Dorian Harewood (born August 6, 1950) is an American actor, best known for playing Jesse Owens in The Jesse Owens Story (1984), Det. Paul Strobber on Strike Force (1981–1982), and Rev. Morgan Hamilton in 7th Heaven (1996–2003).
Early years Harewood was born on August 6, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Emerson Macaulay and Estelle Olivia Harewood. His father was a high school teacher and post office clerk. He graduated from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in 1972.
Career Harewood got his start in musical theater. On Broadway, he performed in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Streamers, and The Mighty Gents. For his role in Don't Call Back, Harewood received a Theatre World Award for Most Promising Actor. While in a stage production with Bette Davis, she encouraged Harewood to continue acting in dramatic roles, and credits her as his mentor. He made his film debut in Foster and Laurie (1975).
Harewood portrayed Simon Haley (father of author Alex Haley) in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. He is known for starring as Jesse Owens in The Jesse Owens Story, and for his co-starring role as police psychologist Paul Strobber in the ABC Television series Strike Force (starring Robert Stack). He appeared regularly on Trauma Center alongside Wendie Malick and Lou Ferrigno, had a recurring role on China Beach and was Hank Mitchell in The Trials of Rosie O'Neill.
Some of his film work includes disaster film Gray Lady Down (1978), action drama Tank (1984), and sci-fi flick Solar Crisis (1990). In Against All Odds (1984), he appeared as a football player, and was Timothy Hutton's coworker in The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). Harewood then portrayed a combat Marine in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987). He appeared in two films in 2003: portraying Mackie Whitaker in Levity and Teddy Howard in Gothika.
In 1994, he was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie, for his recurring role as jazz/blues saxophonist Clarence "Cool Papa" Charleston on the NBC drama series I'll Fly Away. The following year, Harewood voiced Hank Aaron in Hank Aaron: Chasing a Dream, narrating the television film. He earned an Emmy Award nomination for the special.
He also played Dr. Julian Wilkes in the NBC (later syndicated) TV series Viper, and had a recurring role as Rev. Morgan Hamilton in 7th Heaven. Harewood appeared as Eliot Pierce in the Showtime series The Hoop Life. For his work on this series, Harewood received his second NAACP Image Award nomination, for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2000. He has also dabbled in music, having sung the national anthem at the 1994 Orange Bowl and releasing an album, Love Will Stop Calling, in 1988.
As a voice actor, Harewood began playing characters in animation during the 1980s. He voiced A.C. in The California Raisin Show, a guest role as Dan Riley in Batman: The Animated Series, Tombstone in Spider-Man, and Michael Jordan in the Saturday morning cartoon ProStars. He later returned to the Batman franchise as Jim Tate in Batman Beyond. When James Avery was unavailable, Harewood would voice Shredder on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Harewood was the 2nd voice actor to portray Rhodey Rhodes / War Machine taking over James Avery in S2 completely in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. He provided the voice of Modo in Biker Mice from Mars (1993−96), a role which he reprised in the revival of the same name (2006−08).
Having appeared in over 100 productions in film and television, Harewood has only publicly expressed regret with one: the miniseries Beulah Land, where he portrayed an overseer named Floyd. He was disgusted with the film's script, and claimed he was "unhappy" and "embarrassed" with the finished production. Harewood has stated he will only accept roles he feels present positive images for African-Americans.
Harewood originated the role of Older Noah Calhoun in the Broadway adaptation of The Notebook, a role which he was nominated for the Tony award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Personal life Harewood married actress Nancy Ann McCurry on February 14, 1979. The couple have two children, Olivia Ruth and John Dorian.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role NotesRef. 1976 Sparkle Levi Brown Feature film debut 1978 Gray Lady Down Lieutenant Fowler 1981 Looker Lieutenant Masters 1984 Against All Odds Tommy 1984 Tank Sergeant First Class Ed Tippet 1985 The Falcon and the Snowman Gene 1987 Full Metal Jacket "Eightball" 1988 God Bless the Child Calvin Reed 1989 Kiss Shot Kevin Marick 1990 Pacific Heights Dennis Reed 1990 Solar Crisis Borg 1994 The Pagemaster Jamaican Pirate (voice) A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. 1995 Sudden Death Agent Matthew Hallmark 1996 Space Jam Monstar Bupkus (voice) 1998 Evasive Action Luke Sinclair 2001 Glitter Guy Richardson 2003 Gothika Teddy Howard 2003 Levity Mackie Whittaker2004Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.!Lead Agent (voice) 2005 Assault on Precinct 13 Deputy Gil2006Adventures of Brer RabbitMister Man (voice) 2011 Mayor Cupcake Albert Peach
Television Year Title Role NotesRef. 1975 Cooley High Unaired pilot 1975 Foster and Laurie Gregory FosterTelevision film 1975 Swiss Family Robinson Jama 2 episodes 1977 Kojak Jake RileyEpisode: "The Condemned" 1977 Family GilEpisode: "The Little Brother" 1977 Eight is EnoughRichard Connery Episode: "All's Fair in Love and War" 1977 Columbo Cop Uncredited; episode: "Make Me a Perfect Murderer" 1977 Panic in Echo Park Dr. Michael Stoner Television film 1978 Siege SimonTelevision film 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Simon Haley 5 episodes 1979 An American Christmas Carol Matt Reeves Television film 1980 Beulah Land Floyd3 episodes 1980 High Ice Lt. Zack DawkinsTelevision film 1981–1982 Strike Force Det. Sgt. Paul Strobber20 episodes 1982 The Ambush Murders Ray Ellsworth Television film 1982 I, Desire Det. Jerry Van NessTelevision film 1983 Matt Houston Jerry "The Rock" Lennox Episode: "The Rock and the Hard Place" 1983 Trauma Center Dr. Nate "Skate" Baylor13 episodes 1984 The Jesse Owens Story Jesse OwensTelevision film1984–1985GlitterEarl Tobin 12 episodes 1985HotelMatthew BowersEpisode: "Passports" 1986 Murder, She Wrote Sheriff Claudell Cox Episode: "Powder Keg" 1987 Amerika Jeffrey Wyman6 episodes 1987 Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story Lenell Geter Television film 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder (voice) 4 episodes 1987 Beauty and the Beast Jason Walker Episode: "Terrible Savior" 1988 Matlock Edward Kramer 2 episodes 1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Police Chief (voice) Episode: "The Sludge Monster from Earth's Core" 1989 Polly Dr. Shannon Television film 1989–1990 China Beach Major Otis 3 episodes 1990 Polly: Comin' Home! Dr. ShannonTelevision film 1990–1992 The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Hank Mitchell 26 episodes 1991–1994 The Legend of Prince Valiant Sir Bryant (voice)65 episodes 1992 I'll Fly Away Clarence "Cool Papa" Charleston4 episodes 1992 Batman: The Animated Series Dan Riley (voice) Episode: "The Forgotten" 1992 Goof Troop Buster Vessel (voice)Episode: "Big City Blues" 1992 Capitol Critters Moze (voice) 7 episodes 1993Animaniacs Spike Lee (voice) Episode: "Taming of the Screwy" 1993–1996 Biker Mice from Mars Modo (voice) 1996–1997 Spider-Man: The Animated Series Lonnie Lincoln / Tombstone (voice) 4 episodes 1994 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Carver Episode: "Buffalo Soldier" 1994 Viper Dr. Julian WilkesTelevision film 1994–1996 Iron Man James Rhodes / War Machine (ep. 6-26), Whirlwind (ep. 10–26), Blacklash (1995–1996), Stilt-Man (voice) 16 episodes 1994–1996 Gargoyles Boreas, Talos, Little Anton (voice) 1994–1998 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Kriggle 1995–1997 Freakazoid! Lt. Artie King, Deep-Voiced Singer (voice) 5 episodes 1996–2003 7th Heaven Rev. Morgan Hamilton Recurring role; 10 episodes 1996 The Incredible Hulk Rhodey Rhodes / War Machine (voice)Episode: "Helping Hands, Iron Fist" 1996–1997Superman: The Animated SeriesRon Troupe (voice)2 episodes The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestTigari, Guard, Officer (voice)2 episodes 1996 Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm Jax (voice) 13 episodes 1997 12 Angry Men Juror #5 Television film 1997 The Blues Brothers: The Animated Series Don KlingEpisode: "Strange Death of Betty Smythe"1997Pinky and the BrainBojangles (voice)Episode: "Mice Don't Dance" 1998–2001 Histeria! Various voices11 episodes 1998The New Batman AdventuresJudge (voice)Episode: "Critters" 1999–2000Batman BeyondJim Tate (voice)2 episodes 2000 The Last Debate Brad LilyTelevision film2001–2003Rescue HeroesBob Buoy (voice)4 episodes 2002 Earth: Final Conflict Prosecutor Herman ForesterS5/Ep19 "Subversion" 2002 Stargate SG-1 Counselor Thoran2 episodes 2002 The Practice Dr. Jerry Cochran Episode: "Evil/Doers" 2002 The Christmas Shoes Dalton GregoryTelevision film 2002–2003 Boomtown Capt. Ronald HicksRecurring role; 7 episodes 2004 Astro Boy Dr. Tenma, Shadow (voice) English dub 2004 Megas XLR Ender, Guardian, Squadron Leader (voice) 2 episodes 2004Static ShockWarden (voice)Episode: "Future Shock" 2006–2009Biker Mice from MarsVarious voices 2006–2012Handy MannyCoach Johnson (voice)4 episodes 2007 Billy & Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure Older Irwin (voice) Television film 2007 Private Practice Duncan Stinson Episode: "In Which Sam Receives an Unexpected Visitor..." 2007–2009 House of Payne Larry Shelton 4 episodes 2007–2008 The Batman Martian Manhunter (voice) 4 episodes 2007–2008 The Land Before Time Mr. Thicknose (voice) 6 episodes 2007 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Van Helsing, Burrito, News Reporter (voice)2 episodes2007Legion of Super HeroesMar Londo (voice)Episode: "Cry Wolf" 2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Boyd Sherman3 episodes 2008 The Spectacular Spider-Man Nicholas Bromwell (voice) 4 episodes 2020 Criminal Minds Fred Kirman Episode: "Spector Slowing" 2021 9-1-1 RupertEpisode: "Defend in Place" 2022 Bel-Air Judge Robertson 2 episodes 2022 Big Sky Roman Cobb Episode: "Come Get Me" 2025 The Equalizer General Franklin Knight Episode: "A Few Good Women"
Theatre Year Title Role VenueRef.1975 Don't Call Back Clarence Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway 1976 Streamers Carlyle Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Broadway 1978 The Mighty Gents Frankie Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 2024 The Notebook Older Noah Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway
Video games Year Title RoleRef.1993 Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Toussaint Gervais 2004 Astro Boy Dr. Tenma, Magnamite 2004 X-Men Legends Shadow King 2004 Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Spirit of Onimusha 2006Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Gale 2012 Diablo III Barbarian (Male) 2013 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance N'mani
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result Ref.1975 Theatre World Award Don't Call Back 1994 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Limited Series I'll Fly Away 2000 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series The Hoop Life 1995 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Informational Special Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream 2024 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical The Notebook 2024 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical 2024 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance
Discography "Show Me (One More Time)" (recorded in the 1980s) Love Will Stop Calling (1988) (Emeric Records/Ichiban Records/EMI) Have A Little (2001) (USA Music Group)
References
External links