David Oyelowo
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 1, 1976 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
- Active Years
- 1953–2026 (74 Years)
- Total Credits
- 139 credits in database
Acting Born Apr 1, 1976 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK 139 credits
Biography
David Oyelowo is a British actor, director, and producer born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. He has been involved in 121 acting credits. Oyelowo has received a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards for his work. He was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2016 for his services to drama. Oyelowo has portrayed notable characters in films such as Selma and Nightingale, which garnered him critical acclaim. He has also appeared in other productions, including The Butler. Oyelowo is known for his versatility as an actor and has been recognized for his contributions to the film industry.
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Career overview
David Oyelowo is a British actor who has achieved prominence in the film industry. He rose to recognition for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in the biographical drama Selma, which received critical acclaim. He also gained praise for his role as Peter Snowden in the HBO film Nightingale, also released in 2014.
Oyelowo's acting career has spanned multiple roles, with a total of 121 known credits. His work has garnered him recognition and praise from critics and audiences alike. He has been associated with various projects, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
David Oyelowo's career has been marked by his ability to take on diverse roles, earning him a reputation as a talented and accomplished actor. His performances have been well-received, contributing to his growing recognition in the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
3 shared titles
Cuba Gooding Jr.
3 shared titles
Anna Chancellor
2 shared titles
Mykelti Williamson
2 shared titles
Tom Felton
2 shared titles
Rosamund Pike
2 shared titles
Barry Pepper
2 shared titles
John Cusack
2 shared titles
LaKeith Stanfield
2 shared titles
James McAvoy
2 shared titles
Career timeline
ClarissaNewbornNewborn · Producer
Government CheeseGovernment Cheese · Executive ProducerThe American RevolutionAmerican Solitaire · Executive ProducerNational Theatre Live: Coriolanus
After MidnightThe Book of ClarenceBecoming KingBecoming King · ProducerThe After
SiloLawmen: Bass ReevesLawmen: Bass Reeves · Executive ProducerRole PlayOff Script with The Hollywood Reporter
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSherriSee How They RunThe Tiger Who Came to TeaEarth's Great Rivers II
Chaos WalkingPeter Rabbit 2: The RunawayThe Girl BeforeNight of the Kings · Executive Producer5150 · Executive Producer
Home Movie: The Princess BrideThe Midnight SkyCome AwayCome Away · ProducerThe Water Man
The Kelly Clarkson ShowTamron HallDon't Let GoDon't Let Go · Executive ProducerDon't Let Go · Producer
Les MisérablesLes Misérables · Executive ProducerThe Joel McHale Show with Joel McHaleA Wrinkle in TimeThe Cloverfield Paradox
August 28: A Day in the Life of a PeopleThe Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
The Lion GuardQueen of Katwe13th · ThanksNinaA United Kingdom
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertClose Up with The Hollywood ReporterCaptiveCaptive · ProducerStar Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersInterstellarStar Wars RebelsVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
The FrameThe ButlerThe Arsenio Hall ShowJack Reacher: When the Man Comes AroundComplicit
Jack ReacherLincolnRed TailsThe PaperboyMiddle of Nowhere
Rise of the Planet of the ApesThe Help96 Minutes
ConanBlood And Oil
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenThe Good WifeGlenn Martin, DDSSmall IslandBig Guy · Director
The PassionA Raisin in the SunWho Do You LoveSweet Nothing in My Ear
Five Days
The One ShowThe Last King of ScotlandMayoAs You Like ItAmerican Blend
DerailedA Sound of ThunderThe Best Man
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
SpooksTomorrow La Scala!
Dog Eat Dog
Maisie Raine
The View
As Time Goes By
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Tony Awards
Full Filmography
139 titles- Clarissa (2026) as Peter
- Newborn (2026) as Chris Newborn
- Newborn (2026) Producer
- Government Cheese (2025) as Hampton Chambers
- Government Cheese (2025) Executive Producer
- The American Revolution (2025) as Olaudah Equiano / Sam (voice)
- American Solitaire (2025) Executive Producer
- National Theatre Live: Coriolanus (2025) as Coriolanus
- After Midnight (2024) as Self
- The Book of Clarence (2024) as John the Baptist
- Becoming King (2024) as Self
- Becoming King (2024) Producer
- The After (2024) as Dayo
- The After (2024) Producer
- Big Cats, Small World (2024) as Narrator (voice)
- Silo (2023) as Sheriff Holston Becker
- Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023) as Bass Reeves
- Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023) Executive Producer
- Role Play (2023) as Dave
- Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter (2023) as Self
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- See How They Run (2022) as Mervyn Cocker-Norris
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea (2022) as The Tiger (voice)
- Earth's Great Rivers II (2022) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Bastard King (2022) as The Bastard King
- Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (2022) as Narrator
- Chaos Walking (2021) as Aaron
- Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021) as Nigel Basil-Jones
- The Girl Before (2021) as Edward Monkford
- Night of the Kings (2021) Executive Producer
- 5150 (2021) Executive Producer
- Ferguson Rises (2021) Producer
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Prince Humperdinck
- The Midnight Sky (2020) as Adewole
- Come Away (2020) as Jack Littleton
- Come Away (2020) Producer
- The Water Man (2020) as Amos Boone
- The Water Man (2020) Producer
- The Water Man (2020) Director
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- Don't Let Go (2019) as Detective Jack Radcliff
- Don't Let Go (2019) Executive Producer
- Don't Let Go (2019) Producer
- Brave Girl Rising (2019) as Narrator
- Earth's Great Rivers (2019) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Les Misérables (2018) as Javert
- Les Misérables (2018) Executive Producer
- The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (2018) as Self - Special Guest
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018) as The It (voice)
- The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) as Kiel
- Gringo (2018) as Harold Soyinka
- Family Feud (2018) as 2148 Descendant
- Black Hollywood: 'They've Gotta Have Us' (2018) as Self
- August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017)
- The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar (2017) as Scar (voice)
- The Lion Guard (2016) as Scar
- Queen of Katwe (2016) as Robert Katende
- 13th (2016) Thanks
- Nina (2016) as Clifton Henderson
- A United Kingdom (2016) as Seretse Khama
- A United Kingdom (2016) Producer
- Five Nights in Maine (2016) as Sherwin
- Five Nights in Maine (2016) Producer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Captive (2015) as Brian Nichols
- Captive (2015) Producer
- Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015) as Agent Kallus (voice)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Interstellar (2014) as School Principal
- Star Wars Rebels (2014) as Agent Kallus (voice)
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- A Most Violent Year (2014) as D.A. Lawrence
- Selma (2014) as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 9 Kisses (2014) as Customer
- Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014) as Agent Kallus (voice)
- Nightingale (2014) as Peter Snowden
- Nightingale (2014) Executive Producer
- Default (2014) as Atlas
- The Frame (2013) as Steven Jacobs
- The Butler (2013) as Louis Gaines
- The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) as Self
- Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around (2013) as Self
- Complicit (2013) as Edward Ekubo
- Jack Reacher (2012) as Det. Emerson
- Lincoln (2012) as Corporal Ira Clark
- Red Tails (2012) as Joe 'Lightning' Little
- The Paperboy (2012) as Yardley Acheman
- Middle of Nowhere (2012) as Brian
- Rahab (2012) as Cen
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) as Steven Jacobs
- The Help (2011) as Preacher Green
- 96 Minutes (2011) as Duane
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Blood And Oil (2010) as Keme Tobodo
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- The Good Wife (2009) as Judge Edward Weldon
- Glenn Martin, DDS (2009)
- Small Island (2009) as Gilbert
- Big Guy (2009) Director
- Big Guy (2009) Producer
- Rage (2009) as Homer
- The Passion (2008) as Joseph of Arimathea
- A Raisin in the Sun (2008) as Joseph Asagai
- Who Do You Love (2008) as Muddy Waters
- Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008) as Leonard Grisham
- Five Days (2007) as Matt Wellings
- The One Show (2006) as Self
- The Last King of Scotland (2006) as Dr. Thomas Junju
- Mayo (2006) as Eddie Barton, 'Sexy' M.P.
- As You Like It (2006) as Orlando De Boys
- American Blend (2006) as Mercury
- Shoot the Messenger (2006) as Joseph Pascale
- Born Equal (2006) as Yemi
- Derailed (2005) as Patrol Officer
- A Sound of Thunder (2005) as Marcus Payne
- The Best Man (2005) as Graham
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Spooks (2002) as Danny Hunter
- Tomorrow La Scala! (2002) as Charlie
- Dog Eat Dog (2001) as CJ
- Maisie Raine (1998) as Sonny McDonald
- The View (1997) as Self
- As Time Goes By (1992) as Patrick
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Affair as Reverend Elijah Grant
- Othello as Othello
- Othello Director
- Othello Producer
- Heist of Benin
- Heist of Benin Producer
- The Return of the Rocketeer as The Rocketeer
- Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is David Oyelowo best known for?
David Oyelowo is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Clarissa (2026), Newborn (2026), Newborn (2026), Government Cheese (2025).
When and where was David Oyelowo born?
David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK.
How many credits does David Oyelowo have?
David Oyelowo has accumulated over 139 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is David Oyelowo's background in cinema and television?
David Oyelowo is a British actor, director, and producer born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. He has been involved in 121 acting credits. Oyelowo has received a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards for his work. He was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2016 fo...
David Oyelowo by the numbers
139credits
90films
49TV series
1953–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Interstellar (2014) as School Principal — aged about 38
- Silo (2023) as Sheriff Holston Becker — aged about 47
- The Help (2011) as Preacher Green — aged about 35
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Prince Humperdinck — aged about 44
- The Lion Guard (2016) as Scar — aged about 40
- Star Wars Rebels (2014) as Agent Kallus (voice) — aged about 38
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