Harold Perrineau
Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Dawson on the television series Lost (2004–2008; 2010), Link in The Matrix franchise (2003), and Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996).
Harold Perrineau | |
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![]() Perrineau in 2014 | |
Born | New York City, U.S. | August 7, 1963
Other names | Harold Perrineau Jr. Harold Williams |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1986–present |
Spouse(s) | Brittany Robinson (m. 2002) |
Children | 3; including Aurora Perrineau |
Perrineau has also starred in the films Smoke (1995), The Edge (1997), The Best Man (1999), 28 Weeks Later (2007), and Zero Dark Thirty (2012). His other television credits include Oz (1997–2003), Sons of Anarchy (2012), Constantine (2014–2015), Claws (2017–present), and The Rookie (2019–2021).
Perrineau was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the hit indie film Smoke.
Early life
Perrineau was born in Brooklyn, New York City.[1][2] 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.[3] He attended Shenandoah University and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]
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.[4] Perrineau took the role of Link in The Matrix series after the original operator Tank was written off the script when Marcus Chong was fired over monetary disputes.[5] Lost co-star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje starred with Perrineau on the HBO series Oz.
Perrineau played the character 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 at all in season three. In July 2007, it was announced Perrineau would return to the main cast for the show's fourth season.[6] However, this 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.
He stars also in 30 Days of Night: Dark Days along with Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird and Monique Ganderton.[7]
Perrineau appeared in the 2008 music video, "Yes We Can".[8]
Perrineau voiced the title character from Marvel's Blade anime series on G4 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.[9][10]
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, the short-lived 2015 television series based on the DC Comics/Vertigo character John Constantine.
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.[11][12] Also in 2016, Perrineau co-starred in the Amazon Studios legal series Goliath.
Since his debut single "Stay Strong" in 2007 Perrineau has been working on his musical career. He is actively collaborating 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 enjoys doing 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 the MKTO – Thank You Music Video and J. Cole's – She Knows music video. Perrineau starred as a cop, Nick Armstrong on "The Rookie" for most of Season 2 and as a guest on Season 3.
Personal life
Perrineau has been married to former actress and model Brittany Perrineau (née Robinson) since 2002. The couple has three daughters, including actress Aurora Perrineau.[13][14]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Shakedown | Tommie | |
1990 | King of New York | Thief On The Subway | |
1995 | Smoke | Thomas 'Rashid' Cole | Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male |
Professor X Genki | Pierce | ||
1996 | Romeo + Juliet | Mercutio | |
1997 | Blood and Wine | Henry | |
The Edge | Steve | ||
On the Line | Sam | ||
The Crazy Professor | Isaiah | ||
1998 | Lulu on the Bridge | Bobby Perez | |
1999 | The Best Man | Julian Murch | Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
Macbeth in Manhattan | The Chorus | ||
2000 | Woman on Top | Monica Jones | |
2001 | Prison Song | Uncle Cee | |
2002 | On Line | 'Moe' Curley | |
Superman Must Die | 'Sleepy' | ||
2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Link | |
The Matrix Revolutions | |||
2007 | 28 Weeks Later | Flynn | |
2008 | Your Name Here | Richard Roundtree | |
Gardens of the Night | Orlando | ||
Ball Don't Lie | Jimmy | ||
Felon | Lieutenant Bill Jackson | ||
2010 | 30 Days of Night: Dark Days | Todd | |
The Killing Jar | John Smith | ||
2011 | Seeking Justice | Jimmy | |
2012 | Transit | Losada | |
Zero Dark Thirty | Jack | ||
2013 | Snitch | Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Steele | |
Go for Sisters | Wiley | ||
Sexy Evil Genius | Marvin | ||
The Best Man Holiday | Julian Murch | ||
The Championship Rounds | Darryl | ||
2014 | Sabotage | Jackson | |
2017 | The Bachelors | Dr. Rollens | |
I'm Not Here | Santana | ||
Stephanie | Leader (uncredited) | ||
Without Ward | Lord Voraz Esquire | ||
Virginia Minnesota | Mister | ||
2018 | Dumplin' | Lee Wayne / Rhea Ranged | |
Cold Brook | Gil Le Deux | ||
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | The Cosby Show | Scott | Episode: "Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus" |
1990 | Law & Order | Jordan Hill | Episode: "Out of the Half-Light" |
1991–1993 | I'll Fly Away | Robert Evans | 8 episodes |
1993 | Law & Order | Kenny Rinker | Episode: "Virus" |
1997 | ER | Isaac Price | Episode: "Freak Show" |
Living Single | Walter Jackson | Episode: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" | |
1997–2003 | Oz | Augustus Hill | 55 episodes |
2003 | Dead Like Me | Aroun Levert | Episode: "Rest in Peace" |
2004–2008; 2010 | Lost | Michael Dawson | 47 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
2007 | CSI | Reverend Rhodes | Episode: "Go to Hell" |
2009 | The Unusuals | Detective Leo Banks | 10 episodes |
2010 | CSI: NY | Reggie Tifford | Episode: "Redemptio" |
2012 | Marvel Anime | Blade (voice) | 12 episodes |
Sons of Anarchy | Damon Pope | 8 episodes | |
Phineas and Ferb | Additional voices | 2 episodes | |
2012–2013 | Wedding Band | Stevie | Series regular; 10 episodes |
2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Brian Tremore | Episode: "Secrets Exhumed" |
2014 | 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 | Constantine | Manny | Main role; 12 episodes |
2016 | The Mysteries of Laura | Charles Baptiste | Episode: "The Mystery of the Morning Jog" |
Goliath | Judge Reston Keller | 6 episodes | |
2017 | Criminal Minds | Calvin Shaw | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
2017–present | Claws | Dean Simms | Main role; 30 episodes Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
2018 | Star | Bobby Brooks | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
2019–2021 | The Rookie | Nick Armstrong | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
2020 | The Good Doctor | Wes Keeler | Episode: "Fixation" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Enter the Matrix | Link | Voice |
2004 | The Matrix Online | Link | Voice |
References
- Lee, Luaine (November 6, 2012). "Cop's bullet set him on the path to acting". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Handler, Rachel (September 10, 2020). "Harold Perrineau Answers Every Question We Have About Romeo + Juliet". Vulture.
- Perrineau, Harold (August 7, 2019). "Harold Perrineau on Twitter: "Actual fact, I was Born Harold Perrineau."". Twitter.
- "History of "Fame: The Musical" Productions". Famenetwork.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- Wilkinson, Peter (January 12, 2006). "The Mystery of Larry Wachowski". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- "TCA: ABC's McPherson Pressed Into Divulging Lost News". Media Week. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- "30 Days of Night: Dark Days Casting News". Dreadcentral.com. October 20, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- Kaufman, Gil (February 4, 2008). "Will.I.Am Gathers Common, Nick Cannon, Scarlett Johansson For Barack Obama Video". Mtv.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- "Harold Perrineau Cast as Damon Pope on Sons of Anarchy". Tvfanatic.com. May 18, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- Michael Ausiello (May 18, 2012). "Sons of Anarchy Exclusive: Lost's Harold Perrineau Joins Cast as Big Bad Damon Pope". Tvline.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- "Perrineau Broadway", ibdb.com, accessed October 17, 2016
- Viagas, Robert. "See What the Critics Said About 'The Cherry Orchard' on Broadway", Playbill, October 16, 2016
- Finn, Natalie; Rosenbaum, Claudia (May 31, 2008). "Lost's Perrineau Uncovers Child No. 2". E! Online.
- Takeda, Allison (March 21, 2013). "Harold Perrineau, Wife Brittany Welcome Third Daughter, Holiday Grace". Us Weekly.
External links
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