Rockmond Dunbar | |
|---|---|
 Dunbar in 2014 | |
| Born | (1973-01-11)January 11, 1973 (age 52) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
Rockmond Dunbar (born January 11, 1973) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Baines on theNBC seriesEarth 2, Kenny Chadway onShowtime family dramaSoul Food,[1] andBenjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on theFox crime dramaPrison Break. He also played SheriffEli Roosevelt on theFX Drama seriesSons of Anarchy, FBI Agent Dennis Abbott onThe Mentalist,[2] FBI Agent Abe Gaines in theHulu seriesThe Path, and Michael Grant on9-1-1.[3]
Dunbar was born January 11, 1973,[4] inOakland, California.[5] He attendedOakland Technical High School and attendedMorehouse College for one year before moving on to study at theCollege of Santa Fe and theUniversity of New Mexico.[5][6]
Dunbar is known for his leading role as Kenny Chadway on the television seriesSoul Food, andTV Guide named him as one of "Television's 50 Sexiest Stars of All Time".[7] He landed a regular role asBenjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the television seriesPrison Break. In 2007, Dunbar starred on the short-livedTNT medical dramaHeartland. He made a guest appearance onNoah's Arc as himself to give Noah (screenwriter and the main character of the show) some ideas about his movieFine Art. He also had a recurring role on theUPN seriesGirlfriends,[1] and is also known for his role as "Pookie" on the television seriesThe Game. He was also a regular on the short-livedFX seriesTerriers.
Dunbar's other TV credits include guest appearances inEarth 2,Felicity,The Pretender,Two Guys and a Girl, andNorth Shore.
In 2011, he joined the cast of FX's showSons of Anarchy as the new Sheriff of Charming, Eli Roosevelt. In 2013, Dunbar joined the CBS crime dramaThe Mentalist as FBI agent Dennis Abbott. In 2018, Dunbar joined the cast of9-1-1 as Michael Grant, leaving in 2021 over theCOVID-19 vaccine mandate, after his requests for exemptions were denied.[8]
In February 2022, it was reported that he has sued the makers of the show for $1 million, saying he "was denied medical and religious exemptions and faced racial discrimination."[9][10] In July 25, 2022, Dunbar's case of racial misconduct was dismissed as baseless by a judge in aLos Angeles courtroom, butDisney/Fox does face some claims from Rockmond Dunbar alleging religious and racial discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract, among other claims.[11] Dunbar based his reason for an exemption on the fact that he had an exemption letter from theCongregation of Universal Wisdom.[12]The New York Times reported that all it takes to join the church is a letter to chiropractor Walter P. Schilling, who runs the congregation from his den, and accepts as members those who confirm that they "will aspire to live by" the beliefs of the church, and have paid at least $1 to the church as a sign of commitment.[12] The studio pointed out that he had taken many actions that go against the beliefs of the church, including undergoing medical procedures, but he said in response that he had spoken with God, who "permitted [him] to act differently."[13] U.S. District JudgeDolly Gee was skeptical of his claims, stating that communing with God is not a “blanket privilege that undermines our system of ordered liberty,” but decided that the lawsuit could head to trial.[13] On October 17, 2025, Dunbar lost the case as an eight-member federal jury voted unanimously in favor of Disney-owned20th Television.[14]
His film projects includePunks (which debuted at the 2000Sundance Film Festival),Misery Loves Company,Sick Puppies,Whodunit,Dirty Laundry,All About You,[1]Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and theTyler Perry-produced film,The Family That Preys.
Dunbar has contributed to the art world through themixed media exhibitARTHERAPY.[15] He posed for the November 2003 issue ofPlaygirl magazine.[16]
From 2003 to 2006, Dunbar was married to Ivy Holmes.[17]
On December 30, 2012, Dunbar became engaged, after dating for a year, to Maya Gilbert, an actress,[18][19] inMontego Bay,Jamaica.[20][21]
Dunbar is a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, whose members are "obligated to avoid medical intervention that introduces disease into the body".[9][22] His lawsuit against Disney and Fox alleges that their lawyers called his religion "fake" and his beliefs "insincere" in discussions about the Covid-19 vaccination mandate.[23][24]
According to DNA analysis, Dunbar's ancestry is mainly from theYoruba people ofNigeria.[25] On his visit to Nigeria, he was given the Yoruba name,Omobowale[26] (a variant form ofOmowale) meaning "our son has come home."[27]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Misery Loves Company | Eric Haynes | |
| 2000 | Punks | Darby | |
| 2001 | All About You | Tim | |
| 2004 | Hollywood Division | Det. Reginald Feiffer | TV movie |
| 2005 | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Mr. Fire | |
| 2006 | Dirty Laundry | Patrick/Sheldon | |
| 2008 | The Family That Preys | Chris | |
| Alien Raiders | Kane | ||
| Jada | Simon | ||
| 2009 | Pastor Brown | Amir Rahiem | |
| 2011 | The Truth | – | Short |
| 2012 | A Taste of Romance | Danny Marsh | TV movie |
| Echo at 11 Oak Drive | Abner | ||
| Raising Izzie | Greg Freeman | TV movie | |
| 2013 | Doubt | Steve Adams | TV movie |
| 2014 | More to Love | Terrence | |
| Envy or Greed | Anderson Connell | Short | |
| 2015 | Love Is a Four-Letter Word | Nick | TV movie |
| Curve Ball | James | ||
| 2016 | Fate | Enzo Friend | Short |
| 2017 | The Cheaters Club | Eric | |
| 2018 | Edge of Fear | Mike Dwyer | |
| City of Lies | Dreadlocks | ||
| 2022 | Red Winter | Harold | |
| 2025 | Straw | Chief Wilson | |
| One Spoon of Chocolate | TBA | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Earth 2 | Baines | Recurring cast |
| 1996 | The Lazarus Man | Patter | Episode: "The Penance" |
| 1997 | Good News | Bonz | Episode: "Writing on the Wall" & "A Joyful Noise" |
| 1998 | The Wayans Bros. | Barry | Episode: "The Son of Marlon" |
| Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Tommy | Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Homecoming" | |
| 1999 | Pacific Blue | Tiger Bates | Episode: "Infierno" |
| The Practice | Byron Little | Episode: "Infected" | |
| The Pretender | Joe Taylor | Episode: "Qallupilluit" | |
| Felicity | Man on Train | Episode: "The Depths" | |
| 2000 | G vs E | Sonny Rhymes | Episode: "Renunciation" |
| 2000–04 | Soul Food | Kenny Chadway | Main cast |
| 2003–04 | Girlfriends | Jalen | Guest: season 3, recurring cast: season 4 |
| 2004 | North Shore | Agent Fernley | Episode: "Secret Service" |
| 2005 | Head Cases | Dr. Robinson | Recurring cast |
| 2005–17 | Prison Break | Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin | Main cast:Season 1–2 &5, recurring cast:Season 4 |
| 2007 | Heartland | Dr. Thomas Jonas | Main cast |
| Shark | Teddy Banks | Episode: "No Holds Barred" | |
| Grey's Anatomy | Sean Brotherton | Episode: "Physical Attraction... Chemical Reaction" | |
| CSI: Miami | James Reilly | Episode: "Guerillas in the Mist" | |
| 2009–15 | The Game | Pookie | Guest: season 3, recurring cast: season 5–9 |
| 2010 | Private Practice | Jacob Deever | Episode: "All in the Family" |
| The Defenders | Bounce | Episode: "Nevada v. Killa Diz" | |
| Terriers | Det. Mark Gustafson | Main cast | |
| 2011 | The Chicago Code | Robert Turner | Episode: "O'Leary's Cow" |
| The Closer | Antwone Decker | Episode: "Unknown Trouble" | |
| 2011–13 | Sons of Anarchy | SheriffEli Roosevelt | Recurring cast: season 4–6 |
| 2012–13 | For Richer or Poorer | Aubrey | Main cast |
| 2013–15 | The Mentalist | FBI Agent Dennis Abbott | Main cast:Season 6-7 |
| 2016–17 | The Path | Detective Abe Gaines | Main cast: season 1–2 |
| 2017 | Scorpion | Scotty | Recurring cast: season 3 |
| 2018–21 | 9-1-1 | Michael Grant | Main cast: season 1–5 |
| 2021 | Aftershock | Lawrence Ansley | Recurring cast |
| 2021–22 | The Game | Pookie | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Law & Order | Principal Sykes | Episode: "Report Card" |
| Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist | Uncle Willie | Miniseries |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
