Afemo Omilami
Afemo Omilami | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 13, 1950 Petersburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Elisabeth Omilami (m. 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
Afemo Omilami (born December 13, 1950) is an American actor.[1]
Early life
Omilami was born in Petersburg, Virginia on December 13, 1950.
Career
He has appeared in many films such as Trading Places (1983), Glory (1989), The Firm (1993), Gordy (1995), Remember the Titans (2000), Ray (2004), Hounddog (2007), The Blind Side (2009), and Terminator Genisys (2015). He is perhaps best known for his role as the Drill Sergeant in Forrest Gump (1994). He had a recurring role as the streetwise Jimmy Dawes in In the Heat of the Night (TV series) from 1989 to 1993. He was nominated for a 2013 NAACP Image Award in the category "Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special" for his performance in Lifetime's Steel Magnolias as Drum Eatenton.[2]
Personal life
He married his wife Elisabeth Omilami on September 11, 1985. She is an actress, minister, and a civil rights leader. They have two children: son Awodele and daughter Juanita.
His longtime friend was actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd.[3] After Byrd was killed, Omilami described Byrd as a "devoted father and husband and a master of his craft".[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Trading Places | Longshoreman | |
| 1986 | The Money Pit | Bernie | |
| 1989 | Glory | Tall Contraband | |
| 1990 | The Long Walk Home | Taxi Driver | |
| 1993 | Sankofa | Noble Ali | |
| 1993 | The Firm | Cotton Truck Driver | |
| 1993 | The Real McCoy | Cab Dispatcher | |
| 1994 | Forrest Gump | Drill Sergeant | |
| 1994 | A Simple Twist of Fate | Bailiff | |
| 1994 | Drop Squad | Berl "Flip" Mangum | |
| 1994 | The War | Quarry Man | |
| 1995 | Gordy | Krugman | |
| 1999 | Funny Valentines | Ephraim Lee | |
| 1999 | Forces of Nature | Cab Driver | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Chill Factor | Courtroom Colonel | |
| 1999 | Wayward Son | Horace | |
| 1999 | Bringing Out The Dead | Griss | |
| 2000 | Animal Factory | Captain Midnight | |
| 2000 | Tigerland | SFC Ezra Landers | |
| 2000 | Remember the Titans | Charles Campbell | |
| 2001 | Tara | Attorney | Direct-to-video US title: Hood Rat |
| 2001 | Rustin | Mel Jones | |
| 2002 | Drumline | President Wagner | |
| 2002 | I'm with Lucy | Cab Driver #1 | |
| 2002 | Sweet Home Alabama | Jimmy Lee | |
| 2002 | Nowhere Road | ||
| 2002 | Baby of the Family | ||
| 2003 | Runaway Jury | SUV Driver | |
| 2003 | Cold Mountain | Joshua | |
| 2004 | The Alamo | Sam | |
| 2004 | Ray | Angry Husband | |
| 2006 | Glory Road | Mr. Flournoy | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Isaac, Sr. | |
| 2013 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | District 11 Mayor | |
| 2015 | Terminator Genisys | Perry | |
| 2016 | The Founder | Mr. Merriman | Uncredited |
| 2016 | Hidden Figures | Man Outside Store | |
| 2021 | Freedom's Path | Ellis Freeman | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1993 | In the Heat of the Night | Jimmy Dawes | 8 episodes |
| 1990 | Caroline? | Taxi Driver | Television movie |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Michael Kano | Episode: "Consultation" |
| 1996 | Law & Order | Henry Patterson | Episode: "Custody" |
| 1997 | The Witchcatcher | Duncan | Television movie |
| 1997–1999 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Sam Parker / John Webb | Episodes: "Flash" and "Selma, Lord, Selma" |
| 2002 | The Road Parks Story | Television movie | |
| 2002 | Dawson's Creek | Clifton Smalls | Episodes: "Cigarette Burns" and "Swan Song" |
| 2004 | The Shield | Vince Peabo | Episode: "Mum" |
| 2007-2008 | Ghost Whisperer | Archivist | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Steel Magnolias | Drum Eatenton | Television movie |
| 2015 | True Detectives | Police Chief Holloway | 7 episodes |
| 2016-2017 | Survivor's Remorse | Richard Freeman | 3 episodes |
| 2016-2018 | Saints & Sinners | Detective Noah St. Charles | 20 episodes |
| 2017 | Madam Secretary | President Babacar Diome | Episode: "The Detour" |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders | Inspector Polino | Episode: “Lost Souls” |
| 2019 | Creepshow | Brenner | Episode: “The Companion” |
References
- ^ Scheck, Frank (19 February 2010). "Blood a bloodless telling of civil rights episode". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ Sandell, Scott (11 December 2012). "NAACP Image Awards: The complete nominations list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ^ Redmon, Jeremy (October 7, 2020). "Police investigate, friends mourn following actor Thomas Byrd's shooting death". www.ajc.com. Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- ^ Dukes, Deidra (October 5, 2020). "Search continues for killer of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd in Atlanta". www.fox5atlanta.com. Fox 5 Atlanta. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
