Harry Lennix facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harry Lennix
Lennix at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, a popular fan convention.
Born	Harold Joseph Lennix III (1964-11-16) November 16, 1964 (age 60) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Djena Graves ​ (m. 2009)​

Harold Joseph Lennix III (born November 16, 1964), known as Harry Lennix, is an American actor famous for his roles in movies, television, and on stage. Many people know him as Harold Cooper from the popular NBC show The Blacklist.

You might also recognize him from the DC Extended Universe superhero movies. He played General Swanwick in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In Zack Snyder's Justice League, it was revealed his character was secretly the superhero Martian Manhunter. He also played Commander Lock in The Matrix movies. In 2025, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his acting in the play Purpose.

Early Life and Education

Harry Lennix was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was the youngest of four children. His mother, Lillian, worked in a laundry, and his father, Harry Jr., was a machinist, a person who works with machines.

Lennix was a good student and went to Northwestern University. There, he studied Acting and Direction. He was also a leader in a student group for African-American students.

Acting Career

Lennix has had a long and successful career, appearing in many different kinds of roles. He is known for being able to play serious, powerful characters.

Famous Movie Roles

Lennix's movie career started with a memorable role as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the 1991 film The Five Heartbeats. He later played Aaron the Moor in Titus, a movie based on a play by William Shakespeare.

He became well-known to a global audience as Commander Lock in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He has also appeared in other popular films like Ray, about the life of singer Ray Charles, and the dance movie Stomp the Yard.

In 2013, he joined the world of superheroes as General Swanwick in Man of Steel. He returned to the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), where his character was revealed to be the Martian Manhunter.

Success on Television

For ten years (2013-2023), Lennix starred as Harold Cooper in the hit NBC series The Blacklist. His character was an assistant director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, a special group that works to stop terrorist attacks.

He also played important roles in other TV shows. He was in the science-fiction series Dollhouse as Boyd Langton. He has also appeared in episodes of shows like ER, House, and 24.

Stage and Other Work

Besides movies and TV, Lennix is a talented stage actor. In 2024, he acted in a play called Inherit the Wind at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. His performance in the 2024 play Purpose earned him a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, one of the highest honors in theater.

In 2014, Lennix started his own movie production company called Exponent Media Group.

Personal Life

In 2009, Harry Lennix married Djena Graves, a business executive. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, a social organization for college-educated men.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Here are some of Harry Lennix's most well-known roles.

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Harry Lennix para niños