Omari Newton

Omari Akil Newton is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Larry Summers in Blue Mountain State and Lucas Ingram in Continuum. Newton is the co-founder of Boldskool Productions.

Omari Akil Newton
Newton at the 2014 Leo Awards
Born
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active2001 – Present

Early life

Newton grew up in Montreal.[1] His parents were immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago.[2] In the 1990s went to the Beaconsfield High School along with his sister.[3] At school Newton was the co-captain of the basketball team and starter for the local football team, but also went to the drama clubs.[2] To become a professional actor Newton took drama courses at Concordia University, where he did his BA in communication studies. He also went to the National Theatre School of Canada.[1]

Career

When Newton was 19 years old, he was hired by Black Theatre Workshop and got a lead role in one of their productions. He worked in the Montreal theatre scene for several years until he moved to Vancouver. During his early days in Vancouver Newton did a lot of theatre. He appeared in Romeo & Juliet with Mad Duck Theatre Collective and The Oresteia at Christ Church Cathedral.[2]

In 2001 Newton auditioned for the role of Dalton Nemers in the teenage vampire series Vampire High. He was directly booked after his first read for the role. He later mentioned that he really enjoyed the time at the set. He also liked that his character was pivotal in the story of one of the lead Vampires. During these days it was the first role on a TV series and his biggest role on film or TV. Before that he only had a few one liners in some TV movies.[1]

From 2010 to 2011 Newton played Larry Summers in Blue Mountain State. The college comedy series is about a fictional university and its football team. Larry was Newtons first regular role on a television series.[2]

From 2012 to 2015 Newton starred as Lucas Ingram in Continuum.[4]

In 2014, Diane Roberts directed Newton's play Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy Of with Urban Ink Productions.[5] Newton and Roberts' collaboration led to the formation of Boldskool Productions, a hip hop theatre company.[6] In 2018, Boldskool re-staged Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy Of with Holding Space and the NAC English Theatre. Newton began writing Sal Capone in 2008 after the police shooting of unarmed Fredy Villanueva.[7] Newton has been commissioned by Black Theatre Workshop to write Black & Blue Matters, a companion piece to Sal Capone.[6]

Private life

Newton has a twin sister named Akilah Newton.[3][8]

Plays

  • Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy Of

Filmography

TV shows

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Vampire High Dalton Nemers "The Summoning" (Season 1, Episode 13)
2005 15/Love Carson Greene "Volley of the Dolls" (Season 2, Episode 14)
2006 Blade: The Series Veteran "Delivery" (Season 1, Episode 6)
2008 Sophie Remy "The Tornado" (Season 1, Episode 1)
"Birth Control" (Season 1, Episode 4)
"Read the Signs" (Season 1, Episode 12)
2009 V Soldier Pilot
2010 Fringe Security Guard "The Bishop Revival" (Season 2, Episode 14)
2010 Shattered Uniform "The Sins of Fathers" (Season 1, Episode 1)
2010-2011 Blue Mountain State Larry Summers Recurring role, 31 episodes
2012–2015 Continuum Lucas Ingram Main role
2013 Supernatural Peter Kent's Demon "Clip Show" (Season 8, Episode 22")
2016 The X-Files Rogers "Founder's Mutation"
2017–present Tarzan and Jane Chief Wazari (voice) Recurring role
Marvel Super Hero Adventures Black Panther (voice) Recurring role
2018–present The Dragon Prince Corvus (voice) Recurring role

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Redeemer Sean TV movie
2003 The Reagans Angry Protestor #1 TV movie
2004 L'hôtel de l'avenir African Student
2005 Slow Burn Limo Driver uncredited
2006 Time Bomb Electrician TV movie
2006 Last Exit Bank Manager TV movie
2007 12 Ways to Say I'm Sorry Buster short
2008 Radical Rifle Icon Blake short
2012 The Factory Buffalo Police Officer - Cop in Basement
2015 Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland Larry Summers

References

  1. "Omari Newton Interview". Vampire High. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  2. Furminger, Sabrina (9 February 2016). "Omari Newton heads back to 'Blue Mountain State'". Westender. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  3. Dunlop, Morgan (16 February 2016). "Black History Month: Slavery, blackface, even Lil Wayne in high school show". CBC. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. Obenson, Tambay A. (12 November 2012). "SyFy Picks Up Hit Canadian Series 'Continuum' & Sets Debut Date (Roger Cross, Omari Newton Co-Star)". Indiewire. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. Smith, Janet (21 May 2014). "Hip-hop and theatre meld in Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy of". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  6. "About". Boldskool Productions. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  7. Saxberg, Lynn (13 April 2018). "Theatre review: The Lamentable Tragedy of Sal Capone a passionate and compelling tale". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. "High school students get Canadian insight into Black History Month". CTV Montreal. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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