Witness Angus Stuart Episodes 8.3 and 8.4: "Death by Water"
2004–2005 Fat Friends Max Robertson 11 episodes
2006 New Street Law D.I. Branston Two episodes
The Ruby in the Smoke Matthew Bedwell / Reverend Nicholas Bedwell TV film
2007 New Tricks Martin Viner Episode 4.3: "Ducking and Diving"
The Shadow in the North Nicholas Bedwell TV film
2008 The Palace Major Simon Brooks Main cast; eight episodes
The Last Enemy Patrick Nye TV mini-series; five episodes
Criminal Justice Freddie Graham TV mini-series; three episodes
2009 Gunrush Robbie TV film
Robin Hood Tuck 12 episodes
The Fixer Richard Millar Episode 2.4
2009–2010 Doctor Who Joshua Naismith "The End of Time"
2010 Mrs Mandela Nelson Mandela TV film
Strike Back Colonel Tshuma Episodes 1.3 and 1.4
2011 Hustle Don Coleman Episode 7.5: "The Fall of Railton FC"
Frankenstein's Wedding The Creature Live-televised stage performance
The Body Farm Wilkes Episode 1.3
2011–2012 Homeland David Estes 24 episodes
2012 Treasure Island Billy Bones TV mini-series
Horizon – Global Weirding Narrator TV documentary series
2013 The Wrong Mans Surgeon TV series
By Any Means Napier TV series
2014 Selfie Sam Saperstein 8 episodes
2015–2021 Supergirl J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter / Hank Henshaw / Cyborg Superman Main role; directed 4 episodes
Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2019)
2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Scorann TV series
The Night Manager Joel Steadman TV series
Will Britain ever have a Black Prime Minister? Presenter TV documentary
2017 Madiba Walter Sisulu Miniseries
2017-2019 The Flash J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter Episodes: "Duet", “Crisis on Infinite Earths Part 3”
2017 Have I Got News For You Himself Guest host
2018 David Harewood: My Psychosis and Me Presenter TV documentary
2019 The Man in the High Castle Equiano Hampton Episodes 4.2 and 4.5
2020 Earth's Tropical Islands Himself / narrator TV documentary
Arrow J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 4"
Legends of Tomorrow Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 5"
2021 Terry Pratchett's The Abominable Snow Baby Narrator Animated short story
2022 Ten Percent Himself Episode 8
2022 Hitler: The Lost Tapes Narrator 4 Episodes
2023 Get On Up: The Triumph of Black America Presenter / narrator Two-part documentary
David Harewood on Blackface Presenter / narrator Documentary

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Battlefield 3 Captain Quinton Cole
2013 Killzone: Shadow Fall Sinclair / Vektan Security Agency Director
2016 Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Staff Sergeant Usef Omar
2023 Alan Wake II Warlin Door

Radio

David Harewood voiced the character of the American character Thurman Berkley in series one of the BBC radio series Chambers on the 4th May 1996.

Harewood played Patroclus in the 1998 BBC radio trilogy Troy. He also played Henry Tilney in the Northanger Abbey radio adaptation (2005). On 4 May 2012, he hosted a special BBC Radio 2 Friday Night is Music Night celebrating the life of Ray Charles, broadcast live from Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The show featured the Guy Barker orchestra, with leader Cynthia Fleming and guest artists Madeline Bell, Gregory Porter, and James Tormé.

Harewood played the Marquis de Carabas in the BBC Radio 4 Radio Play of Neverwhere (2013).

In 2022, Harewood voiced Destruction of the Endless in Act III of Audible's full-cast audiobook adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic, The Sandman.

Awards and nominations

  • Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Nominated (2012)
  • Nashville Film Festival-Best Actor: Winner (2016)
  • Independent Spirit Awards-Best Male Lead: Nominated (2017)
  • Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series: Nominated (2019)
  • Edinburgh TV Festival-Variety Outstanding Achievement Award: Winner (2020)
  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to drama (2023)
  • Long Key International Film Awards 2023 - Best Actor in a Short Film (Man to Man, 2023). Winner.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: David Harewood para niños

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