Harry Lennix is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D.", Fox's "Dollhouse," HBO's "Little Britain," as well as the critically acclaimed series "24" as Walid Al-Rezani. Harry Joseph Lennix III was born November 16, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois, to Lillian C. . Lennix made his Broadway debut in August Wilson's Tony nominated play, Radio Golf. He was seen on the big screen in Working Title's "State of Play." In 2006, Lennix starred in the Golden Globe nominated ABC show "Commander in Chief" as Jim Gardner, the Chief of Staff. His other appearances include the Oscar winning film "Ray," "The Matrix: Reloaded," and "The Matrix: Revolutions." Lennix received critical acclaim and a Golden Satellite Award as Aaron in Julie Taymor's "Titus" starring Anthony Hopkins. A host of other film credits include "Across the Universe," "Barbershop 2," and "Love and Basketball." Lennix starred his as the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in Showtime's "Keep The Faith Baby," for which he won a Black Reel Award and was nominated for both an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Satellite Award. He continued to make his presence known with recurring roles on "ER" and "Diagnosis Murder" and other guest starring appearances on shows such as "Law & Order: Los Angeles." Lennix has directed and appeared in stage productions across the country, including the Northlight Theater Company's production of Permanent Collection, at the Greenway Arts Alliance in Los Angeles. Under his directing consultation, it was remounted at Los Angeles' Kirk Douglas Theater. He directed the stage version of Robert Townsend's The Five Heartbeats, which received 3 NAACP Theater Award nominations and The Glass Menagerie for the Steppenwolf Theater Company. As a stage actor, Lennix was the first distinguished recipient of an Ollie Award for his portrayal of Malcolm X at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and two Joseph Jefferson Citations for his roles in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Caught in the Act. He also starred as King Hedley II, another play by August Wilson, at the Mark Taper Forum. In 2001, he was part of the first American company to be invited to the Royal Shakespeare Company in the production of Cymbeline. Lennix has also been extremely active in his native Chicago community where he was an English and music teacher before becoming an actor. He founded Legacy Productions with renowned director Chuck Smith in 1989. The company is dedicated to promoting significant works about the African American experience. He is on the staff of the Goodman Theater Co. He also is active in various civic groups and is on the Advisory Council for his alma mater, Northwestern University. He resides in Los Angeles. Harry has two older brothers and an older sister, and often returns to Chicago to visit his remaining family.
Taught in the Chicago public schools system.
His first movie was The Package , starring Gene Hackman and directed by Andrew Davis. It was filmed in Lennixs hometown of Chicago, where Davis (also a Chicago native) films most of his movies.
He went to school with David Schwimmer of "Friends" .
He is the youngest of four children.
He was awarded the 1988 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Musical or Revue for "Ma Raineys Black Bottom" at the Pegasus Players Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
He was awarded the 1989 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Caught in the Act" at the Lifeline Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
He was awarded the 1997 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Ma Raineys Black Bottom" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
He graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Son of the late Harry Joseph Lennix II and Lillian C. Lennix of Chicago, Illinois.
Had an uncredited role as a heckler of Esai Morales character in Bad Boys .
(June 2009) He is the trustee of the Robey Theater Company in Los Angeles, California.
Has played husband to Valarie Pettiford , in the movie "Stomp the Yard" and the TV series "The Blacklist".
Attended Northwestern University with Stephen Colbert.
Stephen Colbert , on The Late Show in Aug 2016 with guest Larry Wilmore , recounted their post-White House Correspondents Dinner speech experiences having to mingle with the people they had just skewered - many of whom apparently could not take a joke. Colbert recalled after his 2006 speech during which he had famously and mercilessly skewered then President George W. Bush , said actor Harry J. Lennix - the talented, very dignified actor and classmate of his from Northwestern University, came up to the dais to compliment him. Colbert remembered telling Lennix that he didnt think anyone liked him. "Lennix leans back," Colbert recalled, "and with his deep voice goes, Fuck these people. That was good.".
