Harold Perrineau

Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor. His breakout role was in the independent film Smoke, for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He went on to appear as Mercutio in Romeo+Juliet (1996) and Link in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003).

On television, he has starred as Augustus Hill in the HBO prison drama Oz (1997–2003), Michael Dawson in the ABC series Lost (2004–2010), and Sheriff Boyd Stevens in the MGM+ horror series From (2022–present).

Perrineau has also appeared in the films The Edge (1997), The Best Man (1999), Woman on Top (2000), and 28 Weeks Later (2007). His other television credits include Sons of Anarchy (2012), Constantine (2014–2015), Claws (2017–2022), and The Rookie (2019–2021).

Early life Perrineau was born in Brooklyn, New York City. 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. He attended Shenandoah University and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He took the role of Link in The Matrix series after the original operator Tank was written out of the script when Marcus Chong was fired over monetary disputes. Around this time, he also booked a main role of Augustus Hill on the HBO series Oz (1997–2003).

Perrineau played 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 in season three. In July 2007, it was announced he would return to the main cast for the show's fourth season. However, the 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.

Since his debut single "Stay Strong" in 2007 Perrineau has been working on his musical career. He actively collaborated 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 has also done 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 MKTO's "Thank You" music video and J. Cole's "She Knows" music video.

Perrineau starred in 30 Days of Night: Dark Days with Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird and Monique Ganderton. Perrineau appeared in the 2008 music video "Yes We Can".

Perrineau voiced the title character from Marvel's Blade anime series on G4 in 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.

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. Also in 2016, Perrineau co-starred in the Amazon Studios legal series Goliath.

From 2017 to 2022, Perrineau played Dean, a man on the autism spectrum and the brother of Desna, in TNT's Claws. He won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the NAACP Awards.

In May 2021, Deadline announced that Perrineau would lead the cast of the forthcoming in the MGM+ science fiction horror television series From. The first season of the series was released globally in 2022. The second season of From premiered on April 23, 2023. The third season of From premiered on September 22, 2024. The fourth season of From was released on April 19th 2026. Perrineau has received critical acclaim for his performance on From.

In November 2022, Perrineau signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.

In December 2024, Perrineau was announced as a cast member in independent drama Out Come The Wolves based on the Rancid 1995 album of the same name.

Personal life Since 2002, Perrineau has been married to Brittany Robinson Perrineau, a former actress and model for Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne throughout the 1990s. Brittany appeared on the first season of Lost in an episode titled "Outlaws" as the girlfriend of Sawyer, and in the episode "Numbers" as the woman who read the lottery numbers. Her acting credits also include the romantic-comedy Saving Face (2004) and the surreal biopic Your Name Here (2008).

They have three daughters, actress Aurora, born 1994, and two others born in 2008, and 2013.

Filmography

Film Year Title RoleNotes 1988 Shakedown Tommie 1990 King of New York Thug Leader 1991 Out for Justice King's Henchman (uncredited) 1995 Smoke Thomas "Rashid" Cole Flirt Men's Room Man 1# 1996 Blood and Wine Henry Romeo + Juliet Mercutio 1997 The Edge Steve 1998 Lulu on the Bridge Bobby Perez Come to Joseph Short 1999 A Day in Black and White Black Man Macbeth in Manhattan Chorus The Best Man Julian Murch 2000 Woman on Top Monica Jones Overnight Sensation Experienced PA 2001 Prison Song Uncle Cee 2002 On Line Moe Curley 2003 The Matrix Reloaded Link The Matrix Revolutions Link 2007 28 Weeks Later Flynn Garfield Gets Real Husband Voice, video 2008 Gardens of the Night Orlando Ball Don't Lie Jimmy Your Name Here Richard Roundtree Felon Lieutenant Bill Jackson 2010 The Killing Jar John Smith Case 219 Franklyn Bonner 30 Days of Night: Dark Days Todd Video 2011 Seeking Justice Jimmy 2012 Transit Losada Sunset Stories Harold Taking the Edge Off – Short Zero Dark Thirty Jack 2013 Snitch Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Steele Go for Sisters Wiley Sexy Evil Genius Marvin Coolidge Video The Best Man Holiday Julian Murch The Championship Rounds Darryl Short 2014 Sabotage Investigator Darius Jackson 2015 Meet Me at a Funeral Jeffrey Short 2016 #FoundingFathers – Short 2017 Stephanie Leader The Bachelors Dr. Rollens I'm Not Here Santana 2018 Virginia Minnesota Mister Voice Cold Brook Gil Le Deux Dumplin' Lee Wayne / Rhea Ranged 2022 Without Ward Lord Voraz Esquire 2023 Unicorn Boy Guard Pantius Voice 2024 The Distinguished Reverend Short 2026 And Out Comes The Wolf TBA

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1986–1987 Fame Fame Dancer Recurring role (season 6) 1989 The Cosby Show Scott Episode: "The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus" 1990 CBS Schoolbreak Special Curtis Episode: "Flour Babies" Law & Order Jordan Hill Episode: "Out of the Half-Light" 1991 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Singer Episode: "Here's a Neat Way to Tie Up the Loose Ends" 1991–1993 I'll Fly Away Robert Evans Recurring role 1993 Law & Order Kenny Rinker Episode: "Virus" 1994 The Cosby Mysteries Junior Vansen Episode: "Camouflage" 1995 New York News Benny 2 episodes 1997 ER Isaac Price Episode: "Freak Show" Living Single Walter Jackson Episode: "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" 1997–2003 Oz Augustus Hill Main role 1998 The Tempest Ariel TV movie 1999 Saturday Night Live Augustus Hill Episode: "Jerry Seinfeld/David Bowie" 2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Louis Wyler/Turbo Jet Voice, episode: "Heroes and Villains" Dead Like Me Aroun Levert Episode: "Rest in Peace" 2004–2010 Lost Michael Dawson Main role (seasons 1–2 & 4; guest: season 6) 2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Reverend Rhodes Episode: "Go to Hell" Demons Mitch TV movie 2009 The Unusuals Detective Leo Banks Main role 2010 CSI: NY Reggie Tifford Episode: "Redemption" The Whole Truth Paul Braun Episode: "Uncanny" 2012 Marvel Anime: Blade Blade Voice, main role Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices Episode: "Where's Perry?" Georgia Michael Main role Sons of Anarchy Damon Pope Recurring role (season 5) 2012–2013 Wedding Band Stevie Main role 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Brian Tremore Episode: "Secrets Exhumed" 2014 HitRecord on TV Himself Episode: "The Edge of Space" 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 2016 The Mysteries of Laura Charles Baptiste Episode: "The Mystery of the Morning Jog" Goliath Judge Reston Keller Recurring role (season 1) Full Circle Damon Houserman Main role (season 3) Poor Richard's Almanack Matt TV movie 2017 Criminal Minds Calvin Shaw Recurring role (season 12) 2017–2022 Claws Dean Simms Main role 2018–2019 Star Bobby Brooks Recurring role (season 3) 2019–2021 The Rookie Nick Armstrong Recurring role (seasons 2–3) 2020 The Good Doctor Wes Keeler Episode: "Fixation" 2022–present From Boyd Stevens Main role 2022 The Best Man: The Final Chapters Julian "Murch" Murchison Main role

Video games Year Title RoleNotes 2003 Enter the MatrixLink Voice 2004 The Matrix Online

Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Work Outcome 1996 Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Smoke 2000 NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture The Best Man 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Lost 2020 NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Claws 2022 Saturn Awards Saturn Award for Best Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series From