Harold Perrineau | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Perrineau in 2014 | |
| Born | (1963-08-07)August 7, 1963 (age 62) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Harold Perrineau Jr. Harold Williams |
| Alma mater | Shenandoah University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingAurora |
Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor. His breakout role was in the independent filmSmoke (1995), for which he was nominated for theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He went on to appear asMercutio inRomeo+Juliet (1996) andLink inThe Matrix Reloaded andThe Matrix Revolutions (both 2003).
On television, he has starred asAugustus Hill in theHBO prison dramaOz (1997–2003),Michael Dawson in theABC seriesLost (2004–2010), and Sheriff Boyd Stevens in theMGM+ horror seriesFrom (2022–present).
Perrineau has also appeared in the filmsThe Edge (1997),The Best Man (1999),Woman on Top (2000), and28 Weeks Later (2007). His other television credits includeSons of Anarchy (2012),Constantine (2014–2015),Claws (2017–2022), andThe Rookie (2019–2021).
Perrineau was born inBrooklyn, New York City.[1][2] 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 theScreen Actors Guild.[3] He attendedShenandoah University andAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1]
In 1989, Perrineau was cast as the original Tyrone Jackson in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of the 1980 hit movieFame (now known asFame: The Musical) at theWalnut Street Theatre, inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania.[4] He took the role ofLink inThe Matrix series after the original operator Tank was written out of the script whenMarcus Chong was fired over monetary disputes.[5] Around this time, he also booked a main role ofAugustus Hill on the HBO seriesOz (1997–2003).[citation needed]
Perrineau playedMichael Dawson on ABC's hit showLost. 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.[citation needed] In July 2007, it was announced he would return to the main cast for the show's fourth season.[6] However, the return was short-lived, as the fourth season was his last as a regular cast member. He madeone guest appearance in the sixth and final season.[7][8]
Since his debut single "Stay Strong" in 2007 Perrineau has been working on his musical career.[citation needed] He actively collaborated with music producerTomo in der Muhlen, known as DJ Tomo Tom Tom, on his debut album,Seeker.[citation needed] The first single, "Moving On", was released October 15, 2011.[citation needed] Perrineau has also done live shows where he performs with a full band: two guitars, bass, drums and keyboards.[citation needed] He performed at Los Angeles club The Mint in April 2010. Perrineau has appeared inMKTO's "Thank You" music video andJ. Cole's"She Knows" music video.[citation needed]
Perrineau starred in30 Days of Night: Dark Days withRhys Coiro,Mia Kirshner,Kiele Sanchez,Diora Baird andMonique Ganderton.[9] Perrineau appeared in the 2008 music video "Yes We Can".[10]
Perrineau voiced the title character from Marvel'sBlade 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 showSons of Anarchy.[11][12]
Perrineau starred as Stevie, the bass player, in theTBS comedyWedding Band, which ran from 2012 to 2013.[citation needed]
Perrineau starred as Manny, an angelic messenger, inConstantine,[13] the short-lived 2015 television series based on theDC Comics/Vertigo characterJohn Constantine.[citation needed]
He made hisBroadway debut in theRoundabout Theatre Company production ofAnton Chekov'sThe Cherry Orchard, adapted byStephen Karam.[citation needed] The play ran from September 2016 to December 4, 2016. Perrineau played Lopakhin, with Diane Lane as Ranevskaya.[14][15] Also in 2016, Perrineau co-starred in theAmazon Studios legal seriesGoliath.[citation needed]
From 2017 to 2022, Perrineau played Dean, a man on the autism spectrum and the brother of Desna, in TNT's Claws.[citation needed] He won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at theNAACP Awards.[16]
In May 2021,Deadline announced that Perrineau would lead the cast of the forthcoming in theMGM+science fictionhorror television seriesFrom.[17] The first season of the series was released globally in 2022.[18] The second season ofFrom premiered on April 23, 2023.[19][20] The third season ofFrom premiered on September 22, 2024.[21][22] A fourth season ofFrom has been announced and is speculated to be released in 2026.[23] Perrineau has received critical acclaim for his performance onFrom.[24]
In November 2022, Perrineau signed with Independent Artist Group for representation.[25]
In December 2024, Perrineau was announced as a cast member in independent dramaOut Come The Wolves based on theRancid 1995album of the same name.[26]
Since 2002, Perrineau has been married to Brittany Robinson Perrineau, a former actress and model forTommy Hilfiger andLiz Claiborne throughout the 1990s.[27] Brittany appeared on thefirst season ofLost in an episode titled "Outlaws" as the girlfriend ofSawyer, and in the episode "Numbers" as the woman who read the lottery numbers. Her acting credits also include the romantic-comedySaving Face (2004) and the surrealbiopicYour Name Here (2008).[citation needed]
They have three daughters, actressAurora, born 1994, and two others born in 2008,[28][29] and 2013.[30][31]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2025 | And Out Comes The Wolf | TBA |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (seasons1–2 &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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Link | Voice |
| 2004 | The Matrix Online | Link | Voice |
