Hisham Tawfiq
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hisham Tawfiq
| image = Hisham Tawfiq 2023.jpg
| caption = Tawfiq in 2023
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|05|17}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2002-present
| spouse = Spirit Tawfiq
| television = The Blacklist
}}
Hisham Tawfiq (born May 17, 1970) is an American actor, best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond "Red" Reddington in NBC's The Blacklist.
He also played a controlling father on the TV series Found.
Early life
Born in New York City, Tawfiq discovered his love of the arts while performing the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou in high school. Tawfiq studied at the Negro Ensemble Company, known for educating actors such as Denzel Washington and Ossie Davis. He also studied with coach Susan Batson.
Prior to pursuing a full acting career, Tawfiq served in the U.S. Marines, deployed during Operation Desert Storm.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/meet-hisham-tawfig-rising-star-blacklist-article-1.2402741|title='The Blacklist' star Hisham Tawfiq has gone from the Marines and the FDNY to full-time acting |website=New York Daily News |access-date=July 25, 2016}} From 1994 to 1996, Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York.{{cite web|url=http://pix11.com/2015/07/21/new-yorkers-dreaming-of-stardom-pick-up-extra-jobs-while-working-towards-fame/|title=New Yorkers dreaming of stardom pick up extra jobs while working towards fame|access-date=August 2, 2015}} While pursuing his acting career, Tawfiq also served as a firefighter for 20 years with the New York City Fire Department.{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/17/blacklist-hisham-tawfiq-retiring-fdny-20-years|title=Blacklist actor Hisham Tawfiq is retiring from the FDNY after 20 years on the squad|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 17, 2015|access-date=August 2, 2015}}
Career
Tawfiq performed with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Intimate Apparel and played Walter Lee Younger in a production of A Raisin in the Sun, which Tawfiq has said to be his dream role.{{cite web | url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jan/20/theater-reps-raisin-sun-stars-little-rock-20110120/ | title=THEATER: Rep's Raisin in the Sun stars Little Rock native | publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | date=20 January 2011 | access-date=29 April 2016 | author=Hill, Jack W.}}
Tawfiq starred in the BET film Gun Hill as Capt. Sanford, commander of a counter-crime task force. On television, Tawfiq has appeared in Lights Out, Law & Order spin-offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, Kings, Golden Boy, 30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake of Ironside.
Tawfiq played Dembe in NBC's The Blacklist. Starting with season 3, he was promoted to series regular.
Filmography
;Film
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Notorious | Fatigue Guy | |
| 2010 | Say Grace Before Drowning | Chris | |
| 2010 | Counterfeit | Malik | |
| 2010 | Contact Zone | Prince | |
| 2010 | Five Minarets in New York | High Rolla | |
| 2011 | Crazy Beats Strong Every Time | Kofi | |
| 2013 | Dead Man Down | Jamaican Mike | |
| 2014 | Gun Hill | Capt. Sanford | |
| 2017 | Dope Fiend | Prince | |
| 2018 | Skate Kitchen | Lawrence | |
| 2018 | Jinn | Imam Khalid | |
| 2020 | To Live and Die in Bed-Stuy | Big Ed | |
| 2021 | Maya and Her Lover | Father |
;Television
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2021 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Firefighter #1/FDNY Vestry/Jules | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Kings | Serviceman Walter | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Scaryman | Episode: "Lost Children of the Blood" (S9 Ep11) |
| 2011 | Lights Out | Jo Jo Reade | |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | African Dictator | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Golden Boy | Father Steven Truitt | |
| 2013 | Ironside | Cop | 1 episode |
| 2013–2023 | The Blacklist | Dembe Zuma | Recurring Role (Seasons 1–2) Main Cast (Seasons 3–10) |
| 2021 | Harlem | Dr. Obinna Tseggai | Episode: "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" |
| 2024 | The Equalizer (2021 TV series) | Sameer Bentang | 1 episode |
;Theater
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Piece | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Raisin in the Sun | Walter Lee Younger | ||
| Intimate Apparel | George Armstrong | ||
| A Soldiers Play | Henson | ||
| Offspring | Kyle | ||
| Bow Wow Club | Sal | ||
| Shaka Zulu | Shaka |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1399346}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tawfiq, Hisham}}
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War
Category:New York City firefighters
Category:United States Marines