Hisham Tawfiq | |
|---|---|
 Tawfiq in 2023 | |
| Born | (1970-05-17)May 17, 1970 (age 54) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002-present |
| Television | The Blacklist |
| Spouse | Spirit Tawfiq |
Hisham Tawfiq (born May 17, 1970) is an American actor, best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond "Red" Reddington inNBC'sThe Blacklist.
He played a controlling father on the TV series Found.
Born inNew York City, Tawfiq discovered his love of the arts while performing the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" byMaya Angelou in high school. Tawfiq studied at theNegro Ensemble Company, known for educating actors such asDenzel Washington andOssie Davis. He also studied with coach Susan Batson.
Prior to pursuing a full acting career, Tawfiq served in theU.S. Marines, deployed duringOperation Desert Storm.[1] From 1994 to 1996, Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer in theSing Sing Correctional Facility inOssining, New York.[2] While pursuing his acting career, Tawfiq also served as a firefighter for 20 years with theNew York City Fire Department.[3]
Tawfiq performed with TheArkansas Repertory Theatre inIntimate Apparel and played Walter Lee Younger in a production ofA Raisin in the Sun, which Tawfiq has said to be his dream role.[4]
Tawfiq starred in theBET filmGun Hill as Capt. Sanford, commander of a counter-crime task force. On television, Tawfiq has appeared inLights Out,Law & Order spin-offsSpecial Victims Unit andCriminal Intent,Kings,Golden Boy,30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake ofIronside.
Tawfiq played Dembe in NBC'sThe Blacklist. Starting with season 3, he was promoted to series regular.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |