David Ajala (born 21 May 1986) is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the CW series Supergirl (20182019), the Syfy series Nightflyers (2018), the CBS and Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery (20202024), and the NBC series Law & Order (2025–). His films include Starred Up (2013), Brotherhood (2016) and Italian Studies (2021).
Early life Ajala was born on 21 May 1986 in Hackney, London. He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls". Ajala joined an afterschool programme at the Anna Scher Theatre. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting from the Court Theatre Training Company, awarded by Buckinghamshire New University.
Career On stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet, and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.
In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood and Brotherhood; he has also appeared in The Dark Knight and in major roles in Starred Up and the 2016 Seekers. On television, he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.
Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.
Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011) and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.
In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of the CW series Supergirl.
From 2020 to 2024, Ajala had a main role as Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery. The series was released on CBS All Access and then on Paramount+.
In September 2025, it was announced Ajala had joined the cast of the long-running NBC series Law & Order for its 25th season. He made his debut as Detective Theo Walker in the November 2025 episode "Guardian".
Personal life Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRole Notes 2006 KidulthoodDesmond Uncredited2008 Adulthood The Dark Knight Bounty Hunter #22009HamletReynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner2010 Winter Sun Guy Short Following Footsteps Christopher Knight2011 One Day Floor Manager Spirit Terror Short 2012 Payback Season Baron Illegal Activity Edward Short Offender Kelvin Sentenced Served Marvin Short 2013 Fast & Furious 6 Ivory Starred Up Tyrone Breakthrough HenryShort 2014 Queen of Diamonds Bench Guy Emulsion Jeff2015 Jupiter Ascending Ibis He Works the Long NightsShort Spirit Terror2016 Seekers Amadu Kill Command Drifter Brotherhood Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch2017 The Art of Love AnthonyShort Support Chris Without Disguise Leo 2021 Italian Studies Ade 2023 Daylight Rules Frank Short 2025 The Woman in Cabin 10 Ben
Television YearTitleRole Notes 2007 Dream Team Sean Campbell 18 episodes2008 The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury Steve Episode: "Technology Bytes" The Bill Lenny Jones Episode: "Beth Undercover" Trexx and Flipside Flipside 6 episodes 2009 Hamlet Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner TV film 2010 Doctor Who Peter Episode: "The Beast Below"2011 Silent Witness Mark Blakefield 2 episodes Coming Up Malachi Episode: "Micah" Misfits Private Investigator Episode #3.6 2012 Monroe Max Portas Episode #2.42013 Death in Paradise Louis Nelson Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" Black Mirror Jeff Carter Episode: "The Waldo Moment" Law & Order: UK Gavin Dale 2 episodes 2014 Black Box Will Van Renseller 13 episodes2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Rate 6 episodes Hooten & the Lady Dawit Episode: "Ethiopia" The Break Xavier Episode: "System Cycle" 2016–2018 Falling Water Burton 20 episodes 2018 Nightflyers Roy Eris 10 episodes 2018–2019 Supergirl Manchester Black Recurring role 2019 Urban Myths The Burglar Episode: "Grace Under Pressure"2020–2024 Star Trek: Discovery Cleveland "Book" Booker Main role (seasons 3–5) The Ready Room Himself4 episodes 2024 The Jetty Casey2025 Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue Zack Ellis Main role Law & Order Detective Theo Walker Main role (season 25)
Video games YearTitleRole2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Additional voices Need for Speed: Payback Sean 'Mac' McAlister
Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue2006 You Are Right If You Say So Lamberto Laudisi Courtyard Theatre, London How to Steal a Diamond YM Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh 2007 The Swing of Things Claude Kabinda Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough2008 A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander (Understudy)Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Love's Labour's Lost Lord Dumaine (Understudy)2009 Death and the King's Horseman HRH The PrinceRoyal National Theatre, London Nation Milo 2010 Ruined Fortune Almeida Theatre, London 2012 The Witness Simon Royal Court Theatre, London 2016 One Night in Miami Jim Brown Donmar Warehouse, London
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