Harold Perrineau
{{Short description|American actor (born 1963)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Harold Perrineau
| image = Harold Perrineau, Constantine, 2014 Comic Con (cropped).jpg
| caption = Perrineau in 2014
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|8|7}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1986–present
| other_names = Harold Perrineau Jr.
Harold Williams
| spouse = {{marriage|Brittany Robinson|2002}}
| children = 3, including Aurora
| alma_mater = Shenandoah University
}}
Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor. His breakout role was in the independent film Smoke (1995), for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He went on to appear as Mercutio in Romeo+Juliet (1996) and Link in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003). On television, he starred as Augustus Hill in the HBO prison drama Oz (1997–2003), Michael Dawson in the ABC series Lost (2004–2010), and Sheriff Boyd Stevens in the MGM+ horror series From (2022–present).
Perrineau has also appeared in the films The Edge (1997), The Best Man (1999), Woman on Top (2000), and 28 Weeks Later (2007). His other television credits include Sons of Anarchy (2012), Constantine (2014–2015), Claws (2017–2022), and The Rookie (2019–2021).
Early life
Perrineau was born in Brooklyn, New York City.{{Cite news|last=Lee|first=Luaine|date=November 6, 2012|title=Cop's bullet set him on the path to acting|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20121106_Cop_s_bullet_set_him_on_the_path_to_acting.html|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084620/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20121106_Cop_s_bullet_set_him_on_the_path_to_acting.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Handler|first=Rachel|date=September 10, 2020|title=Harold Perrineau Answers Every Question We Have About Romeo + Juliet|work=Vulture|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20121106_Cop_s_bullet_set_him_on_the_path_to_acting.html|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084620/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/20121106_Cop_s_bullet_set_him_on_the_path_to_acting.html|url-status=live}} His parents changed his name to Williams when he was a child, but he later changed it back, after discovering there was already a Harold Williams in the Screen Actors Guild.{{Cite news|last=Perrineau|first=Harold|date=August 7, 2019|title=Harold Perrineau on Twitter: "Actual fact, I was Born Harold Perrineau."|work=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/HaroldPerrineau/status/1159241196511924227|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907081258/https://twitter.com/HaroldPerrineau/status/1159241196511924227|url-status=live}} He attended Shenandoah University and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Career
In 1989, Perrineau was cast as the original Tyrone Jackson in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of the 1980 hit movie Fame (now known as Fame: The Musical) at the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |url=http://www.famenetwork.com/productions.php |title=History of "Fame: The Musical" Productions |publisher=Famenetwork.com |access-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=August 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814175429/http://www.famenetwork.com/productions.php |url-status=live }} He took the role of Link in The Matrix series after the original operator Tank was written out of the script when Marcus Chong was fired over monetary disputes.{{cite news|last=Wilkinson|first=Peter|title=The Mystery of Larry Wachowski|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9138137/the_mystery_of_larry_wachowski|access-date=March 21, 2014|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=January 12, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404025849/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9138137/the_mystery_of_larry_wachowski|archive-date=April 4, 2010}} Lost co-star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje starred with Perrineau on the HBO series Oz.
Perrineau played Michael Dawson on ABC's hit show Lost. He was temporarily written off when his character left the island with his son at the end of season two and did not appear in season three. In July 2007, it was announced he would return to the main cast for the show's fourth season.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003616978 |title=TCA: ABC's McPherson Pressed Into Divulging Lost News |access-date=July 25, 2007 |magazine=Media Week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011328/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003616978 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }} However, the return was short-lived, as the fourth season was his last as a regular cast member. He made one guest appearance in the sixth and final season.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/lost-tv-show-culture|title=Lost Illusions: The Untold Story of the Hit Show's Poisonous Culture|date=May 30, 2023 |publisher=Vanity Fair|access-date=May 31, 2023|archive-date=May 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531022055/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/lost-tv-show-culture|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Damon Lindelof 'Shocked and Appalled' Over 'Lost' Racism and Toxic Workplace Allegations: 'I Failed' to Provide Safety and Comfort |date=May 30, 2023 |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/lost-showrunners-racism-toxic-writers-room-damon-lindelof-1235628095/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531023633/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/lost-showrunners-racism-toxic-writers-room-damon-lindelof-1235628095/ |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=May 31, 2023 |publisher=Variety}}
Since his debut single "Stay Strong" in 2007 Perrineau has been working on his musical career. He actively collaborated with music producer Tomo in der Muhlen, known as DJ Tomo Tom Tom, on his debut album, Seeker. The first single, "Moving On", was released October 15, 2011. Perrineau has also done live shows where he performs with a full band: two guitars, bass, drums and keyboards. He performed at Los Angeles club The Mint in April 2010. Perrineau has appeared in MKTO's "Thank You" music video and J. Cole's "She Knows" music video.
Perrineau starred in 30 Days of Night: Dark Days with Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird and Monique Ganderton.{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34103/30-days-night-dark-days-casting-news |title=30 Days of Night: Dark Days Casting News |publisher=Dreadcentral.com |date=October 20, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=October 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024115513/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34103/30-days-night-dark-days-casting-news |url-status=live }} Perrineau appeared in the 2008 music video "Yes We Can".{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580884/20080204/will_i_am.jhtml |title=Will.I.Am Gathers Common, Nick Cannon, Scarlett Johansson For Barack Obama Video |publisher=Mtv.com |date=February 4, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=September 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916100256/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580884/20080204/will_i_am.jhtml |url-status=dead }}
Perrineau voiced the title character from Marvel's Blade anime series on G4 in January 2012. He was cast to play the character of Damon Pope, the main antagonist of season 5 of the hit show Sons of Anarchy.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/05/harold-perrineau-cast-as-damon-pope-on-sons-of-anarchy/ |title=Harold Perrineau Cast as Damon Pope on Sons of Anarchy |publisher=Tvfanatic.com |date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=September 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084600/https://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/05/harold-perrineau-cast-as-damon-pope-on-sons-of-anarchy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Michael Ausiello |url=http://tvline.com/2012/05/18/sons-of-anarchy-harold-perrineau-season-5/ |title=Sons of Anarchy Exclusive: Lost's Harold Perrineau Joins Cast as Big Bad Damon Pope |publisher=Tvline.com |date=May 18, 2012 |access-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929080401/https://tvline.com/2012/05/18/sons-of-anarchy-harold-perrineau-season-5/ |url-status=live }}
Perrineau starred as Stevie, the bass player, in the TBS comedy Wedding Band, which ran from 2012 to 2013.
Perrineau starred as Manny, an angelic messenger, in Constantine,{{Cite news |last=Piepenburg |first=Erik |date=February 18, 2022 |title=Harold Perrineau Finds His Way |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/arts/television/from-epix-harold-perrineau.html |access-date=March 20, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320175219/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/18/arts/television/from-epix-harold-perrineau.html |url-status=live }} the short-lived 2015 television series based on the DC Comics/Vertigo character John Constantine.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
He made his Broadway debut in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Anton Chekov's The Cherry Orchard, adapted by Stephen Karam. The play ran from September 2016 to December 4, 2016. Perrineau played Lopakhin, with Diane Lane as Ranevskaya.[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/harold-perrineau-508874 "Perrineau Broadway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107211003/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/harold-perrineau-508874 |date=November 7, 2022 }}, ibdb.com, accessed October 17, 2016Viagas, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/see-what-the-critics-said-about-the-cherry-orchard-on-broadway# "See What the Critics Said About 'The Cherry Orchard' on Broadway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904151858/http://www.playbill.com/article/see-what-the-critics-said-about-the-cherry-orchard-on-broadway |date=September 4, 2017 }}, Playbill, October 16, 2016 Also in 2016, Perrineau co-starred in the Amazon Studios legal series Goliath.
From 2017 to 2022, Perrineau played Dean, a man on the autism spectrum and the brother of Desna, in TNT's Claws. He won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the NAACP Awards.{{cite web |first=Samantha |last=Hunter |url=https://www.bet.com/article/olhmd2/harold-perrineau-on-playing-an-autistic-man |title='Claws' Star Harold On Playing An Autistic Black Man, The Fate Of 'Star' And Interracial Marriage. |website=BET |date=July 9, 2019 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117202526/https://www.bet.com/article/olhmd2/harold-perrineau-on-playing-an-autistic-man |url-status=live }} Perrineau starred as a cop, Nick Armstrong, on The Rookie for most of season 2 and as a guest on season 3.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
In November 2022, Harold Perrineau signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2024-11-22 |title=Independent Artist Group Signs ‘From’ Star Harold Perrineau |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/harold-perrineau-from-star-signs-independent-artist-group-1236185438/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
In December 2024, Perrineau was announced as a cast member in independent drama Out Come The Wolves based on the Rancid 1995 album of the same name.{{cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Giancarlo Esposito, Harold Perrineau, Taryn Manning, Ryan Hurst Join Punk Indie Drama ‘Out Come the Wolves’ (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/giancarlo-esposito-harold-perrineau-out-come-the-wolves-1236084175/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=18 March 2025 |date=December 11, 2024}}
Personal life
Perrineau has been married to Brittany Robinson Perrineau, a former actress and model for Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne throughout the 1990s, since 2002.{{cite news |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-09-17/business/LAPROP17_1_josh-holloway-four-bedrooms-Brittany |title=Actor Perrineau tells Hawaii to get lost |first=Ruth |last=Ryon |date=17 September 2006 |access-date=19 March 2025 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428032028/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-09-17/business/LAPROP17_1_josh-holloway-four-bedrooms-brittany |archive-date=28 April 2014}} They have three daughters, actress Aurora, born 1994, Wynter Aria, born on May 7, 2008,{{Cite news|last1=Finn|first1=Natalie|last2=Rosenbaum|first2=Claudia|date=May 31, 2008|title=Lost's Perrineau Uncovers Child No. 2|work=E! Online|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1501/lost-s-perrineau-uncovers-child-no-2|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084601/https://www.eonline.com/news/1501/lost-s-perrineau-uncovers-child-no-2|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Takeda|first=Allison|date=March 21, 2013|title=Harold Perrineau, Wife Brittany Welcome Third Daughter, Holiday Grace|work=Us Weekly|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/harold-perrineau-wife-brittany-welcome-third-daughter-holiday-grace-2013213/|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084559/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/harold-perrineau-wife-brittany-welcome-third-daughter-holiday-grace-2013213/|url-status=live}} and Holiday Gracein, born on March 21, 2013.{{cite news |url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/09/21/harold-perrineau-expecting-third-child/ |title=Third Child on the Way for Harold Perrineau |magazine=People.com |date=21 September 2012 |accessdate=21 September 2012 |first=Monica |last=Rizzo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923000815/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/09/21/harold-perrineau-expecting-third-child/ |archive-date=23 September 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/03/21/harold-perrineau-welcomes-daughter-holiday-grace/ |title=Harold Perrineau Welcomes Daughter Holiday Grace |first=Monica |last=Rizzo |date=21 March 2013 |access-date=19 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231603/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/03/21/harold-perrineau-welcomes-daughter-holiday-grace/ |archive-date=2 December 2013 |magazine=People}}
She appeared on the first season episode Outlaws, of Lost, as the girlfriend of Sawyer, and in the episode Numbers, as the woman who read the lottery numbers. Her acting credits also include the role of Dara in the romantic-comedy Saving Face (2004), as well as the movie Your Name Here (2008).
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1988
| Tommie | |
| 1990
| Thug Leader | |
| 1991
| King's Henchman (uncredited) | |
| rowspan="2"| 1995
| Smoke | Thomas "Rashid" Cole | |
| Flirt
| Men's Room Man 1# | |
| rowspan="2"| 1996
| Henry | |
| Romeo + Juliet
| Mercutio | |
| 1997
| The Edge | Steve | |
| rowspan="2"| 1998
| Bobby Perez | |
| Come to
| Joseph | Short |
| rowspan="3"| 1999
| Black Man | |
| Macbeth in Manhattan
| Chorus | |
| The Best Man
| Julian Murch | |
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| Monica Jones | |
| Overnight Sensation
| Experienced PA | |
| 2001
| Uncle Cee | |
| 2002
| On Line | Moe Curley | |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| Link | |
| The Matrix Revolutions
| Link | |
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| Flynn | |
| Garfield Gets Real
| Husband | Voice, video |
| rowspan="4"| 2008
| Orlando | |
| Ball Don't Lie
| Jimmy | |
| Your Name Here
| |
| Felon
| Lieutenant Bill Jackson | |
| rowspan="3"| 2010
| John Smith | |
| Case 219
| Franklyn Bonner | |
| 30 Days of Night: Dark Days
| Todd | Video |
| 2011
| Jimmy | |
| rowspan="4"| 2012
| Transit | Losada | |
| Sunset Stories
| Harold | |
| Taking the Edge Off
| – | Short |
| Zero Dark Thirty
| Jack | |
| rowspan="5"| 2013
| Snitch | Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Steele | |
| Go for Sisters
| Wiley | |
| Sexy Evil Genius
| Marvin Coolidge | Video |
| The Best Man Holiday
| Julian Murch | |
| The Championship Rounds
| Darryl | Short |
| 2014
| Sabotage | Investigator Darius Jackson | |
| 2015
| Meet Me at a Funeral | Jeffrey | Short |
| 2016
| #FoundingFathers | – | Short |
| rowspan=3| 2017
| Leader | |
| The Bachelors
| Dr. Rollens | |
| I'm Not Here
| Santana | |
| rowspan=3| 2018
| Mister |Voice |
| Cold Brook
| Gil Le Deux | |
| Dumplin'
| Lee Wayne / Rhea Ranged | |
| 2022
| Without Ward | Lord Voraz Esquire | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1986–1987
| Fame | Fame Dancer | Recurring role (season 6) |
| 1989
| Scott | Episode: "The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus" |
| rowspan=2| 1990
| Curtis | Episode: "Flour Babies" |
| Law & Order
| Jordan Hill | Episode: "Out of the Half-Light" |
| 1991
| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Singer | Episode: "Here's a Neat Way to Tie Up the Loose Ends" |
| 1991–1993
| Robert Evans | Recurring role |
| 1993
| Kenny Rinker | Episode: "Virus" |
| 1994
| Junior Vansen | Episode: "Camouflage" |
| 1995
| Benny | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 1997
| ER | Isaac Price | Episode: "Freak Show" |
| Living Single
| Walter Jackson | Episode: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" |
| 1997–2003
| Oz | Main role |
| 1998
| Ariel | TV movie |
| 1999
| Augustus Hill | Episode: "Jerry Seinfeld/David Bowie" |
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Louis Wyler/Turbo Jet | Voice, episode: "Heroes and Villains" |
| Dead Like Me
| Aroun Levert | Episode: "Rest in Peace" |
| 2004–2010
| Lost |
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Reverend Rhodes | Episode: "Go to Hell" |
| Demons
| Mitch | TV movie |
| 2009
| Detective Leo Banks | Main role |
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| CSI: NY | Reggie Tifford | Episode: "Redemption" |
| The Whole Truth
| Paul Braun | Episode: "Uncanny" |
| rowspan="4"| 2012
| Marvel Anime: Blade | Blade | Voice, main role |
| Phineas and Ferb
| Additional Voices | Episode: "Where's Perry?" |
| Georgia
| Michael | Main role |
| Sons of Anarchy
| Recurring role (season 5) |
| 2012–2013
| Stevie | Main role |
| 2013
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Brian Tremore | Episode: "Secrets Exhumed" |
| rowspan="4"| 2014
| Himself | Episode: "The Edge of Space" |
| Growing Up Fisher
| Fred | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Z Nation
| Lieutenant Hammond | Episode: "Puppies And Kittens" |
| Newsreaders
| Harold Perrineau | Episode: "F- Dancing, Are You Decent?" |
| 2014–2015
| Manny | Main role |
| rowspan="4"| 2016
| Charles Baptiste | Episode: "The Mystery of the Morning Jog" |
| Goliath
| Judge Reston Keller | Recurring role (season 1) |
| Full Circle
| Damon Houserman | Main role (season 3) |
| Poor Richard's Almanack
| Matt | TV movie |
| 2017
| Calvin Shaw | Recurring role (season 12) |
| 2017–2022
| Claws | Dean Simms | Main role |
| 2018–2019
| Star | Bobby Brooks | Recurring role (season 3) |
| 2019–2021
| Nick Armstrong | Recurring role (seasons 2–3) |
| 2020
| Wes Keeler | Episode: "Fixation" |
| 2022–present
| From | Boyd Stevens | Main role |
| 2022
| The Best Man: The Final Chapters | Julian "Murch" Murchison | Main role |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2003
|Link | Voice |
| 2004
| Link | Voice |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width=3%| Year
! width=20%| Awards ! width=51%| Category ! width=19%| Work ! width=7%| Outcome |
|---|
| 1996
| Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male | Smoke | {{nom}} |
| 2000
| NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | {{nom}} |
| 2006
| Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Lost | {{won}} |
| 2020
| NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Claws | {{won}} |
| 2022
| Saturn Award for Best Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series | From | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{iobdb name|7181}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perrineau, Harold}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Male actors from Brooklyn