Harry Lennix is a Tony Award–nominated actor known for his commanding stage and screen presence. Most recently, he starred in his nominated role as Solomon “Sonny” Jasper in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play. His Broadway debut was as Harmond Wilks in August Wilson’s Radio Golf (Tony Award–nominated), and his notable Off-Broadway credits include Titus Andronicus. Regionally, he has performed in A Raisin in the Sun, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Othello and The Great Gatsby.
As a director, Lennix has helmed The Glass Menagerie at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Robert Townsend’s stage adaptation of The Five Heartbeats (earning three NAACP Theatre Award nominations) and A Small Oak Tree Runs Red at both Congo Square Theatre and the Billie Holiday Theatre in New York. His stage career has been widely acclaimed, earning him the first Ollie Award for his portrayal of Malcolm X at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and two Joseph Jefferson Citations for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Caught in the Act.
In film, Lennix’s credits span blockbuster franchises and critically praised dramas. He appeared in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel, The Matrix franchise, and the beloved Love & Basketball. His work also includes Titus and The Five Heartbeats, and he appeared as “Joe Adams” in the Academy Award–winning film Ray.
On television, he is perhaps best known for his decade-long role as “Harold Cooper” in NBC’s hit series The Blacklist, has starred in the Golden Globe–nominated series Commander in Chief as Chief of Staff “Jim Gardner,” portrayed activist Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in Showtime’s Keep the Faith, Baby, and appeared in Showtime’s Billions and Fox’s Dollhouse.
November 2025
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
