Hill Harper

Frank Eugene "Hill" Harper (born May 17, 1966) is an American actor and political candidate, who is known for his roles as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in CSI: NY, Agent Spelman Boyle in Limitless, and Dr. Marcus Andrews in The Good Doctor.

Harper was a candidate in the Democratic primary in the 2024 United States Senate election in Michigan to fill the seat of retiring incumbent, Senator Debbie Stabenow.

Early life and education Harper was born in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of two medical doctors. His parents, Harry D. Harper, a psychiatrist, and Marilyn Harper (née Hill), who was one of the first black practicing anesthesiologists in the United States and co-authored a book called Wearing Purple. Born Frank Eugene Harper, he adopted the name "Hill" as a tribute to both his maternal and paternal ancestors. During his years at Harvard, he was a full-time member of Boston's Black Folks Theater Company, one of the oldest and most acclaimed black theater troupes in the United States.

While a student at Harvard, Harper befriended Barack Obama, with whom he played basketball. In 2012, Harper was appointed to The President's Cancer Panel, a three-member body assigned to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and make recommendations to the White House around cancer policy.

He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He has received eight honorary degrees, including honorary doctorates from both Westfield State College and Howard University.

Acting career

His profile subsequently rose on both the mainstream and independent film circuits, thanks to roles in films ranging from Beloved (1998) to the independent romantic comedy Loving Jezebel (1999) to The Skulls (2000). Harper did some of his most acclaimed work in Jordan Walker-Pearlman's The Visit (2000), an independent drama in which he starred as a prisoner dying of AIDS who tries to put his life back together. He also portrayed Leshem in the 2010 Syfy original movie Stonehenge Apocalypse.

In February 2013, it was announced that CSI: NY would be ending and Harper would be joining the cast of Covert Affairs as a series regular.

From April 21, 2015, to May 10, 2015, Harper starred as "Hard Rock" in the Off-Broadway play ToasT. The play (produced by Lemon Andersen and co-starred Keith David) is set in the Attica Prison around the time of its 1971 prison riot and tells of the lives of its prisoners using poetic prose.

From May 1, 2018, to June 17, 2018, Harper starred as "Rooftop" in the Off-Broadway play Our Lady of 121st Street. This dark comedy (written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Phylicia Rashad) is about former students paying their respects to Sister Rose, only to find that Sister Rose's body has been stolen.

Hill Harper's acting career also includes voice-over work (or voice acting) with CSI: NY – The Video Game, Breathe Bible, plus, podcasts called Legal Wars and 5-Factor Authentication.

Writing career and political advocacy

Harper is the author of several books: Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny, published in 2006; Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny, published in 2008; and The Conversation: How (Black) Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships, published in 2010. His books, The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place and The Wiley Boys were both published in 2011. His book, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother: Encouragement, Hope, and Healing for Inmates and Their Loved Ones was published in 2013. Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama contributed to the books.

In January 2008, Harper participated in "Yes We Can", a music video produced by will.i.am supporting presidential candidate Barack Obama. Harper is a member of the Obama for America National Finance Committee.

Harper endorsed the 10,000 Bookbags back-to-school backpack campaign to help local, disadvantaged children with Urban Change Ministries founder Pastor Jay Cameron of the Life Center, and R&B singer Ginuwine.

On February 22, 2016, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law announced that Harper would be their national spokesman.

He is also the founder of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship, scholarship, and grant programs.

2024 U.S. Senate candidacy On July 10, 2023, Harper announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in Michigan, as a Democrat to replace retiring Senator Debbie Stabenow. He ran to the left of U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, describing himself as the "most progressive candidate in the field." Harper touted his support for universal healthcare and the abolition of the filibuster, and if elected, would be the only U.S. senator who is also a union member, due to his membership in SAG-AFTRA.

Harper gained attention in November 2023, after announcing that he had declined an offer of $20 million in campaign contributions that would have been contingent upon him dropping out of the Senate race and mounting a primary challenge against U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib. On August 6, 2024, Harper was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Slotkin.

Other endeavors Be the Architect After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, Harper researched the effects skin care products can have on a person's system. This led to his creating an all-natural personal care line for men and women, called Be the Architect.

The Black Wall Street On May 31, 2021, Hill Harper & his partners launched The Black Wall Street, a web3 digital platform and financial literacy tool aimed at addressing the racial wealth gap.

Annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day In 2016, Harper was a keynote at the Annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day.

Awards and recognition In the fall of 2008, Harper was initiated as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity with his Co-Initiates (called "Line Brothers") Dr. Naim Akbar of Florida State University and former NFL player Leo LeMarcus Newman.

He was also a recipient of the 2011 Freedom Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions in civil rights and who have laid the foundation for present and future leaders in the battle for human rights. The award was conferred upon Harper from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for "his nonprofit foundation, [the] Manifest Your Destiny Foundation."

In 2018, the Audience Development Committee, Inc. (AUDELCO) nominated Hill Harper for a Vivian Robinson Award; Lead Actor in a Play, for his role as Walter "Rooftop" Desmond in the Off-Broadway play: Our Lady of 121st Street.

On Sunday, December 5, 2021, the Boston, Massachusetts' Museum of African American History honored Hill Harper with a Living Legends award - The Garrison Silver Cup.

People magazine named Hill Harper as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" for 2004, and again for 2014.

Personal life While writing his book The Wealth Cure: Putting Money In Its Place, Harper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After treatment, he was given a clean bill of health.

In November 2015, Harper received a call to adopt a baby boy. He agreed, and by May 2017, the adoption was finalized.

In 2018, Harper purchased and moved into the historic Charles T. Fisher Mansion in Detroit, Michigan.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings Peter 1995 Drifting School Sam 1996 Get on the Bus Xavier "X" Moore 1997 Steel "Slats" 1997 Hav Plenty Michael Simmons 1997 Hoover Park 1998 The Nephew Chad Egan-Washington 1998 He Got Game Coleman "Booger" Sykes 1998 Park Day Steve Johnson 1998 Beloved Halle 1999 Slaves of Hollywood Fisher Lovelace Feature Film 1999 Loving Jezebel Theodorous Melville 1999 In Too Deep "Breezy T" 2000 The Skulls Will Beckford 2000 The Visit Alex Waters Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead 2001 Higher Ed Craig 2002 The Badge "Gizmo" 2003 Love, Sex and Eating the Bones Michael Joseph 2004 America Brown John Cross 2005 Constellation Errol Hickman 2006 Max and Josh Max Short film 2006 Premium Ed 2006 The Breed Noah 2006 30 Days Donnell 2006 Whitepaddy Marshall Evans 2008 A Good Man Is Hard to Find Damion Marshall 2008 This Is Not a Test Carl 2010 For Colored Girls Donald Watkins 2011 Mama, I Want to Sing! Jeff Andrews 2011 The Shanghai Hotel Carlos 2013 Miss Dial Political Nutcase 2013 The Volunteer Phil 2013 1982 Tim Brown 2014 Parts per Billion Rick 2015 The Boy Next Door Principal Edward Warren 2015 Pearly Gates Dave 2015 Concussion Christopher Jones 2016 Destined Mayor Jones 2017 All Eyez on Me Journalist Biographical film debuted Friday, June 16, 2017; what would have been Tupac Shakur's 46th birthday. 2018 An Interview with God Gary Theater Release Dates: August 20, 21 & 22, 2018 only. 2019 The Sun Is Also a Star Lester Barnes Film debuted Friday, May 17, 2019, on Hill Harper's 53rd birthday. 2020 The Prison Within Himself / The Narrator Documentary TBA Shadowbox Harper is also an Executive Producer. The film's Developmental Short is called "Butterfly Boxing".

Television Year Title Role Notes 1993 Life Goes On Nurse #2 Episode: "Incident on Main" 1993–1994 Married... with Children Aaron Mitchell 5 episodes 1994 Renegade Clarence "Dex" Dexter Episode: "South of 98" M.A.N.T.I.S. Tyrell D. Nickens Episode: "Tango Blue" Walker, Texas Ranger B.J. Mays Episode: "Badge of Honor" The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Dana Episode: "Will Steps Out" 1995 The Client "J-Top" Episode: "Them That Has..." Live Shot Tommy Greer Main role; 13 episodes 1996 NYPD Blue "Bo-Bo" Thomas Episode: "The Blackboard Jungle" Dangerous Minds Darryl Episode: "Family Ties" 1997 Oddville, MTV Episode No. 44 ER Mr. Jackson Episode: "Obstruction of Justice" 1998 Cosby Preston Episode: "Men Are from Mars Women Are from Astoria" Mama Flora's Family Don Television film 2000 City of Angels Dr. Wesley Williams Main role; 24 episodesNominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2002 The Court Christopher Bell Unsold TV pilot The Twilight Zone Professor John Woodrell Episode: "Shades of Guilt" 2003–2004 The Handler Darnell Main role; 16 episodes Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television Series 2004 Soul Food Kelvin Chadway 2 episodes The Sopranos Stokley Davenport M.D. Episode: "Irregular Around the Margins" CSI: Miami Dr. Sheldon Hawkes Episode: "MIA/NYC NonStop" 2004–2013 CSI: NY Dr. Sheldon Hawkes Main role; 197 episodesNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2008–10)Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2005–07, 2011–13) 2005 I Love the '90s: Part Deux Himself Documentary miniseries The 4400 Edwin Mayuya Episode: "Rebirth" Lackawanna Blues Ruben Santiago Jr. (Adult) Television film 2009 The Game Himself Episode: "Hill Street Blues" 2010 Stonehenge Apocalypse Joseph Lesham Television film 2011 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Himself Episode: "Tour-Ture" 2013–2014 Covert Affairs Calder Michaels Main role, 32 episodes 2015 Madam Secretary Aiden Humphrey Episode: "The Kill List" 2015–2016 Limitless Spelman Boyle Main role; 22 episodesCharacter named after Spelman College. 2016 Braxton Family Values Himself Episode: "You Gotta Get Pelvic to Pelvic!" Unsung Hollywood Himself Episode: "Hill Harper" 2017 The Real Housewives of Potomac Himself Episode: "Don't Let the Zip Code Fool Ya" Homeland Chief of Staff, Rob Emmons 11 episodes 2017–2021 How It Really Happened Himself Host and Narrator of 12-episode anthology reality series. 2017–2024 The Good Doctor Dr. Marcus Andrews 105 episodes 2018 Black Love Himself Special Episode: "Motherly Love" 2019 The $100,000 Pyramid Himself Episode 409 (Season 4; Episode 9) 2020 Mentoring Kings Himself Docuseries 2022 Super Pumped Eric Holder Episode: "Delete Uber" 2025 Law & Order Defense Attorney Eric Ferguson Episode: "Bend the Knee"

Theatre Year Title Role 2001 Dogeaters Joey Sands 2001 Blue (Adult) Reuben Clark 2015 ToasT Hard Rock 2018 Our Lady of 121st Street Walter "Rooftop" Desmond

Published works