David Ajala

{{Infobox person

| name = David Ajala

| image = David Ajala by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = David Ajala at San Diego Comic-Con 2019

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Hackney, London, England

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 2006–present

| spouse = Terri Martin

| children = 2

}}

David Ajala (born 21 May 1986{{Cite web |last=Mike Rose |first=cleveland com |date=2024-05-21 |title=Famous birthdays list for today, May 21, 2024 includes celebrities Sarah Ramos, Mr. T |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/05/famous-birthdays-list-for-today-may-21-2024-includes-celebrities-sarah-ramos-mr-t.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=cleveland |language=en}}) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Manchester Black in Supergirl (2018{{ndash}}2019), Captain Roy Eris in Nightflyers (2018), and Cleveland "Book" Booker in Star Trek: Discovery (2020{{ndash}}2024).{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/|title='Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series|first1=Nellie|last1=Andreeva|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722025154/https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/|archive-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live}}

Early life

David Ajala was born in Hackney, London.{{cite news |author=Emma Brown |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/discovery-david-ajala/#_ |title=Discovery: David Ajala |newspaper=Interview |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163639/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/discovery-david-ajala/#_ |archive-date=4 January 2017 |url-status=live}} He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin.{{cite web |url=https://thebritishblacklist.co.uk/david-ajala-talks-about-current-role-in-itvs-new-drama-series-beowulf/ |title=David Ajala Talks About Current Role In ITV's New Drama Series, Beowulf |website=The British Blacklist |date=10 January 2016}} He trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls".

Career

On stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet,{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourmag.co.uk/davidajalatalks/ |title=Rising Brit actor David Ajala talks Dr Who and Hollywood |website=Flavour Magazine |date=16 February 2010 |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162914/http://www.flavourmag.co.uk/davidajalatalks/ |archive-date=4 January 2017 |url-status=live}} and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.{{cite news |author=Vincent Dowd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37611541 |title=Muhammad Ali play puts icons of black America on stage |publisher=BBC |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128005922/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37611541 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |url-status=live}}

In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood and Brotherhood;{{cite web |url=http://shadowandact.com/2016/07/03/watch-clare-hope-ashitey-david-ajala-star-in-london-set-short-drama-thriller-seekers/ |title=Watch: Clare-Hope Ashitey & David Ajala Star in London-Set Short Drama-Thriller, 'Seekers' |website=Shadow and Act |date=3 July 2016 |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163507/http://shadowandact.com/2016/07/03/watch-clare-hope-ashitey-david-ajala-star-in-london-set-short-drama-thriller-seekers/ |archive-date=4 January 2017 |url-status=live}} he has also appeared in The Dark Knight and in major roles in Starred Up and the 2016 Seekers. On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.{{cite news |author=Nellie Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/david-ajala-star-falling-water-usa-pilot-1201452713/ |title=David Ajala To Star In USA Pilot 'Falling Water' |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=January 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801150156/http://deadline.com/2015/06/david-ajala-star-falling-water-usa-pilot-1201452713/ |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.

Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x41n8|title=Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama - BBC Radio 4|website=BBC|access-date=2018-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503032458/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x41n8|archive-date=2013-05-03|url-status=live}} and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06cvgq8|title=Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria, The Price of Oil, Drama - BBC Radio 4|website=BBC|access-date=2018-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014185026/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06cvgq8|archive-date=2018-10-14|url-status=live}}

In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of Supergirl.{{Cite news|url=https://heroichollywood.com/david-ajala-manchester-black-supergirl/|title=See David Ajala As Manchester Black In New 'Supergirl' Photo|date=2018-10-30|work=Heroic Hollywood|access-date=2018-11-21|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121203955/https://heroichollywood.com/david-ajala-manchester-black-supergirl/|archive-date=2018-11-21|url-status=live}}

From 2020 to 2024, Ajala played the series regular role of Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-discovery-season5-david-ajala-interview/|title=Star Trek: Discovery's David Ajala Is Candid About Book's 'Complicated' Future|first=Sam|last=Stone|date=1 May 2024|website=CBR}}

Personal life

Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.{{Cite web|url=https://atthemoviesonline.com/2018/11/07/david-ajala/?amp=1|title=David Ajala|website=At the Movies|date=7 November 2018|accessdate=18 March 2023}}

Filmography

=Film=

class = "wikitable sortable"
Year !Title !Role !class="unsortable" \| Notes
2006 \| Kidulthood \| Desmond \| Uncredited
rowspan="2"\|2008 \| Adulthood \| Desmond \|
The Dark Knight \| Bounty Hunter #2 \|
2009 \|Hamlet \|Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner \|
rowspan="2"\|2010 \| Winter Sun \| Guy \| Short film
Following Footsteps \| Christopher Knight \|
rowspan="2"\|2011 \| One Day \| Floor Manager \|
Spirit \| Terror \| Short film
rowspan="4"\|2012 \| Payback Season \| Baron \|
Illegal Activity \| Edward \| Short film
Offender \| Kelvin \|
Sentenced Served \| Marvin \| Short film
rowspan="3"\|2013 \| Fast & Furious 6 \| Ivory \|
Starred Up \| Tyrone \|
Breakthrough \| Henry \| Short film
rowspan="2"\|2014 \| Queen of Diamonds \| Bench Guy \| Short film
Emulsion \| Jeff \|
rowspan="3"\|2015 \| Jupiter Ascending \| Ibis \|
He Works the Long Nights \| \| Short film
Spirit \| Terror \| Short film
rowspan="3"\|2016 \| Seekers \| Amadu \| Short film
Kill Command \| Drifter \|
Brotherhood \| Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch \|
rowspan="3"\|2017 \| The Art of Love \| Anthony \| Short film
Support \| Chris \| Short film
Without Disguise \| Leo \| Short film
2021 \| Italian Studies \| Ade \|
2023 \| Daylight Rules \| Frank \| Short film
TBA \| The Woman in Cabin 10 \| \| Filming

class = "wikitable sortable"

Year

!Title

!Role

!class="unsortable" | Notes

2006

| Kidulthood

| Desmond

| Uncredited

rowspan="2"|2008

| Adulthood

| Desmond

The Dark Knight

| Bounty Hunter #2

2009

|Hamlet

|Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner

rowspan="2"|2010

| Winter Sun

| Guy

| Short film

Following Footsteps

| Christopher Knight

rowspan="2"|2011

| One Day

| Floor Manager

Spirit

| Terror

| Short film

rowspan="4"|2012

| Payback Season

| Baron

Illegal Activity

| Edward

| Short film

Offender

| Kelvin

Sentenced Served

| Marvin

| Short film

rowspan="3"|2013

| Fast & Furious 6

| Ivory

Starred Up

| Tyrone

Breakthrough

| Henry

| Short film

rowspan="2"|2014

| Queen of Diamonds

| Bench Guy

| Short film

Emulsion

| Jeff

rowspan="3"|2015

| Jupiter Ascending

| Ibis

He Works the Long Nights

| Short film

Spirit

| Terror

| Short film

rowspan="3"|2016

| Seekers

| Amadu

| Short film

Kill Command

| Drifter

Brotherhood

| Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch

rowspan="3"|2017

| The Art of Love

| Anthony

| Short film

Support

| Chris

| Short film

Without Disguise

| Leo

| Short film

2021

| Italian Studies

| Ade

2023

| Daylight Rules

| Frank

| Short film

TBA

| The Woman in Cabin 10

| Filming

=Television=

class = "wikitable sortable"
Year !Title !Role !class="unsortable" \| Notes
2007 \| Dream Team \| Sean Campbell \| 18 episodes
rowspan="3"\|2008 \| The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury \| Steve \| Episode: "Technology Bytes"
The Bill \| Lenny Jones \| Episode: "Beth Undercover"
Trexx and Flipside \| Flipside \| 6 episodes
2009 \| Hamlet \| Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner \| TV film
2010 \| Doctor Who \| Peter \| Episode: "The Beast Below"
rowspan="3"\|2011 \| Silent Witness \| Mark Blakefield \| 2 episodes
Coming Up \| Malachi \| Episode: "Micah"
Misfits \| Private Investigator \| Episode #3.6
2012 \| Monroe \| Max Portas \| Episode #2.4
rowspan="3"\|2013 \| Death in Paradise \| Louis Nelson \| Episode: "Murder on the Plantation"
Black Mirror \| Jeff Carter \| Episode: "The Waldo Moment"
Law & Order: UK \| Gavin Dale \| 2 episodes
2014 \| Black Box \| Will Van Renseller \| 13 episodes
rowspan="3"\|2016 \| Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands \| Rate \| 6 episodes
Hooten & the Lady \| Dawit \| Episode: "Ethiopia"
The Break \| Xavier \| Episode: "System Cycle"
2016–2018 \| Falling Water \| Burton \| 20 episodes
2018 \| Nightflyers \| Roy Eris \| 10 episodes
2018–2019 \| Supergirl \| Manchester Black \| 7 episodes
2019 \| Urban Myths \| The Burglar \| Episode: "Grace Under Pressure"
rowspan="2"\|2020–2024 \| Star Trek: Discovery \| Cleveland "Book" Booker \| 33 episodes{{cite news\|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/\|title='Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series\|last=Andreeva\|first=Nellie\|work=Deadline Hollywood\|date=July 20, 2019\|access-date=October 16, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720212404/https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/\|archive-date=July 20, 2019\|url-status=live}}
The Ready Room \| Himself \| 4 episodes
2024 \| The Jetty \| Casey \| 4 episodes
2025 \| Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue \| Zack Ellis \| Main role

class = "wikitable sortable"

Year

!Title

!Role

!class="unsortable" | Notes

2007

| Dream Team

| Sean Campbell

| 18 episodes

rowspan="3"|2008

| The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury

| Steve

| Episode: "Technology Bytes"

The Bill

| Lenny Jones

| Episode: "Beth Undercover"

Trexx and Flipside

| Flipside

| 6 episodes

2009

| Hamlet

| Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner

| TV film

2010

| Doctor Who

| Peter

| Episode: "The Beast Below"

rowspan="3"|2011

| Silent Witness

| Mark Blakefield

| 2 episodes

Coming Up

| Malachi

| Episode: "Micah"

Misfits

| Private Investigator

| Episode #3.6

2012

| Monroe

| Max Portas

| Episode #2.4

rowspan="3"|2013

| Death in Paradise

| Louis Nelson

| Episode: "Murder on the Plantation"

Black Mirror

| Jeff Carter

| Episode: "The Waldo Moment"

Law & Order: UK

| Gavin Dale

| 2 episodes

2014

| Black Box

| Will Van Renseller

| 13 episodes

rowspan="3"|2016

| Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands

| Rate

| 6 episodes

Hooten & the Lady

| Dawit

| Episode: "Ethiopia"

The Break

| Xavier

| Episode: "System Cycle"

2016–2018

| Falling Water

| Burton

| 20 episodes

2018

| Nightflyers

| Roy Eris

| 10 episodes

2018–2019

| Supergirl

| Manchester Black

| 7 episodes

2019

| Urban Myths

| The Burglar

| Episode: "Grace Under Pressure"

rowspan="2"|2020–2024

| Star Trek: Discovery

| Cleveland "Book" Booker

| 33 episodes{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/|title='Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720212404/https://deadline.com/2019/07/star-trek-discovery-david-ajala-season-3-new-series-regular-character-book-1202648350/|archive-date=July 20, 2019|url-status=live}}

The Ready Room

| Himself

| 4 episodes

2024

| The Jetty

| Casey

| 4 episodes

2025

| Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue

| Zack Ellis

| Main role

=Video games=

class = "wikitable sortable"
Year !Title !Role
rowspan="2"\|2017 \| Mass Effect: Andromeda \| Additional voices
Need for Speed: Payback \| Sean 'Mac' McAlister

class = "wikitable sortable"

Year

!Title

!Role

rowspan="2"|2017

| Mass Effect: Andromeda

| Additional voices

Need for Speed: Payback

| Sean 'Mac' McAlister

Theatre credits

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue
rowspan="2"\|2006 \| You Are Right If You Say So \| Lamberto Laudisi \| Courtyard Theatre, London
How to Steal a Diamond \| YM \| Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
2007 \| The Swing of Things \| Claude Kabinda \| Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
rowspan="2"\|2008 \| A Midsummer Night's Dream \| Lysander (Understudy) \| Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Love's Labour's Lost \| Lord Dumaine (Understudy) \| Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
rowspan="2"\|2009 \| Death and the King's Horseman \| HRH The Prince \| Royal National Theatre, London
Nation \| Milo \| Royal National Theatre, London
2010 \| Ruined \| Fortune \| Almeida Theatre, London
2012 \| The Witness \| Simon \| Royal Court Theatre, London
2016 \| One Night in Miami \| Jim Brown \| Donmar Warehouse, London

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Venue

rowspan="2"|2006

| You Are Right If You Say So

| Lamberto Laudisi

| Courtyard Theatre, London

How to Steal a Diamond

| YM

| Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh