David Harewood
MBE (born 8 December 1965) is a British actor and presenter. He is best known for his roles as CIA Counterterrorism Director
David Estes
This is a list of characters appearing in the Showtime drama television series '' Homeland''.
Appearances
: = Main cast (credited)
: = Recurring cast (3+)
: = Guest cast (1-2)
Main cast
Recurring cast
;Notes
Main characters
The f ...
in ''
Homeland
A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethn ...
'' (2011–2012), and as
J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter and
Hank Henshaw / Cyborg Superman in ''
Supergirl
Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her fir ...
'' (2015–2021).
[
]
Early life
Harewood was born on 8 December 1965 in the Small Heath area of Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...
, the son of a couple from Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estima ...
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
Washwood Heath Academy is an all through school located in the Washwood Heath ward of Birmingham, England. Originally known as Washwood Heath Comprehensive School, it opened in September 1967. It was extended in 1996 to make way for the Post-16 c ...
. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) is a youth theatre and registered charity in London. Its aim is to develop and nurture young people through creative arts and theatrical productions. Founded in 1956 as the world's first youth the ...
. In his youth, he worked at a wine bar in Birmingham city centre
Birmingham City Centre, also known as Central Birmingham and often known locally as town, is the central business district of Birmingham, England. Following the removal of the Inner Ring Road, the city centre is now defined as being the area wi ...
. At the age of 18, he gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...
.
Career
Harewood began acting in 1990 and has appeared in '' The Hawk'', ''Great Moments in Aviation
''Great Moments in Aviation'' is a 1994 British romantic drama film set on a 1950s passenger liner. The film follows Gabriel Angel (Rakie Ayola), a young Caribbean aviator who falls in love with the forger Duncan Stewart (Jonathan Pryce) on her ...
'', ''Harnessing Peacocks
''Harnessing Peacocks'' is the third novel by Mary Wesley, published in 1985 when the author was 73 years old. In 1992 it was adapted for television.
Plot summary
As a baby, Hebe lost her parents in an air crash; her grandparents have brought ...
'', '' Mad Dogs and Englishmen'', ''Blood Diamond
''Blood Diamond'' is a 2006 American political war action thriller film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds min ...
'', ''The Merchant of Venice
''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.
Although classified as ...
'' and '' Strings''. He is known for his television appearances on '' Ballykissangel'', ''The Vice
Vice is a stock character of the medieval morality plays. While the main character of these plays was representative of every human being (and usually named Mankind, Everyman, or some other generalizing of humanity at large), the other characte ...
'' 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
''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cyp ...
at the National Theatre in London.
In 2008, he played Major Simon Brooks in '' The Palace''; he also appeared (that December) on ''Celebrity Mastermind
''Celebrity Mastermind'' is a celebrity version of ''Mastermind'', a British television quiz show broadcast by BBC television. It began in 2002 as a one-off special, expanding to the current arrangement of 10 episodes, broadcast during December ...
'', with specialist subject Philip Pullman
Sir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman (born 19 October 1946) is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy '' His Dark Materials'' and '' The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ'', a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, ''T ...
's ''His Dark Materials
''His Dark Materials'' is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Philip Pullman consisting of '' Northern Lights'' (1995; published as ''The Golden Compass'' in North America), '' The Subtle Knife'' (1997), and '' The Amber Spyglass'' (2000). It follo ...
''. He appeared in the BBC film adaptation of the Philip Pullman novels ''The Ruby in the Smoke
''The Ruby in the Smoke'' (1985) is a novel by the English author Philip Pullman. This book went on to win the 1987 Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award. It was also adapted for television in 2006. It is the first of the Sally Lockhart ...
'' and ''The Shadow in the North
''The Shadow in the North'' (1986) is a book by the English author Philip Pullman. It was originally published as ''The Shadow in the Plate''.
Plot
This second '' Sally Lockhart'' mystery takes place in late 1878, six years after the events of ...
'', both of which are titles from the Sally Lockhart Mysteries.
In 2009, Harewood appeared in the BBC single drama ''Mrs Mandela'', playing Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...
. He played Brother Tuck in the third series of ''Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is dep ...
''. He appeared in the ''Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...
'' story " The End of Time". He played Martin Luther King Jr. in the premiere of ''The Mountaintop
''The Mountaintop'' is a play by American playwright Katori Hall. It is a fictional depiction of Martin Luther King Jr.'s last night on earth set entirely in Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on the eve of his assassination in 1968.
Historical ...
'', written by American playwright Katori Hall
Katori Hall (born May 10, 1981) is an American playwright, screenwriter, producer, actress, and director from Memphis, Tennessee. Hall's best known works include the hit television series '' P-Valley'', the Tony-nominated '' Tina: The Tina Turner ...
, directed by James Dacre, which opened at Theatre503
Theatre503, formerly the Latchmere Theatre, is a theatre located at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above the Latchmere pub. The venue is known for promoting the work of new writers.
History
The the ...
in London on 9 June 2009.
Harewood next appeared in two episodes of Chris Ryan
Colin Armstrong (born 1961), usually known by the pseudonym and pen-name of Chris Ryan, is an author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNa ...
's '' Strike Back'' as Colonel Tshuma. From June to September 2010, he played Theseus
Theseus (, ; grc-gre, Θησεύς ) was the mythical king and founder-hero of Athens. The myths surrounding Theseus his journeys, exploits, and friends have provided material for fiction throughout the ages.
Theseus is sometimes describ ...
in the premiere of Moira Buffini
Moira Buffini (born 29 May 1965) is an English dramatist, director, and actor.
Early life
Buffini was born in Cheshire to Irish parents, and attended St Mary's College at Rhos-on-Sea in Wales as a day girl. She studied English and Drama at Gol ...
'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
Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is perha ...
, Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney (; ga, Colm Ó Maonaigh; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor known for playing Miles O'Brien in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–1994) and ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He has guest-starred on many TV ...
and Jack Huston
Jack Alexander Huston (born 7 December 1982) is a British actor. He appeared as Richard Harrow in the HBO television drama series ''Boardwalk Empire''. He also had a supporting role in the 2013 film ''American Hustle'', portrayed the eponymous ...
. He played Frankenstein's monster
Frankenstein's monster or Frankenstein's creature, often referred to as simply "Frankenstein", is a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus''. Shelley's title thus compar ...
in the TV live event ''Frankenstein's Wedding
''Frankenstein's Wedding'' (also known as ''Frankenstein's Wedding… Live in Leeds'') is a live musical drama based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus''. The show was broadcast live on BBC Three on 19 March 201 ...
''.
From 2011, Harewood starred as David Estes
This is a list of characters appearing in the Showtime drama television series '' Homeland''.
Appearances
: = Main cast (credited)
: = Recurring cast (3+)
: = Guest cast (1-2)
Main cast
Recurring cast
;Notes
Main characters
The f ...
, the director of the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, in the Showtime series ''Homeland
A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethn ...
''. 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 the 2012 New Year Honours
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...
, Harewood was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(MBE) for services to drama. In May 2012, he presented a Party Election Broadcast for the British Labour Party.
In October 2013, Harewood voiced an interactive video campaign for the British Lung Foundation aiming to ban smoking in cars with children on board in the United Kingdom. In June 2014, he appeared in ''Tulip Fever
''Tulip Fever'' is a 2017 historical romantic drama film directed by Justin Chadwick and written by Deborah Moggach and Tom Stoppard, adapted from Moggach's 1999 novel of the same name. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Alicia Vikander, Dane ...
''.
In October 2015, he appeared as a core cast member on the CBS television series ''Supergirl
Supergirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original, current, and most well known Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, the cousin of superhero Superman. The character made her fir ...
'' as Hank Henshaw. Since his character was revealed (in the episode ''Human for a Day
The first season of the American television series ''Supergirl'', which is based on the DC Comics character Supergirl / Kara Zor-El, a costumed superheroine who is the cousin to Superman and one of the last surviving Kryptonians.
''Supergirl'' ...
'') 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.
Harewood was included in the 2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
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
The BAFTA TV Awards, or British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the BAFTA. They have been awarded annually since 1955.
Background
The first-ever Awards, given in 1955, consisted of six categories. Until ...
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
Christopher Livingstone Eubank (born 8 August 1966) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1998. He held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles between 1990 and 1995, and is ranked by BoxRec as the thir ...
and Nigel Benn.
In November 2021, ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...
'' 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
Sir Lenworth George Henry (born 29 August 1958) is a British actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and writer.
Henry gained success as a stand-up comedian and impressionist in the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in '' The Le ...
& Marcus Ryder for ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...
'' Saturday Culture Issue No7.
Personal life
Harewood married his long-term girlfriend Kirsty Handy in February 2013 in Saint James, Barbados
The parish of Saint James ("St. James") is an area located in the western central part of the country of Barbados. Increasingly St. James is becoming known as the playground of the rich and famous, and as a haven for sun-starved tourists with its ...
. They have two daughters and the family resides in Streatham
Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth.
Streatham was in Surrey ...
, London. Harewood is an avid supporter of Birmingham City Football Club
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, it was renamed Small Heath in 1888, Birmingham in 1905, and Birmingham City in 1943. Since 2011, the first tea ...
.[
In 2007, Harewood appeared on a ]BBC Look North
''BBC Look North'' is a name used by the BBC for its regional news programmes in three regions in the North of England:
*'' BBC Look North'' for the BBC North East and Cumbria region
*'' BBC Look North'' for the BBC Yorkshire region
*'' BBC Loo ...
programme which marked the bicentenary of the 1807 Slave Trade Act's passage through Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
. As part of the programme, Harewood visited Harewood House
Harewood House ( , ) is a country house in Harewood, West Yorkshire, England. Designed by architects John Carr and Robert Adam, it was built, between 1759 and 1771, for Edwin Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood, a wealthy West Indian plantation ...
and interviewed David Lascelles, as his ancestors in Barbados had been enslaved by the Earls of Harewood.
In 2007, Harewood donated his bone marrow
Bone marrow is a semi-solid biological tissue, tissue found within the Spongy bone, spongy (also known as cancellous) portions of bones. In birds and mammals, bone marrow is the primary site of new blood cell production (or haematopoiesis). It i ...
and as a result saved the life of a patient.
Harewood is a mental health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles Stress (biology), stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-maki ...
ambassador and has been open about his own struggles, confessing that he used to self-medicate with alcohol to deal with his bipolar-like symptoms, discarding the medication given to him by doctors. He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act
Mental Health Act is a stock short title used for legislation relating to mental health law.
List Canada
* Mental Health Act (Ontario) (Ontario)
India
*The Mental Health Care Act, 2017
Ireland
*The Mental Health Act 2001
New Zealand
*The Mental ...
, spent time on the Whittington Hospital psychiatric ward, and was prescribed the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine (CPZ), marketed under the brand names Thorazine and Largactil among others, is an antipsychotic medication. It is primarily used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Other uses include the treatment of bipolar di ...
. He subsequently expanded on his experiences, hosting a 2019 BBC documentary titled ''David Harewood: My Psychosis and Me''.
Harewood appeared in Soccer Aid
''Soccer Aid'' is a British annual (formerly bi-ennial) charity event that has raised over £38 million in aid of UNICEF UK, through ticket sales and donations from the public. The televised event is a friendly-style football match between tw ...
2018 as England's celebrity goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or intercepting ...
. He saved two penalties during the penalty shootout, helping England to win the charity match. The event raised more than £5 million for UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to c ...
, a charity that Harewood supports.
In the 2019 European Parliament election
The 2019 European Parliament election was held between 23 and 26 May 2019, the ninth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979. A total of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent more than 512 million peop ...
, Harewood pledged his support for Change UK.
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
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 Greek mythology, as recorded in Homer's ''Iliad'', Patroclus (pronunciation variable but generally ; grc, Πάτροκλος, Pátroklos, glory of the father) was a childhood friend, close wartime companion, and the presumed (by some later a ...
in the 1998 BBC radio trilogy ''Troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...
''. He also played Henry Tilney in the ''Northanger Abbey
''Northanger Abbey'' () is a coming-of-age novel and a satire of Gothic novels written by Jane Austen. Austen was also influenced by Charlotte Lennox's '' The Female Quixote'' (1752). ''Northanger Abbey'' was completed in 1803, the first of ...
'' 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
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
, broadcast live from Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The show featured the Guy Barker
Guy Jeffrey Barker, (born 26 December 1957) is an English jazz trumpeter and composer.
Early life
Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a yea ...
orchestra, with leader Cynthia Fleming and guest artists Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell (born July 23, 1942) is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s with pop group Blue Mink, having arrived from America in the gospel show ''Black Nativity'' in 1962, with the ...
, Gregory Porter, and James Tormé
James Tormé (born August 13, 1973) is a jazz vocalist based in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of American singer Mel Tormé and British actress Janette Scott and grandson of Thora Hird
Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 Marc ...
.
Harewood played the Marquis de Carabas in the BBC Radio 4 Radio Play of ''Neverwhere
''Neverwhere'' is an urban fantasy television miniseries by Neil Gaiman that first aired in 1996 on BBC 2. The series is set in "London Below", a magical realm coexisting with the more familiar London, referred to as "London Above". It was de ...
'' (2013).
In 2022, Harewood voiced Destruction of the Endless in Act III of Audible's full-cast audibook adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic, '' The Sandman''
Awards and nominations
* Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
for services to drama (2012)
* Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: Nominated (2012)
* Nashville Film Festival-Best Actor: Winner (2016)
* Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic gla ...
-Best Male Lead: Nominated (2017)
* Saturn Award
The Saturn Awards are American awards presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, but have since grown to reward other films be ...
-Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series: Nominated (2019)
* Edinburgh TV Festival-Variety Outstanding Achievement Award: Winner( 2020)
Books
* "Maybe I Don't Belong Here"
at Pan Macmillan.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harewood, David
1965 births
Living people
20th-century English male actors
21st-century English male actors
Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Black British male actors
English male film actors
English male Shakespearean actors
English male stage actors
English male television actors
English male video game actors
English male voice actors
English memoirists
English people of Barbadian descent
English television directors
Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands
Members of the Order of the British Empire
National Youth Theatre members
People from Small Heath, Birmingham