Afemo Omilami

Afemo Omilami (born December 13, 1950) is an American actor.

Early life Omilami was born in Petersburg, Virginia on December 13, 1950. Afemo Omilami was born Kenneth Lee.

Career He has appeared in many films such as Trading Places (1983), Glory (1989), The Firm (1993), Gordy (1995), Remember the Titans (2000), Ray (2004), Hounddog (2007), The Blind Side (2009), and Terminator Genisys (2015). He is perhaps best known for his role as the Drill Sergeant in Forrest Gump (1994). He had a recurring role as the streetwise Jimmy Dawes in In the Heat of the Night from 1989 to 1993. He was nominated for a 2013 NAACP Image Award in the category "Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" for his performance in Lifetime's Steel Magnolias as Drum Eatenton.

He also appeared in guest roles in television series Miami Vice, Fortune Hunter, New York News, The Shield, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Raising Dion.

Personal life He married his wife Elisabeth (née Williams) on September 11, 1985. She is an actress, minister, and a civil rights leader. They have two children: son Awodele and daughter Juanita.

His longtime friend was actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd. After Byrd was killed, Omilami described Byrd as a "devoted father and husband and a master of his craft".

Filmography

Film/Movie Year Title Role Notes 1979 Freedom Road Young Black Man with Scars TV movie 1983 Rage of Angels Vet #1 TV movie Trading Places Longshoreman 1986 The Money Pit Bernie 1989 Glory Tall Contraband 1990 Murder in Mississippi Bob Moses TV movie Caroline? Taxi Driver TV movie The Long Walk Home Taxi Driver Web of Deceit Bailiff TV movie 1991 In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas Prison Guard TV movie White Lie Bartender TV movie 1993 Sankofa Noble Ali The Firm Cotton Truck Driver The Real McCoy Cab Dispatcher 1994 Forrest Gump Drill Sergeant A Simple Twist of Fate Bailiff Drop Squad Berl "Flip" Mangum The War Quarry Man Gordy Krugman 1997 The Witchcatcher Duncan TV movie 1999 Funny Valentines Ephraim Lee Forces of Nature Cab Driver The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn Noah's Father TV movie Chill Factor Courtroom Colonel Wayward Son Horace Bringing Out The Dead Griss 2000 Animal Factory Captain Midnight Tigerland SFC Ezra Landers Remember the Titans Charles Campbell The Runaway Jule Monroe TV movie 2001 Tara Attorney Video Rustin Mel Jones 2002 The Rosa Parks Story - TV movie Drumline President Wagner I'm with Lucy Cab Driver #1 Sweet Home Alabama Jimmy Lee Nowhere Road - Baby of the Family - 2003 Runaway Jury SUV Driver Cold Mountain Joshua 2004 The Alamo Sam Ray Angry Husband 2006 Glory Road Mr. Flournoy Madea's Family Reunion Isaac Sr. Heavens Fall Leonard George Idlewild Walter 2007 Hounddog Charles The Reaping Haman The List A.L. Jenkins 2008 B.A.M. The Man Short 2009 The Blind Side CPS Caseworker 2010 Bloodworth Sheriff Bellweather Blood Done Sign My Name Golden Frinks Beneath the Dark The Man 2012 Steel Magnolias Drum Eatenton TV movie 2013 G.I. Joe: Retaliation Chairman Joint Chief of Staff The Hunger Games: Catching Fire District 11 Mayor 2014 The Good Lie Dr. Monyang 2015 The Next Day Roy Short Terminator Genisys Perry Sick People Dr. Johnson 2016 The Founder Mr. Merriman Hidden Figures Man Outside Store Smoke & Mirrors Cruschev Short 2018 Down for Whatever Lieutenant Baker TV movie 2019 The Best of Enemies Franklin Mose Poms David A Brother's Honor Richard Granger Full Count Mr. Gravitt 2022 Freedom's Path Ellis Freeman

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Another Life Samir Fayyad TV series Miami Vice Desmond Maxwell Episode: "Cool Runnin'" 1989–93 In the Heat of the Night Jimmy Dawes Recurring cast: season 2–6 1992 I'll Fly Away Mr. Hendricks Episode: "Toy Soldiers" Law & Order Michael Kano Episode: "Consultation" 1994 Fortune Hunter Pierre Toussant Episode: "Sea Trial" 1995 New York News - Episode: "You Thought the Pope Was Something" 1996 Law & Order Henry Patterson Episode: "Custody" 1997–99 The Wonderful World of Disney Sam Parker / John Webb Episodes: "Flash" / "Selma, Lord, Selma" 1999 Law & Order Darryl Lamaine Episode: "Haven" 2001 Sheena Kontee Episode: "Mind Games" 2002 Dawson's Creek Clifton Smalls 2 episodes 2004 The Shield Vince Peabo Episode: "Mum" 2007 Side Order of Life Thomas Beauchamp Episode: "When Pigs Fly" 2007–08 Ghost Whisperer Archivist Supporting cast: season 3 2008 John Adams Servant Episode: "Unite or Die" 2010 Past Life Fred Lamm Episode: "Dead Man Talking" Chase The Chief Episode: "Pilot" 2015 True Detective Police Chief Holloway Recurring cast: Season 2 2016 Mad Dogs Captain Churchill Episode: "Needles" 2016–17 Survivor's Remorse Richard Freeman 3 episodes 2016–18 Saints & Sinners Detective Noah St. Charles Main cast: season 1–3 2017 Madam Secretary President Babacar Diome Episode: "The Detour" Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders Inspector Polino Episode: "Lost Souls" 2019 Raising Dion George Lewis Episode: "Issue #106: Super Friends" Creepshow Brenner Episodes: "The Companion" 2022 Women of the Movement Add Reed Episode: "Manhunt" 2024 Genius Philip Randolph Episode: "MLK/X: The American Promise"