Dorian Harewood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorian Harewood
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Harewood in the movie The Jesse Owens Story (1984)
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| Born | August 6, 1950 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
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| Education | University of Cincinnati (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Nancy Harewood
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
Dorian Harewood (born August 6, 1950) is an American actor who has appeared in movies, television shows, and on stage. He is famous for playing the Olympic athlete Jesse Owens in the movie The Jesse Owens Story. Many people also know him as a talented voice actor in cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Biker Mice from Mars.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harewood was born in Dayton, Ohio. His father was a teacher and a post office clerk. Growing up, Dorian became interested in acting and music.
He went to the University of Cincinnati and studied at its famous College-Conservatory of Music. In 1972, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which is a special degree for people who study subjects like acting, music, or art.
Acting Career
Starting on Stage
Dorian Harewood began his career in musical theater. He performed on Broadway in plays like Two Gentlemen of Verona and Streamers. For his role in a play called Don't Call Back, he won a Theatre World Award, which is given to promising new actors.
While working on a play, he met the legendary actress Bette Davis. She saw his talent and encouraged him to take on more serious acting roles. Harewood has said that she was his mentor and helped guide his career.
Television and Film Roles
Harewood became well-known for his role as Simon Haley in the TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. This series told the story of author Alex Haley's family.
In 1984, he starred as the famous track and field athlete Jesse Owens in The Jesse Owens Story. He also played a police psychologist in the TV series Strike Force and was a regular on the show Trauma Center.
Throughout his career, Harewood has appeared in many popular shows. He played Reverend Morgan Hamilton on 7th Heaven and a jazz musician on I'll Fly Away. His role on I'll Fly Away won him an NAACP Image Award.
Some of his movie roles include playing a soldier in Stanley Kubrick's famous film Full Metal Jacket (1987) and a coworker to Timothy Hutton in The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). He also appeared in the disaster movie Gray Lady Down (1978) and the action film Tank (1984).
Harewood believes in playing characters that are positive role models. He once said he was unhappy with his role in a miniseries called Beulah Land because he did not like the script. Since then, he has tried to choose roles that present positive images for African-Americans.
A Famous Voice Actor
Dorian Harewood is also a very successful voice actor. He has brought many animated characters to life.
Some of his famous voice roles include:
- Shredder in some episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Modo in Biker Mice from Mars and its 2006 revival
- War Machine in the animated series Iron Man
- Tombstone in Spider-Man
- Michael Jordan in the cartoon ProStars
- Monstar Bupkus in the movie Space Jam
He also voiced characters in Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Return to Broadway
In 2024, Harewood returned to Broadway to star in the musical adaptation of The Notebook. He played the role of Older Noah. For his amazing performance, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Personal Life
Harewood married actress Nancy McCurry in 1979. They have two children, a daughter named Olivia and a son named John.
Selected Roles
Famous Film Roles
- Sparkle (1976) as Levi Brown
- Gray Lady Down (1978) as Lieutenant Fowler
- Against All Odds (1984) as Tommy
- The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) as Gene
- Full Metal Jacket (1987) as "Eightball"
- Space Jam (1996) as Monstar Bupkus (voice)
- Gothika (2003) as Teddy Howard
Famous Television Roles
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Simon Haley
- Strike Force (1981–1982) as Det. Sgt. Paul Strobber
- The Jesse Owens Story (1984) as Jesse Owens
- I'll Fly Away (1992) as Clarence "Cool Papa" Charleston
- 7th Heaven (1996–2003) as Rev. Morgan Hamilton
- The Notebook (2024) as Older Noah (Stage role)
