Hisham Tawfiq

Hisham Tawfiq (born May 17, 1970) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Dembe Zuma in NBC's The Blacklist.

Early life Born in New York City, Tawfiq discovered his love of the arts while performing the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou in high school. Tawfiq studied at the Negro Ensemble Company, known for educating actors such as Denzel Washington and Ossie Davis. He also studied with coach Susan Batson.

Prior to pursuing a full acting career, Tawfiq served in the U.S. Marines, deployed during Operation Desert Storm. From 1994 to 1996, Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. While pursuing his acting career, Tawfiq also served as a firefighter for 20 years with the New York City Fire Department.

Career Tawfiq performed with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Intimate Apparel and played Walter Lee Younger in a production of A Raisin in the Sun, which Tawfiq has said to be his dream role.

Tawfiq starred in the BET film Gun Hill as Capt. Sanford, commander of a counter-crime task force. On television, Tawfiq has appeared in Lights Out, Law & Order spin-offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, Kings, Golden Boy, 30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake of Ironside.

Tawfiq played Dembe in NBC's The Blacklist. Starting with season 3, he was promoted to series regular.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 2009 Notorious Fatigue Guy 2010 Say Grace Before Drowning Chris 2010 Counterfeit Malik 2010 Contact Zone Prince 2010 Five Minarets in New York High Rolla 2011 Crazy Beats Strong Every Time Kofi 2013 Dead Man Down Jamaican Mike 2014 Gun Hill Capt. Sanford 2017 Dope Fiend Prince 2018 Skate Kitchen Lawrence 2018 Jinn Imam Khalid 2020 To Live and Die in Bed-Stuy Big Ed 2021 Maya and Her Lover Father

Television Year Series Role Notes 2007–2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Firefighter #1/FDNY Vestry/Jules 3 episodes 2009 Kings Serviceman Walter 5 episodes 2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Scaryman Episode: "Lost Children of the Blood" (S9 Ep11) 2011 Lights Out Jo Jo Reade 2012 30 Rock African Dictator 2 episodes 2013 Golden Boy Father Steven Truitt 2013 Ironside Cop 1 episode 2013–2023 The Blacklist Dembe Zuma Recurring Role (Seasons 1–2)Main Cast (Seasons 3–10) 2021 Harlem Dr. Obinna Tseggai Episode: "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" 2024 The Equalizer (2021 TV series) Sameer Bentang 1 episode

Theater Year Piece Role Notes A Raisin in the Sun Walter Lee Younger Intimate Apparel George Armstrong A Soldiers Play Henson Offspring Kyle Bow Wow Club Sal Shaka Zulu Shaka