Cyril Nri

Cyril Ikechukwu Nri (born 25 April 1961) is a Nigerian-born English actor best known for playing Superintendent Adam Okaro in the police TV series The Bill. Cyril Nri plays the role of Lord Herman Danbury in the Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Early life Nri was born on 25 April 1961 in Nigeria. Nri's paternal side of the family is Igbo, while his mother was originally from Barbados; they fled the country in 1968 before the Nigerian Civil War ended. He moved to Portugal when he was seven, and later to London.

Nri attended Holland Park School in West London and appeared in a school production of Three Penny Opera. Nri has lived in South London since the 1980s.

Career Nri is best known for playing Superintendent Adam Okaro, later Borough Commander, for four years in the long-running ITV police drama The Bill. His character became the highest ranking black character in the show.

After drama school at the Bristol Old Vic, Nri started acting life at The Royal Shakespeare Company, where his first role was Lucius in Ron Daniels' 1982 production of Julius Caesar. He played Ariel to Max Von Sydow's Prospero in Jonathan Miller's 1988 production of The Tempest. He played Graham in the BBC's legal drama This Life (1996–1997).

In 2009, he appeared in The Observer at the Royal National Theatre.

In 2009 and 2010, he appeared in Law & Order UK as Judge Demarco and again reprised this role in the 2012 and 2013 series of the show.

In 2012–13, he played Cassius in Greg Doran's Royal Shakespeare Company production of Julius Caesar in Stratford upon Avon, London and New York, where in his New York Times review Ben Brantley said of Nri, "Mr. Nri's expression as he registers Caesar's words is that of a man who feels a noose tightening around his neck. Wary and sly, scared and manipulative, Mr. Nri is an excellent Cassius, capturing the climate of paranoia and politicking that thickens the air."

In 2016, he earned a British Academy Television Award nomination for his performance as Lance in the Russell T. Davies TV series Cucumber. He also appeared in an episode of Goodnight Sweetheart playing a doctor at the hospital where Yvonne Sparrow loses her unborn child (series 4).

In 2016, he played Polonius in Simon Godwin's production of Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 2017, Nri appeared on stage at the Dorfman Theatre, London, in Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams.

In 2020, he played a barrister in the BBC drama Noughts and Crosses.

In 2021, he played Sheldon in the Royal National Theatre's production of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress.

Nri played Bill in the Young Vic's 2023 revival of Zinnie Harris' Further than the Furthest Thing.

Personal life Nri has been married and is gay.

Filmography Film Television Year Title Role Notes1989 Saracen Desmond Episode: "Three Blind Mice" 4 Play Tony Sewell Episode: "The Book Liberator" 1990 The Bill Julian Bates Episode: "A Case to Answer" 1992 Runaway Bay Paul Episode: "History Revisited" 1993 Frank Stubbs Promotes Brian Episode: "Wheels" 1994 Calling the Shots Paul Miniseries; 2 episodes 1995 Casualty Steve York Episode: "Compensation" 1996 Pie in the Sky Stuart Crowe Episode: "New Leaf" 2000 Family Affairs William McHugh Recurring role 1996–1997 This Life Graham Series regular; 22 episodes 1997 Goodnight Sweetheart Dr. Obote Episode: "How Long Has This Been Going On?" 1998 The Bill Chris Lycett Episode: "One of the Gang"1999 A Touch of Frost Warren Barber Episode: "One Man's Meat" Maisie Raine Paul Episode: "Old Scores"2000 Holby City Ben Sincalir Episode: "Against All Odds" The Bill Pascal Illunga Episode: "Beyond Conviction" Arabian Nights Schaca Miniseries; 2 episodes2001 Doctors Andrew Lombard Episode: "Too Posh to Push" Down to Earth Henry Jones Episode: "Great Expectations" 2001–2002 EastEnders D.C. Burton Recurring role; 11 episodes 2002–2006 The Bill Superintendent Adam Okaro Series regular 2003 Murder Investigation Team Superintendent Adam Okaro Episode: "Moving Targets"2007 Holby City Lawrence Marshall Episode: "Blood Ties" Cold Blood Colonel Harrington Smith Episode: "Dead and Buried" 2008 Waking the Dead Raymond Ayanike Episode: "Skin" 2009–2014 Law & Order: UK Judge De Marco Recurring role; 4 episodes2010 Doctors Mark Harmer Episode: "Too Little, Too Late" The Sarah Jane Adventures The Shopkeeper Episode: "Lost in Time"2011 House of Anubis Mr. Lewis Recurring role; 3 episodes Tinga Tinga Tales Peacock Recurring role; 2 episodes Holby City Pastor Carl Episode: "In Between Days" New Tricks Billy Green Episode: "Setting Out Your Shell" 2013 Wizards vs Aliens Nathaniel Nightjar Episode: "100 Wizards" 2014 Doctors Thomas Hakizimana Episode: "A Blind Eye"2015 Crims Mr. Gardner Episode: "Day Fifty-Seven" Cucumber Lance Sullivan Miniseries; 6 episodes Critical Joseph Whitnell Episode: "The Weakness of Mankind" 2016 Class Chair Episode: "The Lost"2017 Death in Paradise Mayor Joseph Richards Episode: "Erupting in Murder" Bucket Mr. Merdon Recurring role; 2 episodes Doctors Inspector Tony Callaghan Episode: "Running with the Pack" Midsomer Murders Warwick Sowande Episode: "The Curse of the Ninth"2018 On the Edge Patrick Episode: "A Mother's Love" Zapped Quincy Peacock Episode: "Chef" The ABC Murders Father Anselm Miniseries; 1 episode 2020 Devils Greg Recurring role; 3 episodes 2022 Holier Than Thou Seun Episode: "Pilot" 2023 The Power Eniola Ojo Episode: "A New Organ" 2024 Daddy Issues Stuart Episode: "Normal Men"