| Birth Name: | Harold Joseph Lennix III |
| Birth Date: | 16 November 1964 |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Yearsactive: | 1983–present |
| Alma Mater: | Northwestern University |
Harold Joseph Lennix III[1] (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, , 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.
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.[2] [3] His mother was African-American and his father was Creole from Louisiana.[4] 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.[5]
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), (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007), and State of Play (2009).
In television, he had a recurring role in 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. In the second season of Legion of Super Heroes, Lennix was replaced in the role by Dorian Harewood. 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. 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[6] 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.[7] 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".[8] 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 Swanwick 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.[9]
In 2009, Lennix married business executive Djena Graves.[10] [11]
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.[12]
| 1989 | The Package | Johnny's Field Soldier | |
| 1991 | The Five Heartbeats | Dresser | |
| Victimless Crimes | Baker | ||
| 1992 | Bob Roberts | Franklin Dockett | |
| Mo' Money | Tom Dilton | Credited as Harry J. Lennix | |
| 1994 | Guarding Tess | Kenny Young | Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| Notes in a Minor Key | Teddy | Short | |
| 1995 | Comfortably Numb | Hamlin Day | |
| Clockers | Bill Walker | ||
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Randall | |
| 1997 | Chicago Cab | Pissed-Off Boyfriend | Credited as Harry J. Lennix |
| 1999 | The Unspoken | Reverend Bob | |
| Titus | Aaron | ||
| 2000 | Love & Basketball | Nathan Wright | |
| The Artist's Journey: Funk Blast | The Guide | ||
| All or Nothing | Jackson | Short | |
| American Temp | Fred Caesar | Short | |
| 2001 | Home Invaders | Himself | |
| 2002 | Pumpkin | Robert Meary | |
| Collateral Damage | FBI Agent Dray | ||
| Don't Explain | Lee | ||
| Never Get Outta the Boat | Brandon | Credited as Harry J. Lennix | |
| 2003 | Black Listed | Karl Bennett | Short |
| The Matrix Reloaded | Commander Lock | ||
| The Human Stain | Mr. Silk | ||
| The Matrix Revolutions | Lock | ||
| 2004 | Chrystal | Kalid | |
| Quentin Leroux | |||
| Suspect Zero | Rich Charleton | ||
| Ray | Joe Adams | ||
| 2005 | Trespass | Daddy | Short |
| 2006 | Shariff Don't Like It | Tom | |
| 2007 | Stomp the Yard | Nate | |
| Resurrecting the Champ | Bob Satterfield Jr. | ||
| Across the Universe | Army Sergaent | ||
| 2008 | Fly Like Mercury | Coach | |
| 2009 | State of Play | Detective Bell | |
| The Interview | Draco | Short | |
| 2012 | The Last Fall | Ron Davis | |
| H4 | King Henry IV | ||
| A Beautiful Soul | Jeff Freeze | ||
| 2013 | Evidence | Ben Tuttle | |
| Man of Steel | General Swanwick | ||
| They Die by Dawn | Sheriff Bass Reeves | ||
| Sunny and RayRay | Lenotti | ||
| Keep Pushing | Staff Sergeant Hoover | Short | |
| 2014 | Cruel Will | Dr. Frances | |
| Cru | Diego Glass | ||
| The Algerian | Suleyman | ||
| Stand Down Soldier | Officer Freeman | ||
| 2015 | Black Manta | Voice role | |
| 72 Hours | God | ||
| Back to School Mom | Lawrence Riley | ||
| Chi-Raq | Commissioner Blades | ||
| 2016 | Swanwick | ||
| Macbeth Unhinged | Banquo | ||
| Timeless | Johnson | ||
| For the Love of Christmas | God | ||
| Retribution | Captain Tucker | ||
| Alternate Universe: A Rescue Mission | Principal Sheehan | ||
| 2017 | Needlestick | Ray LeGro | |
| Romeo and Juliet in Harlem | Capulet | ||
| 2018 | That's Harassment | Politician | Short |
| Rehabilition of the Hill | Davidson Livingston | ||
| Canal Street | DJ Terrance Palmer | ||
| Revival | Pilate | ||
| 2020 | Grey Streets | Cardinal Ford | Short |
| Emperor | Frederick Douglass | ||
| Lazaretto | Sufyan | Short | |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder's Justice League | J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter | Director's cut of Justice League |
| The Almighty Street Team | Calvin James / Black Aizan | ||
| 2022 | Super Turnt | Mr. Denver | |
| Winter Ball | Eddie | ||
| Curse of the Macbeths | Banquo | ||
| Nothing is Impossible | Russell Banks | ||
| 2024 | Cutting Squares | Johnson / Self | |
| Isla Monstro | General Dregg | ||
| Godless | Bishop Rolland | ||
| TBA | Chi-town Harry | Post-production | |
| Dr. Murphy | Post-production | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Jack and Mike | Fraternity Brother | Episode: "Personal Foul" | |
| 1989 | A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story | Nero | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Prosecutor Keith Warner | |||
| 1992 | In the Best Interest of the Children | Tim Coffey | ||
| 1994 | Vanishing Son 2 | Andre Laine | ||
| Vanishing Son 4 | ||||
| 1995–1996 | The Client | Daniel Holbrook | Recurring role | |
| 1996 | The Parent 'Hood | Sergeant Rutledge | Episode: "Goodfella" | |
| Murder One | David Bronson | Episode: "Chapter Eleven" | ||
| 1997 | Mr. Parnell | Episode: "Chapter Ten, Year Two" | ||
| Friends 'Til the End | Prof. Gunderson | TV movie | ||
| Too Close to Home | Prosecuting Attorney | |||
| ER | Dr. Greg Fischer | Recurring role | ||
| Living Single | Clayton Simmons | Episode: "The Best Laid Plans" | ||
| 1997–1998 | Agent Ron Wagner | Recurring role | ||
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | 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" | ||
| 1999 | Judging Amy | 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" | ||
| 2002 | Keep the Faith, Baby | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. | TV movie | |
| Girlfriends | Earl | Episode: "My Mother, Myself" | ||
| 2003 | The Practice | Asst. Attorney General Parker / Attorney Wayland Holmes | 2 episodes | |
| The Handler | DEA Handler | Episode: "Street Boss" | ||
| 2004 | Century City | Attorney Attwell | Episode: "Love and Games" | |
| Second Time Around | Dr. Oakes | Episode: "For Better or Worse" | ||
| 2005 | House | John Henry Giles | Episode: "DNR" | |
| 2005–2006 | Commander in Chief | Jim Gardner | Main role | |
| 2006 | Legion of Super Heroes | Mar Londo | Voice, episode: "Timber Wolf" | |
| 2007 | 24 | Walid Al-Rezani | Recurring role | |
| 2008 | Little Britain USA | President of the United States | ||
| 2009–2010 | Dollhouse | Boyd Langton | Main role | |
| 2010 | Undercovers | Gary Bloom | Episode: "Funny Money" | |
| 2011 | Agent Bossy | Episode: "Plummer Park" | ||
| Hound Dogs | Skip | TV movie | ||
| 2012–2013 | Emily Owens, M.D. | Dr. Tim Dupre | Recurring role | |
| 2013 | Always Night | Roger Banks | Miniseries | |
| Quick Draw | Sherrif Matt Love | Episode: "Nicodemus" | ||
| 2013–2023 | The Blacklist | Harold Cooper | Main role | |
| 2014 | The Fright Night Files | Ronald | TV movie | |
| 2015 | The Marriage Tour | Mr. Wright | Recurring role | |
| 2016–23 | Billions | Frank Sacker / Franklin Sacker | ||
| 2017 | Harold Cooper | Episode: "Whitehall" | ||
| Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Cyclonus, Galvatronus | Voice, 2 episodes | ||
| 2018–2020 | Conrad | Don Brewer | Episodes: "Hangin' with Conrad" & "Pilot D.O.A" | |
| 2018–2021 | Insecure | Marcus Walker | Guest (season 3), recurring role (season 5) | |
| 2021 | A Christmas Together with You | Frank Emory | TV movie | |
| 2022 | American Masters | Orpheus Fisher | Voice, episode: "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" | |
| Boorman | Voice | |||
| 2024 | Diarra from Detroit | Walter Harley | Recurring role | |
| Destination Heaven | God the Father | Miniseries | ||
| Young Love | Russell Young | Voice, recurring role | ||
| 2026 | Boston Blue | TBA | Recurring role[14] |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Commander Jason Lock | Voice acting and full-motion video cutscenes |
| 2004 | The Matrix Online | Voice acting |
| 2024 | The Last Days of Cabrini-Green | Himself | Podcast series[15] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Radio Golf | Harmond Wilks | Cort Theatre | ||
| 2025 | Purpose | Solomon "Sonny" Jasper | Hayes Theater |
| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Titus | rowspan=2 | |
| 2003 | Best Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries | Keep the Faith, Baby | ||
| Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special | rowspan=4 | |||
| Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | ||||
| 2006 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Commander in Chief | ||
| 2025 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Play | Purpose |
