Dorian Harewood

Dorian Harewood (born August 6, 1950) is an American actor, best known for playing Jesse Owens in The Jesse Owens Story, Det. Paul Strobber on Strike Force (1981–1982), and Rev. Morgan Hamilton in 7th Heaven (1996–2003).

Early years Harewood was born on August 6, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Emerson Macaulay and Estelle Olivia Harewood. His father was a high school teacher and post office clerk. in 1972.

Career Harewood got his start in musical theater. On Broadway, he performed in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Streamers, He made his film debut in Foster and Laurie (1975).

Harewood portrayed Simon Haley (father of author Alex Haley) in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. and for his co-starring role as police psychologist Paul Strobber in the ABC Television series Strike Force (starring Robert Stack). He appeared regularly on Trauma Center alongside Wendie Malick and Lou Ferrigno, had a recurring role on China Beach and was Hank Mitchell in The Trials of Rosie O'Neill.

Some of his film work includes disaster film Gray Lady Down (1978), Harewood then portrayed a combat Marine in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987). and Teddy Howard in Gothika.

In 1994, he was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie, for his recurring role as jazz/blues saxophonist Clarence "Cool Papa" Charleston on the NBC drama series I'll Fly Away. The following year, Harewood voiced Hank Aaron in Hank Aaron: Chasing a Dream, narrating the television film. He earned an Emmy Award nomination for the special.

He also played Dr. Julian Wilkes in the NBC (later syndicated) TV series Viper, and had a recurring role as Rev. Morgan Hamilton in 7th Heaven. Harewood appeared as Eliot Pierce in the Showtime series The Hoop Life. For his work on this series, Harewood received his second NAACP Image Award nomination, for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2000. He has also dabbled in music, having sung the national anthem at the 1994 Orange Bowl and releasing an album, Love Will Stop Calling, in 1988.

As a voice actor, Harewood began playing characters in animation during the 1980s. He voiced A.C. in The California Raisin Show, a guest role as Dan Riley in Batman: The Animated Series, Tombstone in Spider-Man, and Michael Jordan in the Saturday morning cartoon ProStars. He later returned to the Batman franchise as Jim Tate in Batman Beyond. When James Avery was unavailable, Harewood would voice Shredder on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Harewood was the 2nd voice actor to portray Rhodey Rhodes / War Machine taking over James Avery in S2 completely in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. He provided the voice of Modo in Biker Mice from Mars (1993−96), a role which he reprised in the revival of the same name (2006−08).

Having appeared in over 100 productions in film and television, Harewood has only publicly expressed regret with one: the miniseries Beulah Land, where he portrayed an overseer named Floyd. He was disgusted with the film's script, and claimed he was "unhappy" and "embarrassed" with the finished production.

Harewood originated the role of Older Noah Calhoun in the Broadway adaptation of The Notebook, a role which he was nominated for the Tony award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

Personal life Harewood married actress Nancy Ann McCurry and John Dorian.

Filmography

Films Year Title Role NotesRef. 1976 Sparkle Levi Brown Feature film debut 1978 Gray Lady Down Lieutenant Fowler 1981 Looker Lieutenant Masters 1984 Against All Odds Tommy 1984 Tank Sergeant First Class Ed Tippet 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman Gene 1987 Full Metal Jacket "Eightball" 1988 God Bless the Child Calvin Reed 1989 Kiss Shot Kevin Marick 1990 Pacific Heights Dennis Reed 1990 Solar Crisis Borg 1994 The Pagemaster Jamaican Pirate (voice) 1995 Sudden Death Agent Matthew Hallmark 1996 Space Jam Monstar Bupkus (voice) 2001 Glitter Guy Richardson 2003 Gothika Teddy Howard 2003 Levity Mackie Whittaker2004Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.!Lead Agent (voice) 1975 Swiss Family Robinson Jama 2 episodes 1977 Kojak Jake RileyEpisode: "The Condemned" 1977 Family GilEpisode: "The Little Brother" 1977 Eight is EnoughRichard Connery Episode: "All's Fair in Love and War" 1977 Columbo Cop Uncredited; episode: "Make Me a Perfect Murderer" 1977 Panic in Echo Park Dr. Michael Stoner Television film 1978 Siege SimonTelevision film 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Simon Haley 5 episodes 1979 An American Christmas Carol Matt Reeves Television film 1980 Beulah Land Floyd3 episodes 1980 High Ice Lt. Zack DawkinsTelevision film 1981–1982 Strike Force Det. Sgt. Paul Strobber20 episodes 1982 The Ambush Murders Ray Ellsworth Television film 1982 I, Desire Det. Jerry Van NessTelevision film 1983 Matt Houston Jerry "The Rock" Lennox Episode: "The Rock and the Hard Place" 1983 Trauma Center Dr. Nate "Skate" Baylor13 episodes 1984 The Jesse Owens Story Jesse OwensTelevision film1984–1985GlitterEarl Tobin 12 episodes 1985HotelMatthew BowersEpisode: "Passports" 1986 Murder, She Wrote Sheriff Claudell Cox Episode: "Powder Keg" 1987 Amerika Jeffrey Wyman6 episodes 1987 Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story Lenell Geter Television film 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder (voice) 4 episodes 1987 Beauty and the Beast Jason Walker Episode: "Terrible Savior" 1988 Matlock Edward Kramer 2 episodes 1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Police Chief (voice) Episode: "The Sludge Monster from Earth's Core" 1989 Polly Dr. Shannon Television film 1989–1990 China Beach Major Otis 3 episodes 1990 Polly: Comin' Home! Dr. ShannonTelevision film 1997 The Blues Brothers: The Animated Series Don KlingEpisode: "Strange Death of Betty Smythe"1997Pinky and the BrainBojangles (voice)Episode: "Mice Don't Dance" 1976 Streamers Carlyle Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Broadway 1978 The Mighty Gents Frankie Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 2024 The Notebook Older Noah Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway

Video games Year Title RoleRef.1993 Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Toussaint Gervais 2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical 2024 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance

Discography "Show Me (One More Time)" (recorded in the 1980s) Love Will Stop Calling (1988) (Emeric Records/Ichiban Records/EMI) Have A Little (2001) (USA Music Group)