Harry Lennix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Lennix
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Lennix at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
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| Born |
Harold Joseph Lennix III
November 16, 1964 |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Djena Graves
(m. 2009) |
Harold Joseph Lennix III (born November 16, 1964) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats (1991) and as Boyd Langton in the science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix co-stars as Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. Lennix also played J'onn J'onzz / Calvin Swanwick / Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe films Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Contents
Early life
The youngest of four siblings, Lennix was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Lillian C. (née Vines), a laundry worker, and Harry Lennix Jr., a machinist. His mother was African-American and his father was Creole from Louisiana. Lennix attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South and Northwestern University, where he majored in Acting and Direction. In his senior year at Northwestern, he was the coordinator of the African-American student organization, For Members Only.
Career
Lennix starred in the Showtime Networks television film Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as reverend and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.; in the film Titus (1999), based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, as Aaron the Moor; and in the ABC television series Commander in Chief. For ten seasons, Lennix co-starred in the role of Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist (2013-2023).
In film, Lennix has had supporting roles such as The Five Heartbeats (1991), Comfortably Numb (1995), Get on the Bus (1996), Love & Basketball (2000), The Matrix series (1999–2004), Ray (2004), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007), and State of Play (2009).
In television, he had a recurring role in Diagnosis: Murder as Agent Ron Wagner as well as a guest voice role in the Legion of Super Heroes episode "Timber Wolf" as the titular character's villainous father Mar Londo, being replaced by Dorian Harewood in the character's later appearance in the episode "Cry Wolf". He also had a recurring role in the sixth season of 24 as Muslim civil rights activist Walid Al-Rezani. He appeared on the series House M.D. as a paralyzed jazz trumpet player, and in six episodes of ER as Dr. Greg Fischer. He also appeared in the episode "The Blame Game" of the first season of Ally McBeal. He played the parts of Boyd Langton in Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse and U.S. president Barack Obama in the comedy sketch show Little Britain USA.
In 2007, he was an official festival judge at the first annual Noor Iranian Film Festival.
In June 2014, scenes featuring Lennix as Johnson for the independent film Timeless were filmed in Stuttgart, directed by Alexander Tuschinski. The film was released in 2016. In July 2014, Lennix formed his own production company Exponent Media Group (EMG) along with long time business partner Steve Harris. EMG had a distribution deal with NEHST studios for three of the company's titles Mr. Sophistication, H4 (a street version of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, which he also starred in), and Revival!
In 2015, Lennix appeared in Chi-Raq, directed by Spike Lee. Lennix called the film "brave and bold", as it addresses "the violence that’s happening right now in Chicago". Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 was Lennix' first appearance in a film directed by Zack Snyder, where he played the character Calvin Swanwick. Lennix made an additional appearance as the same character in Snyder's version of Justice League, released in 2021.
During the Chicago Goodman Theater's 2024-2025 season, he will play the role of Henry Drummond in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee play Inherit the Wind.
Personal life
In 2009, Lennix married business executive Djena Graves.
Lennix is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was initiated into the fraternity in November 2012 via the Theta Kappa Kappa graduate chapter in Evanston, Illinois.
Lennix is Catholic.
Filmography
Film
 |
Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story | Nero | Television film |
| The Package | Johnny's Field Soldier | ||
| 1990 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter | Prosecutor Keith Warner | Television film |
| 1991 | The Five Heartbeats | Dresser | |
| Victimless Crimes | Baker | ||
| 1992 | Mo' Money | Tom Dilton | |
| In the Best Interest of the Children | Tim Coffey | Television film | |
| Bob Roberts | Franklin Dockett | ||
| 1994 | Guarding Tess | Kenny Young | |
| Notes in a Minor Key | Teddy | Short | |
| Vanishing Son II | Andre Laine | Television film | |
| Vanishing Son IV | Andre Laine | Television film | |
| 1995 | Clockers | Bill Walker | |
| Nothing But the Truth | Det. Vernon Jones | Television film | |
| Comfortably Numb | Hamlin Day | ||
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Randall | |
| 1997 | Chicago Cab | ... Boyfriend | |
| Friends 'Til the End | Prof. Gunderson | Television film | |
| Too Close to Home | Prosecuting Attorney | Television film | |
| 1998 | Since You've Been Gone | Jordan Cardozo | Television film |
| 1999 | The Unspoken | Reverend Bob | |
| Titus | Aaron | ||
| 2000 | Love & Basketball | Nathan Wright | |
| The Artist's Journey: Funk Blast | The Guide | ||
| 2001 | All or Nothing | Jackson | Video |
| American Temp | Fred Caesar | Short | |
| Home Invaders | - | ||
| 2002 | Pumpkin | Robert Meary | |
| Collateral Damage | FBI Agent Dray | ||
| Don't Explain | Lee | ||
| Never Get Outta the Boat | Brandon | ||
| Keep the Faith, Baby | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. | Television film | |
| 2003 | Black Listed | Karl Bennett | |
| The Matrix Reloaded | Commander Lock | ||
| The Human Stain | Mr. Silk | ||
| The Matrix Revolutions | Lock | ||
| 2004 | Chrystal | Kalid | |
| Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Quentin Leroux | ||
| Suspect Zero | Rich Charleton | ||
| Ray | Joe Adams | ||
| 2005 | Trespass | Daddy | Short |
| 2006 | Sharif Don't Like It | Tom | |
| 2007 | Stomp the Yard | Nate | |
| Resurrecting the Champ | Bob Satterfield Jr. | ||
| Across the Universe | Army Sergeant | ||
| 2008 | Fly Like Mercury | Coach | |
| 2009 | State of Play | Detective Bell | |
| The Interview | Draco | Short | |
| 2011 | Hound Dogs | Skip | Television film |
| 2012 | The Last Fall | Ron Davis | |
| H4 | King Henry IV | ||
| A Beautiful Soul | Jeff Freeze | ||
| 2013 | Evidence | Ben Tuttle | |
| Man of Steel | Calvin Swanwick | ||
| Sunny and RayRay | Lenotti | ||
| They Die by Dawn | Sheriff Bass Reeves | ||
| Lorraine | Father | Short | |
| Keep Pushing | Staff Sergeant Hoover | Short | |
| 2014 | Cruel Will | Dr. Frances | |
| Cru | Diego Glass | ||
| Stand Down Soldier | Officer Freeman | ||
| The Algerian | Suleyman | ||
| The Fright Night Files | Ronald | Television film | |
| 2015 | Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | Black Manta | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 72 Hours | God | ||
| Back to School Mom | Lawrence Riley | ||
| Chi-Raq | Commissioner Blades | ||
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Calvin Swanwick | |
| Macbeth Unhinged | Banquo | ||
| Timeless | Johnson | ||
| For the Love of Christmas | God | ||
| Alternate Universe: A Rescue Mission | Principal Sheehan | ||
| Retribution | Captain Tucker | ||
| 2017 | Needlestick | Ray LeGro | |
| Romeo and Juliet in Harlem | Capulet | ||
| 2018 | That's Harassment | Politician | Short |
| Rehabilitation of the Hill | Davidson Livingston | ||
| Canal Street | DJ Terrance Palmer | ||
| Revival! | Pilate | ||
| 2020 | Grey Streets | Cardinal Ford | Short |
| Emperor | Frederick Douglass | ||
| Lazaretto | Sufyan | Short | |
| Troubled Waters | Ron Waters | ||
| 2021 | Zack Snyder's Justice League | J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter | Director's cut of Justice League |
| The Almighty Street Team | Calvin Chase/Black Aizan | ||
| The Musical Adventures of Afro Banzai - The Table Read | Dean Harry L. Coltrane/Narrator | Video | |
| Nothing Is Impossible | Russell Banks | ||
| A Christmas Together With You | Frank | Television film | |
| 2022 | Super Turnt | Mr. Denver | |
| Curse of the Macbeths | Banquo | ||
| 2024 | Isla Monstro | General Dregg | Voice |
| TBA | Winter Ball |
Eddie | Post-production |
| L.A. 4ORCE |
Shy-town Harry | Filming | |
| The pugilist |
Damien | Pre-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Jack and Mike | Fraternity Brother | Episode: "Personal Foul" |
| 1995–96 | The Client | Daniel Holbrook | Recurring cast |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Sergeant Rutledge | Episode: "Goodfella" |
| Murder One | David Bronson | Episode: "Chapter Eleven" | |
| 1997 | Mr. Parnell | Episode: "Chapter Ten, Year Two" | |
| ER | Dr. Greg Fischer | Supporting cast (season 3) | |
| Living Single | Clayton Simmons | Episode: "The Best Laid Plans" | |
| 1997–98 | Diagnosis: Murder | Agent Ron Wagner | Recurring cast (season 5) |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Ballard | Episode: "The Blame Game" |
| Any Day Now | Garrett | Episode: "Unfinished Symphony" | |
| The Practice | Attorney Wayland Holmes | Episode: "The Pursuit of Dignity" | |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Mr. Newman | Episode: "An Impartial Bias" |
| JAG | Agent John Nichols | Episode: "Contemptuous Words" | |
| St. Michael's Crossing | Pasternak | Episode: "CBS Pilot Knockin on Heaven's Door" | |
| 2002 | Girlfriends | Earl | Episode: "My Mother, Myself" |
| 2003 | The Practice | Asst. Attorney General Parker | Episode: "Final Judgment" |
| The Handler | DEA Handler | Episode: "Street Boss" | |
| 2004 | Century City | Attorney Attwell | Episode: "Love and Games" |
| Second Time Around | Dr. Oakes | Episode: "For Better or Worse" | |
| 2005 | House M.D. | John Henry Giles | Episode: "DNR" |
| 2005–06 | Commander in Chief | Jim Gardner | Main cast |
| 2006 | Legion of Super Heroes | Mar Londo | Voice, episode: "Timber Wolf" |
| 2007 | 24 | Walid Al-Rezani | Recurring cast (season 6) |
| 2008 | Little Britain USA | President of the United States | Recurring cast |
| 2009–10 | Dollhouse | Boyd Langton | Main cast |
| 2010 | Undercovers | Gary Bloom | Episode: "Funny Money" |
| 2011 | Law & Order: LA | Agent Bossy | Episode: "Plummer Park" |
| 2012–13 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Tim Dupre | Recurring cast |
| 2013 | Always Night | Roger Banks | Episode: "12-12-12" |
| Quick Draw | Sherrif Matt Love | Episode: "Nicodemus" | |
| 2013–23 | The Blacklist | Harold Cooper | Main cast |
| 2015 | The Marriage Tour | Mr. Wright | Recurring cast (season 2) |
| 2016–22 | Billions | Franklin Sacker | Recurring cast |
| 2017 | The Blacklist: Redemption | Harold Cooper | Episode: "Whitehall" |
| Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Cyclonus, Galvatronus (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2018–20 | Conrad | Don Brewer | Episode: "Hangin' with Conrad" & "Pilot D.O.A" |
| 2018–21 | Insecure | Marcus Walker | Guest (season 3), recurring cast (season 5) |
| 2022 | American Masters | Orpheus Fisher | Voice, episode: "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" |
| 2023 | Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas | Boorman | Voice |
| 2024 | Diarra from Detroit | Walter Harley | Recurring role |
Video games
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Commander Jason Lock | Voice acting and full-motion video cutscenes |
| 2004 | The Matrix Online | Voice acting |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Satellite Awards | Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Titus | Won |
| 2003 | Black Reel Awards | Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a Television Movie/Mini-Series | Keep the Faith, Baby | Won |
| NAACP Image Awards | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | NAACP Image Awards | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Commander in Chief | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Harry Lennix para niños
