Harry Lennix
{{short description|American actor (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Harry Lennix by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Lennix at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
| birth_name = Harold Joseph Lennix III
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|11|16}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1983–present
| alma_mater = Northwestern University
| spouse = {{marriage|Djena Graves|2009}}
}}
Harold Joseph Lennix III{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/fashion/weddings/28graves.html | work= The New York Times | title=Djena Graves and Harry Lennix III | date=June 28, 2009}} (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 Fox science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix co-starred 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. He was nominated for the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Purpose.
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.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB373453B75270B&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title=Harry J. Lennix | date=April 16, 1991 | work=Chicago Sun-Times | first=Bob | last=Herguth}}[http://www.filmreference.com/film/23/Harry-J-Lennix.html Harry J. Lennix Biography (1965?–)] His mother was African-American and his father was Creole from Louisiana.{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/47966160.html?dids=47966160:47966160&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130926034241/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/47966160.html?dids=47966160:47966160&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 26, 2013 | title=In Titus, He's the Face of Pure Evil; Movies * Harry J. Lennix's role in Julie Taymor's film should bring him more opportunities—and recognition | first=Eric | last=Harrison | date=January 14, 2000 |work=Los Angeles Times}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://speakingofstories.org/Actors/Harry%20Lennix.html|website=SpeakingOfStories.org|title=Harry Lennix|access-date=September 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163749/http://speakingofstories.org/Actors/Harry%20Lennix.html|archive-date=February 14, 2015|url-status=dead}}
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.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} 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{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/4254/exclusive-pilot-details-welcome-to-the-dollhouse |title=Exclusive Pilot Details: Welcome to the Dollhouse! |access-date=April 16, 2008 |last=Dos Santos |first=Kristin |author-link=Kristin dos Santos |author2=Jennifer Godwin |date=April 15, 2008 |publisher=E! Online}} 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 July 2014, Lennix formed his own production company Exponent Media Group (EMG) along with long time business partner Steve Harris.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aefpr.com/portfolio/harry-lennix/|title=Harry Lennix – Andrew E. Freedman Public Relations|website=www.aefpr.com|access-date=January 7, 2018}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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".{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Mike |date=3 December 2015 |title=Harry Lennix: 'Chi-Raq' movie stirs his boyhood memories |url=https://eu.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/television/2015/12/03/harry-lennix-chi-raq-movie-stirs-boyhood-memories/76664348/ |work=Lansing State Journal |location= |access-date=}} Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 featured Lennix reprising the role of Calvin Swanwick from 2013's Man of Steel, both directed by Zack Snyder. 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 played the role of Henry Drummond in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee play Inherit the Wind.https://playbill.com/article/alexander-gemignani-harry-lennix-will-inherit-the-wind-at-the-goodman-ian-barford-helen-hunt-to-explore-betrayal
Personal life
In 2009, Lennix married business executive Djena Graves.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/fashion/weddings/28graves.html|title=Djena Graves and Harry Lennix III|date=June 26, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 7, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=23709349&privcapId=10998531|title=Djena Graves Lennix: Executive Profile & Biography|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=January 7, 2018}}
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.{{cite web | last=Slater | first=Elias | title=Actor Harry Lennix, National Black Church Initiative, And Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Partner With The Prostate Cancer Foundation To Raise Awareness Of Health Care Disparities | website=Prostate Cancer Foundation | date=2022-03-30 | url=https://www.pcf.org/news/actor-harry-lennix-national-black-church-initiative-and-omega-psi-phi-fraternity-inc-partner-with-the-prostate-cancer-foundation-to-raise-awareness-of-health-care-disparities/ | access-date=2024-05-14}}
Lennix is Catholic.{{cite news|last=Hume|first=Ashley|title='Matrix' star Harry Lennix on how studying to be a priest improved his acting|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/matrix-star-harry-lennix-how-studying-be-priest-improved-acting|work=Fox News|date=26 October 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1989
|Johnny's Field Soldier | |
| rowspan=2| 1991
|Dresser | |
| Victimless Crimes
|Baker | |
| rowspan=2| 1992
|Franklin Dockett | |
| Mo' Money
|Tom Dilton |Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| rowspan=2| 1994
|Kenny Young |Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| Notes in a Minor Key
|Teddy |Short |
| rowspan=2| 1995
|Hamlin Day | |
| Clockers
|Bill Walker | |
| 1996
|Randall | |
| 1997
|Pissed-Off Boyfriend |Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| rowspan=2| 1999
|Reverend Bob | |
| Titus
|Aaron | |
| rowspan=4| 2000
|Nathan Wright | |
| The Artist's Journey: Funk Blast
|The Guide | |
| All or Nothing
|Jackson |Short |
| American Temp
|Fred Caesar |Short |
| 2001
|Home Invaders |Himself | |
| rowspan=4| 2002
|Robert Meary | |
| Collateral Damage
|FBI Agent Dray | |
| Don't Explain
|Lee | |
| Never Get Outta the Boat
|Brandon |Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| rowspan=4| 2003
|Black Listed |Karl Bennett |Short |
| The Matrix Reloaded
|Commander Lock | |
| The Human Stain
|Mr. Silk | |
| The Matrix Revolutions
|Lock | |
| rowspan=4| 2004
|Kalid | |
| Barbershop 2: Back in Business
|Quentin Leroux | |
| Suspect Zero
|Rich Charleton | |
| Ray
| |
| 2005
|Trespass |Daddy |Short |
| 2006
|Shariff Don't Like It |Tom | |
| rowspan=3| 2007
|Nate | |
| Resurrecting the Champ
|Bob Satterfield Jr. | |
| Across the Universe
|Army Sergaent | |
| 2008
|Fly Like Mercury |Coach | |
| rowspan=2| 2009
|Detective Bell | |
| The Interview
|Draco |Short |
| rowspan=3| 2012
|Ron Davis | |
| H4
| |
| A Beautiful Soul
|Jeff Freeze | |
| rowspan=5| 2013
|Ben Tuttle | |
| Man of Steel
|General Swanwick | |
| They Die by Dawn
|Sheriff Bass Reeves | |
| Sunny and RayRay
|Lenotti | |
| Keep Pushing
|Staff Sergeant Hoover |Short |
| rowspan=4| 2014
|Cruel Will |Dr. Frances | |
| Cru
|Diego Glass | |
| The Algerian
|Suleyman | |
| Stand Down Soldier
|Officer Freeman | |
| rowspan=4| 2015
|Justice League: Throne of Atlantis |Voice role |
| 72 Hours
|God | |
| Back to School Mom
|Lawrence Riley | |
| Chi-Raq
|Commissioner Blades | |
| rowspan=6| 2016
|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice |Swanwick | |
| Macbeth Unhinged
| |
| Timeless
|Johnson | |
| For the Love of Christmas
|God | |
| Retribution
|Captain Tucker | |
| Alternate Universe: A Rescue Mission
|Principal Sheehan | |
| rowspan=2| 2017
|Needlestick |Ray LeGro | |
| Romeo and Juliet in Harlem
|Capulet | |
| rowspan=4| 2018
|That's Harassment |Politician |Short |
| Rehabilition of the Hill
|Davidson Livingston | |
| Canal Street
|DJ Terrance Palmer | |
| Revival
|Pilate | |
| rowspan=3| 2020
|Grey Streets |Cardinal Ford |Short |
| Emperor
| |
| Lazaretto
|Sufyan |Short |
| rowspan=2| 2021
|J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter |Director's cut of Justice League |
| The Almighty Street Team
|Calvin James / Black Aizan | |
| rowspan=4| 2022
|Super Turnt |Mr. Denver | |
| Winter Ball
|Eddie | |
| Curse of the Macbeths
|Banquo | |
| Nothing is Impossible
|Russell Banks | |
| rowspan=3| 2024
|Cutting Squares |Johnson / Self | |
| Isla Monstro
|General Dregg | |
| Godless
|Bishop Rolland | |
| rowspan=2| TBA
|{{Pending film|L.A. 4ORCE|italic=yes}} |Chi-town Harry |Post-production |
| {{Pending film|Eyes in the Trees|italic=yes}}
|Dr. Murphy |Post-production |
{{pending films key}}
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1986
| Fraternity Brother | Episode: "Personal Foul" |
| 1989
| A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story | Nero | TV movie |
| 1990
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter | Prosecutor Keith Warner | TV movie |
| 1992
| In the Best Interest of the Children | Tim Coffey | TV movie |
| rowspan=2| 1994
| Andre Laine | TV movie |
| Vanishing Son 4
| André Laine | TV movie |
| 1995–96
| Daniel Holbrook | Recurring cast |
| rowspan=2| 1996
| Sergeant Rutledge | Episode: "Goodfella" |
| rowspan="2" | Murder One
| David Bronson | Episode: "Chapter Eleven" |
| rowspan=5| 1997
| Mr. Parnell | Episode: "Chapter Ten, Year Two" |
| Friends 'Til the End
| Prof. Gunderson | TV movie |
| Too Close to Home
| Prosecuting Attorney | TV movie |
| ER
| Dr. Greg Fischer | Supporting cast (season 3) |
| Living Single
| Clayton Simmons | Episode: "The Best Laid Plans" |
| 1997–98
| Agent Ron Wagner | Recurring cast (season 5) |
| rowspan=4| 1998
| Ballard | Episode: "The Blame Game" |
| Since You've Been Gone
| Jordan Cardozo | TV movie |
| Any Day Now
| Garrett | Episode: "Unfinished Symphony" |
| The Practice
| Attorney Wayland Holmes | Episode: "The Pursuit of Dignity" |
| rowspan=3| 1999
| 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" |
| rowspan=2| 2002
| TV movie |
| Girlfriends
| Earl | Episode: "My Mother, Myself" |
| rowspan=2| 2003
| Asst. Attorney General Parker / Attorney Wayland Holmes | 2 episodes |
| The Handler
| DEA Handler | Episode: "Street Boss" |
| rowspan=2| 2004
| Attorney Attwell | Episode: "Love and Games" |
| Second Time Around
| Dr. Oakes | Episode: "For Better or Worse" |
| 2005
| House | John Henry Giles | Episode: "DNR" |
| 2005–06
| Jim Gardner | Main cast |
| 2006
| Mar Londo | Voice, episode: "Timber Wolf" |
| 2007
| 24 | Walid Al-Rezani | Recurring cast (season 6) |
| 2008
| President of the United States | Recurring cast |
| 2009–10
| Boyd Langton | Main cast |
| 2010
| Gary Bloom | Episode: "Funny Money" |
| rowspan=2| 2011
| Agent Bossy | Episode: "Plummer Park" |
| Hound Dogs
| Skip | TV movie |
| 2012–13
| Dr. Tim Dupre | Recurring cast |
| rowspan=2| 2013
| Always Night | Roger Banks | Miniseries |
| Quick Draw
| Sherrif Matt Love | Episode: "Nicodemus" |
| 2013–23
| Harold Cooper | Main cast |
| 2014
| The Fright Night Files | Ronald | TV movie |
| 2015
| The Marriage Tour | Mr. Wright | Recurring cast (season 2) |
| 2016–23
| Billions | Frank Sacker / Franklin Sacker | Recurring cast |
| rowspan=2| 2017
| 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) |
| 2021
| A Christmas Together with You | Frank Emory | TV movie |
| 2022
| Orpheus Fisher | Voice, episode: "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" |
| rowspan="3" | 2024
| Walter Harley |
| Destination Heaven
| God the Father | Miniseries |
| Young Love
| Russell Young | Voice, 9 episodes |
| TBA
| Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas | Boorman |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Voice role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2003
| rowspan="2" | Commander Jason Lock | Voice acting and full-motion video cutscenes |
| 2004
| Voice acting |
= Radio =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Ref. |
| 2024
|The Last Days of Cabrini-Green |Himself |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Awards ! Category ! Recipient ! Outcome |
|---|
| 2000
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Titus | {{won}} |
| rowspan=3| 2003
| Best Actor in a Television Movie/Mini-Series |rowspan=3| Keep the Faith, Baby | {{won}} |
| NAACP Image Awards
| Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | {{nom}} |
| Satellite Awards
| Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | {{nom}} |
| 2006
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| 2025
| Purpose | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|502015|Harry Lennix}}
- {{iobdb name|37810}}
- {{IBDB name|456786}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Harry Lennix
|list =
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lennix, Harry}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:Male actors from Chicago
Category:American male film actors
Category:Louisiana Creole people
Category:Northwestern University School of Communication alumni
Category:American male television actors
Category:African-American Catholics
Category:20th-century African-American male actors