Philip Akin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Akin
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Akin in 2019
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| Born | April 18, 1950 Kingston, Surrey County, Jamaica
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| Alma mater | Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Philip Akin (born April 18, 1950) is a Canadian actor. He has appeared in many movies and TV shows.
You might know him from big American films like The Sum of All Fears and S.W.A.T.. He also uses his voice for characters, like Bishop in the X-Men cartoon and Tripp Hansen in Monster Force.
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Philip Akin's Early Life and Training
Philip Akin was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 18, 1950. He was the middle child of five sons. In 1953, his parents moved to Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip and his brothers joined them the next year. He has lived in Ontario ever since.
After high school, Philip went to the Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto. In 1975, he was the very first acting student to graduate from the school. Just a few days later, he got a role in a play called Caesar and Cleopatra at the Shaw Festival.
Philip Akin's Acting Career Highlights
Philip Akin became well-known in the early 1980s. He appeared on a funny TV show called Bizarre.
He also played other memorable roles:
- Kid Cornelius, a boxer, in an episode of Friday the 13th: The Series (1987).
- Norton Drake, a computer expert who used a wheelchair, in the first season of War of the Worlds (1988–90).
- Charlie DeSalvo in Highlander: The Series. This role brought him a lot of recognition.
In the 2007 movie Shake Hands with the Devil, Philip played Kofi Annan. Kofi Annan was an important leader at the United Nations.
In 2007, Philip Akin performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada. This is a famous theatre festival held every summer in Stratford, Canada. He played the main character in William Shakespeare's play Othello. He also played the role of Crooks in the play Of Mice and Men, based on a novella by John Steinbeck.
Philip Akin has also made many guest appearances on TV shows. These include F/X: The Series, Mutant X, Flashpoint (2008), and The Expanse (2015).
Philip Akin's Work in Theatre Leadership
Philip Akin is a founder of the Obsidian Theatre Company. This is a Canadian theatre group made up of experienced actors of African descent. The company focuses on the work of Black artists and creators. Philip was the artistic director of Obsidian Theatre from 2006 to 2020.
In 2012, he won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play/Musical. He won this award for directing the play Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks. While leading Obsidian, he helped create programs to guide and support new Black theatre directors.
In 2019, Philip Akin received the Herbert Whittaker Award. This award celebrates important contributions to Canadian theatre. The Globe and Mail newspaper also named him one of the top Canadian artists of 2019.
When Philip left Obsidian Theatre, the company created The Black Shoulders Award in his honor. This award helps Black artists pursue their creative work.
In 2020, Philip Akin directed the Shaw Festival's production of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress.
Philip Akin's Martial Arts Training
Since 1983, Philip Akin has been studying Yoshinkan aikido. This is a Japanese martial art. He is now a 5th degree black belt in this art. He has also trained in Jing Mo kung fu and tai chi, which are Chinese martial arts.
