Omari Hardwick

Omari Latif Hardwick (born January 9, 1974) is an American actor. He is known for his starring role as James St. Patrick/Ghost, the protagonist of Starz's Power and his role as Vanderohe in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. He is also known for his roles in Saved and Dark Blue, in Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna (2008), Kick-Ass (2010), Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls (2010), and as Andre in BET Network's Being Mary Jane.

Hardwick earned a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album nomination for the album Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series. For the 2026 Grammy Awards, he got a nomination for his album Pages for the Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

Early life and education Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Joyce and Clifford Hardwick III, an attorney. He is one of four siblings. Growing up in Decatur, Georgia, Hardwick wrote poetry on a regular basis, and participated in many sports. In high school, he attended Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia, where he played baseball, basketball and football. He later enrolled at the Furman University on a football scholarship. Hardwick continued acting and writing poetry, minoring in theater. In 1996, after transferring to the University of Georgia, he pledged and became a member of the Zeta Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Career After graduation, Hardwick initially pursued a career in football, hoping to join the San Diego Chargers. He declared himself for the NFL Draft, where he was not selected, and eventually returned to acting. In 2002, Hardwick was an extra in Floetry's "Say Yes" music video. Hardwick finally got his break in the 2004 TV movie Sucker Free City. Hardwick was also featured in the urban lifestyle publication, Prominence Magazine for its Holiday issue. Hardwick reading a poem, with Congresswoman Terri Sewell looking on, at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama in 2020. In 2011, Hardwick received his best film reviews to date for his role as "Troy" in the critically acclaimed indie hit I Will Follow. Hardwick has guest starred on an episode of NBC's Chase as Chris Novak, a hard luck criminal facing prison.

In 2013, Hardwick was cast in the lead role of James "Ghost" St. Patrick on the Starz crime drama-thriller, Power. The series ran for six seasons.

In 2016, he was featured by South African rapper Nasty C on a song titled "A Star Is Born".

Hardwick co-starred in the science fiction comedy film Sorry to Bother You, which was released in theaters on July 6, 2018.

In July 2019, Hardwick was cast in Zack Snyder's Netflix film Army of the Dead. An animated series titled Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas commenced production but was shelved by 2023.

In January 2021, it was announced that Hardwick was cast as Gordon Oliver in Netflix's thriller series Pieces of Her, which is adapted from the Karin Slaughter novel of the same name.

In April 2022, it was announced that Hardwick would star alongside Marsai Martin and Kelly Rowland in the Paramount+ film Fantasy Football, released on November 25.

Personal life

Hardwick began a relationship with Jennifer "Jae" Pfautch in the 2000s. Pfautch, who is of Native American and German descent, was disowned by her family in the aftermath for dating outside of her race. In 2008, the couple's first child was stillborn. Hardwick and Pfautch married in June 2012 and have two living children, daughter Nova and son Brave. Hardwick is Catholic.

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Notes 2002 Circles Lameck 2004 Within the Wall Saul Short film The Male Groupie 'Act Shun' Short film 2005 Beauty Shop Byron 2006 Speechless Ku James Gridiron Gang 'Free' The Guardian Carl Billings 2008 Miracle at St. Anna Platoon Commander Huggs Linewatch Drake / Kimo 2009 Next Day Air Shavoo 2010 Everyday Black Man Malik Kick-Ass Sergeant Marcus Williams The A-Team Jay 'Chopshop Jay' For Colored Girls Carl Bradmore Nominated – Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance I Will Follow Troy 2012 Sparkle Levi Middle of Nowhere Derek 2013 Kings & Beggars Noah Short film; also writer Lu Dr. Harden Short film Things Never Said Curtis Jackson The Last Letter Michael Wright 2014 Reach Me Dominic Lap Dance Dr. Don Cook 2015 Chapter & Verse Jomo 2017 Shot Caller Ed Kutcher, Parole Officer The Runner Rick Roslin 2018 Sorry to Bother You Mr. _______ A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. Cass Also executive producer Sgt. Will Gardner Samuel 'Top' Gallegos Nobody's Fool Frank Johnson 2019 American Skin Omar Scott 2020 Spell Marquis 2021 Army of the Dead Vanderohe The Mothership Filmed in 2021, ultimately unreleased 2022 Fantasy Football Bobby Coleman 2023 To Live and Die and Live Kevin The Mother William Cruise Phels High Principal Floyd 2025 Star Trek: Section 31 Alok Xeno Jonathan Keyes TBA Empire City Hawkins Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Sucker Free City Dante Ponce Television film 2005 Crossing Jordan Ronald Pasco Episode: "Judgement Day" 2006 Saved John 'Sack' Hallon Main cast 2008 CSI: Miami Eddie Dashell Episode: "And How Does That Make You Kill?" SIS Donovan Rivers Television film 2009–2010 Dark Blue Ty Curtis Main castNominated – NAMIC Vision Award Best Performance, Drama (2011) 2009 Lie to Me Benny 'B' Davis Episode: "The Better Half" 2010 Chase Chris Novak Episode: "Betrayed" 2012 Breakout Kings Ronnie Markham Episode: "Self Help" 2013–2014 Being Mary Jane Andre Daniels Main castBlack Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series (2014)Nominated – Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special (2014)Nominated – Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2015) 2013 A Christmas Blessing Earl James Television filmNominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series 2014–2020 Power James 'Ghost' St. Patrick Main castNominated – BET Award for Best Actor (2017) (seasons 1–6) 2021 That Damn Michael Che Himself Episode: "Sex Worker" 2022 Pieces of Her Gordon Oliver Main cast TBA The Greatest Cassius "Cash" Clay Sr. Filming

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 2000 "No More" Ruff Endz Store Clerk 2002 "Say Yes" Floetry Passenger 2011 "Break My Heart" Estelle featuring Rick Ross Love interest 2012 "You Make Me Wanna" Eshe featuring Omari Hardwick Love interest 2016 "A Star is Born" Nasty C featuring Omari Hardwick Himself (cameo) 2017 "Flipmode" Fabolous, Velous and Chris Brown Himself (cameo) 2017 "Family Feud" Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Mr. President 2018 "First Began" PJ Morton Love interest

Discography

Singles +TitleYearAlbum"Bloodshed"2017Non-album singles"50+O=500"2018"Some Kinda Way"2018"hOme"2019"Destiny"2024"The Greatest"2024"DMX"2024