Harry Lennix

Harold Joseph Lennix III (born November 16, 1964) is an American actor noted for extensive work on screen and stage. He is known for his roles as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats and as Boyd Langton in the Fox science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix co-starred as Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. Lennix also played J'onn J'onzz/Calvin Swanwick/Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe films Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League.

He was nominated for the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Purpose. The Chicago Crusader and Northwestern University called Lennix, "one of Chicago's favorite sons." His mother was African-American and his father was Creole from Louisiana.

Lennix attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South and intended to become a priest. His first play was with the seminary. In his senior year at Northwestern, he was the coordinator of the African-American student organization, For Members Only.

Career

Teaching and Career Beginnings

Lennix taught music for Chicago Public Schools for eight years. While in school himself and teaching, he commuted two hours between Englewood for teaching and then performances in plays at night. He continued acting training and performed at the Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre. in the Showtime Networks television film Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as reverend and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.; and in the ABC television series Commander in Chief. For ten seasons, Lennix co-starred in the role of Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist (2013–2023).

In film, Lennix has had supporting roles such as The Five Heartbeats (1991), Comfortably Numb (1995), Get on the Bus (1996) in which he plays the lover of a gay ex-Marine played by Isaiah Washington, Love & Basketball (2000), The Matrix series (1999–2004), Ray (2004), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007), and State of Play (2009).

In television, he had a recurring role in Diagnosis: Murder as Agent Ron Wagner as well as a guest voice role as Mar Londo in the Legion of Super Heroes episode "Timber Wolf". He also had a recurring role in the sixth season of 24 as Muslim civil rights activist Walid Al-Rezani. He appeared on the series House M.D. as a paralyzed legendary jazz trumpet player, and in six episodes of ER as Dr. Greg Fischer. He also appeared in the episode "The Blame Game" of the first season of Ally McBeal. He played the parts of Boyd Langton in Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse and U.S. president Barack Obama in the comedy sketch show Little Britain USA.

In 2007, he was an official festival judge at the first annual Noor Iranian Film Festival.

In 2010, Lennix had planned to star in an African-diasporic film version of Macbeth, with director Aleta Chappelle and tentatively also starring Terence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Blair Underwood, and Danny Glover. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 featured Lennix reprising the role of Calvin Swanwick from 2013's Man of Steel, both directed by Zack Snyder. Lennix made an additional appearance as Swanwick in Snyder's version of Justice League, released in 2021.

Producer-actor projects In July 2014, Lennix formed his own production company Exponent Media Group (EMG) along with long time business partner Steve Harris. EMG had a distribution deal with NEHST studios for three of the company's titles: Mr. Sophistication (2012) (see below); H4 in (2012); and Revival! (2018).

In Mr. Sophistication (2012), Lennix plays a self-destructive stand-up comedian trying to make a comeback while also having trouble with his interracial marriage. The part was written for Lennix by the director, Danny Green, after Green had observed Lennix dressing someone down. ), Alonzo Bodden, but mostly Pryor. Lauren Turner in a review at BRWC wrote, "A constant beat and thump of live music keeps the story moving between more serious scenes, punctuated by musical numbers and dance scenes. We’re not in Nazareth anymore," and said the singing is sometimes "cringe" though the original compositions are good."

Theatre Lennix has directed and appeared in numerous stage productions, including: Permanent Collection in 2005 with the Northlight Theater Company, Jack Helbig at the Chicago Reader said about the 1989 performance, "Harry J. Lennix’s uncanny impersonation of Malcolm X went a long way toward redeeming the play. Luckily, Lennix also has the gift of being able to make the most ridiculous lines sound real. “We are all pawns,” he says at one point, somehow convincing us that he is the first person ever to have thought of that."

Lennix also starred as Levee in August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Goodman Theater in 1997. The production broke box office records. For a later 2026 production in which Lennix returned to the same play and theatre as musical director, Lennix said:

Lennix was the first recipient of an Ollie Award for his portrayal of Malcolm X at the Goodman Theater in Chicago, and received two Joseph Jefferson Citations for his roles in August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Caught in the Act. He also starred as King Hedley II at the Mark Taper Forum in LA. In 2001, he was part of the first American company to be invited to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

During the Chicago Goodman Theater's 2024–2025 season, Lennix played the role of Henry Drummond in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee play Inherit the Wind.

Shakespeare Work and Scholarship Lennix has numerous Shakespearean credits. He has also written multiple scholarly publications With Laurence Fishburne he has had numerous conversations and debates about Shakespeare, race, and performance.

On the topic of his Henry IV adaptation H4 and Shakespeare in general, Lennix has said:

"There are a lot of people who would think that Othello is a black Shakespeare film, but it's not. Othello is about one black guy in the midst of a bunch of people in Venice. So it's not really a black Shakespeare film. What I mean by black Shakespeare film is that for the first time, to my knowledge, on film, we have taken a Shakespearian play and placed in a recognizably black world experience. It's from the perspective of black people, acted primarily by black people, and it's from the black point of view." -Harry Lennix in 2013

Lennix learned to play the trumpet while working on August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He also played the saxophone in a production and has played the piano in other theatrical roles. In 2005, he played the part of a fictional legendary jazz musician in an episode of House.

Community Work Lennix is developing a performing arts center in the Bronzeville of Chicago and has been given $26 million dollars from the state of Illinois for the project, which will include a "Lillian Marcie Center." The facility is planned to include a museum and two performance spaces, one of about 350 seats and one of about 100 seats.

The Illinois Broadcasters Association said that Lennix has a foundation, The Lennix Foundation, which "aims to support young artists and promote cultural enrichment within underprivileged communities." In 2023, Lennix was awarded by HeartShare Human Services of New York for a "commitment to [...] community that transforms the landscape for underserved and marginalized populations."

Personal life In 2009, Lennix married business executive Djena Graves.

Lennix is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was initiated into the fraternity in November 2012 via the Theta Kappa Kappa graduate chapter in Evanston, Illinois.

Lennix has given multiple college commencement speeches including 2006 at Santa Monica College (speech entitled "Do Not Stop, Do Not Slow Down") and 2008 at Arizona State University (speech entitled "Acting While Black").

Acting credits Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 Jack and Mike Fraternity Brother Episode: "Personal Foul" 1989 A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story NeroTelevision film 1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter Prosecutor Keith Warner 1992 In the Best Interest of the Children Tim Coffey1994 Vanishing Son 2Andre Laine Vanishing Son 4 1995–1996 The Client Daniel Holbrook Recurring role1996 The Parent 'Hood Sergeant Rutledge Episode: "Goodfella"Murder One David Bronson Episode: "Chapter Eleven" 1997 Mr. Parnell Episode: "Chapter Ten, Year Two" Friends 'Til the End Prof. GundersonTelevision film Too Close to Home Prosecuting Attorney Living Single Clayton Simmons Episode: "The Best Laid Plans" ER Dr. Greg FischerRecurring role 1997–1998 Diagnosis: Murder Agent Ron Wagner1998 Ally McBeal Ballard Episode: "The Blame Game" Since You've Been Gone Jordan Cardozo Television film Any Day Now Garrett Episode: "Unfinished Symphony"1998 & 2003 The Practice Attorney Wayland Holmes / Asst. Attorney General Parker Episodes: "The Pursuit of Dignity" & "Final Judgment"1999 Judging Amy Mr. Newman Episode: "An Impartial Bias" JAG Agent John Nichols Episode: "Contemptuous Words" St. Michael's Crossing Pasternak Episode: "CBS Pilot Knockin' on Heaven's Door"2002 Keep the Faith, Baby Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Television film Girlfriends Earl Episode: "My Mother, Myself"2003 The Handler DEA Handler Episode: "Street Boss"2004 Century City Attorney Attwell Episode: "Love and Games" Second Time Around Dr. Oakes Episode: "For Better or Worse" 2005 House John Henry Giles Episode: "DNR" 2005–2006 Commander in Chief Jim Gardner Main role 2006 Legion of Super Heroes Mar Londo (voice) Episode: "Timber Wolf" 2007 24 Walid Al-RezaniRecurring role 2008 Little Britain USA President of the United States 2009–2010 Dollhouse Boyd Langton Main role 2010 Undercovers Gary Bloom Episode: "Funny Money"2011 Law & Order: LA Agent Bossy Episode: "Plummer Park" Hound Dogs Skip Television film 2012–2013 Emily Owens, M.D. Dr. Tim Dupre Recurring role2013 Always Night Roger Banks Miniseries Quick Draw Sheriff Matt Love Episode: "Nicodemus" 2013–2023 The Blacklist Harold Cooper Main role 2014 The Fright Night Files Ronald Television film 2015 The Marriage Tour Mr. WrightRecurring role 2016–2023 Billions Frank Sacker / Franklin Sacker2017 The Blacklist: Redemption Harold Cooper Episode: "Whitehall" Transformers: Robots in Disguise Cyclonus, Galvatronus (voice) Episodes: "Enemy of My Enemy" & "Freedom Fighters" 2018–2020 Conrad Don Brewer Episodes: "Hangin' with Conrad" & "Pilot D.O.A" 2018–2021 Insecure Marcus Walker Guest; (season 3), recurring role; (season 5) 2021 A Christmas Together with You Frank Emory Television film2022 American Masters Orpheus Fisher (voice) Episode: "Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands" Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas Boorman Voice2024 Destination Heaven God the Father Miniseries Diarra from Detroit Walter HarleyRecurring role Young Love Russell Young (voice)2026 Boston Blue Judge Elijah Robinson The Bear James BrooksEpisode: "Caramel"

Theater

Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome 2000 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Titusrowspan=2 2003 Black Reel Awards Best Actor in a Television Movie/MiniseriesKeep the Faith, Baby NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Specialrowspan=4 Satellite Awards Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film 2006 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Commander in Chief 2025 Tony Award Best Actor in a Play Purpose