Harry Lennix
Biography
Harry Joseph Lennix III, also known as Harry J. Lennix, is an American actor born on November 16, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. He is known for playing Terrence Dresser Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats and Boyd Langton in the science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix also co-starred as Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. Additionally, he portrayed J'onn J'onzz, Calvin Swanwick, and Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe films Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League. He received a nomination for the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Purpose.
Career overview
Harry Joseph Lennix III was born on November 16, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. He is an American actor with numerous acting credits in film and television.
Lennix is known for his role as Terrence Dresser Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats, released in 1991, and as Boyd Langton in the science fiction series Dollhouse. He also co-starred as Harold Cooper, who served as the assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division on the NBC drama The Blacklist.
In addition to these television and film projects, Lennix played the roles of J'onn J'onzz, Calvin Swanwick, and Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe films Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League. Furthermore, he received a nomination for the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Purpose.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Isla Monstro (2024) as General Dregg (voice)
- Young Love (2023) as Russell Young (voice)
- The Bear (2022) as James Brooks
- Nothing Is Impossible (2022) as Russell Banks
- Winter Ball (2022) as Eddie
- Curse of the Macbeths (2022) as Banquo
- Super Turnt (2022) as Mr. Denver
- Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands (2022)
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) as General Calvin Swanwick / Martian Manhunter
- A Christmas Together With You (2021) as Frank
- Troubled Waters (2020) as Ron Waters
- Lazaretto (2020) as Sufyan
- Rehabilitation of the Hill (2020) as Davidson Livingston
- Emperor (2020) as Frederick Douglas
- Canal Street (2019) as DJ Terrence Palmer
- Revival! (2018) as Pilate
- Revival! (2018) Writer
- That's Harassment (2018) as Politician
- Conrad (2018) as Don Brewer
- The Blacklist: Redemption (2017) as Harold Cooper
- Needlestick (2017) as Ray LeGro
- Romeo and Juliet in Harlem (2017) as Capulet
- Billions (2016) as Frank Sacker
- Insecure (2016) as Marcus Walker
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as Swanwick
- Timeless (2016) as Johnson
- Macbeth Unhinged (2016) as Banquo
- Alternate Universe: A Rescue Mission (2016) as Principal Sheehan
- Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015) as Black Manta (voice)
- Chi-Raq (2015) as Commissioner Blades
- 72 Hours (2015) as God
- Back to School Mom (2015) as Lawrence Riley
- The Algerian (2014) as Suleyman
- The Fright Night Files (2014) as Ronald
- H4 (2014) as King Henry IV
- Stand Down Soldier (2014) as Officer Freeman
- Cru (2014) as Diego Glass
- The Blacklist (2013) as Harold Cooper
- Man of Steel (2013) as General Swanwick
- They Die by Dawn (2013) as Sheriff Bass Reeves
- Evidence (2013) as Ben
- Cruel Will (2013) as Dr. Frances
- Sunny and RayRay (2013) as Lenotti
- Emily Owens, M.D. (2012) as Tim Dupre
- A Beautiful Soul (2012) as Jeff Freeze
- The Last Fall (2012) as Ron Davis
- Hound Dogs (2011) as Skip
- Law & Order: LA (2010) as Agent Bossy
- Dollhouse (2009) as Boyd Langton
- State of Play (2009) as Det. Donald Bell
- Stomp the Yard (2007) as Nate
- Across the Universe (2007) as Army Sergeant
- Resurrecting the Champ (2007) as Bob Satterfield Jr.
- Legion of Super Heroes (2006) as Dr. Mar Londo (voice)
- Commander in Chief (2005) as Jim Gardner
- House (2004) as John Henry Giles
- Ray (2004) as Joe Adams
- Century City (2004) as Attorney Attwell
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Quentin Leroux
- Second Time Around (2004) as Dr. Oakes
- Suspect Zero (2004) as Rich Charleton
- Chrystal (2004) as Kalid
- The Matrix Revolutions (2003) as Commander Lock
- The Matrix Reloaded (2003) as Commander Lock
- The Human Stain (2003) as Mr. Silk
- Black Listed (2003) as Karl Bennett
- Don't Explain (2003) as Lee
- Collateral Damage (2002) as FBI Agent Dray
- Pumpkin (2002) as Robert Meary (Poetry teacher)
- Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
- 24 (2001) as Walid Al-Rezani
- Home Invaders (2001)
- Girlfriends (2000) as Earl
- Love & Basketball (2000) as Nathan Wright
- Titus (1999) as Aaron
- The Unspoken (1999) as Reverend Bob
- Since You've Been Gone (1998) as Jordan Cardozo
- Chicago Cab (1998) as Pissed-Off Boyfriend
- The Practice (1997) as Asst. Attorney General Parker
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Ballard
- Friends 'Til the End (1997) as Prof. Gunderson
- Too Close to Home (1997) as Prosecuting Attorney
- Get on the Bus (1996) as Randall
- Murder One (1995) as David Bronson
- The Parent 'Hood (1995)
- Clockers (1995) as Bill Walker
- Nothing But the Truth (1995) as Det. Vernon Jones
- Comfortably Numb (1995) as Hamlin Day
- ER (1994) as Greg Fischer
- Vanishing Son (1994) as Andre Laine
- Vanishing Son (1994) as André Laine
- Guarding Tess (1994) as Kenny Young
- Vanishing Son IV (1994) as Andre Laine
- Notes in a Minor Key (1994) as Teddy
- Vanishing Son II (1994) as Andre Laine
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Agent Ron Wagner
- Mo' Money (1992) as Tom Dilton
- Bob Roberts (1992) as Franklin Dockett
- In the Best Interest of the Children (1992) as Tim Coffey
- The Five Heartbeats (1991) as Dresser
- Victimless Crimes (1991) as Baker
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter (1990) as Prosecutor Keith Warner
- The Package (1989) as Johnny's Field Soldier
- A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (1989) as Nero
- Eyes in the Trees as Dr. Murphy
- Godless as Bishop
- The Price for Freedom as Thurgood Marshall