David Oyelowo
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David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo (/oʊˈjɛloʊwoʊ/ oh-YEL-oh-woh; Yoruba pronunciation; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award, two NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award. In 2016, he was appointed as an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama. Oyelowo rose to prominence for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the biographical drama Selma (2014) and Peter Snowden in the HBO film Nightingale (2014), which garnered him critical acclaim. He also achieved praise for his roles as Louis Gaines in The Butler (2013), Seretse Khama in A United Kingdom (2016) and Robert Katende in Queen of Katwe (2016). He has also played supporting roles in the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), The Help (2011), Lincoln (2012), Red Tails (2012), and Jack Reacher (2012). On television, Oyelowo has played MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the British drama series Spooks (2002–2004) and Javert in the BBC miniseries Les Misérables (2018). He also provided the voice for Agent Alexsandr Kallus in the Lucasfilm Animation series Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018) and Holston Becker in the Apple+ drama series Silo. He stars in and co-produces the 2023 Paramount+ western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Oyelowo, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Credits
Interstellar (2014)
as School Principal
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
as Steven Jacobs
The Help (2011)
as Preacher Green
Jack Reacher (2012)
as Det. Emerson
A Most Violent Year (2014)
as D.A. Lawrence
Lincoln (2012)
as Corporal Ira Clark
The Butler (2013)
as Louis Gaines
See How They Run (2022)
as Mervyn Cocker-Norris
Chaos Walking (2021)
as Aaron
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)
as Nigel Basil-Jones
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
as Kiel
The Book of Clarence (2024)
as John the Baptist
American Blend (2006)
as Mercury
Nina (2016)
as Clifton Henderson
The Midnight Sky (2020)
as Adewole
Queen of Katwe (2016)
as Robert Katende
Clarissa (2026)
as Peter
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
as Dr. Thomas Junju
96 Minutes (2011)
as Duane
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
as The It (voice)
Gringo (2018)
as Harold Soyinka
9 Kisses (2014)
as Customer
Family Feud (2018)
as 2148 Descendant
Becoming King (2024)
as Self
Role Play (2023)
as Dave
A United Kingdom (2016)
as Seretse Khama
Derailed (2005)
as Patrol Officer
A Sound of Thunder (2005)
as Marcus Payne
Selma (2014)
as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Red Tails (2012)
as Joe 'Lightning' Little
Come Away (2020)
as Jack Littleton
Captive (2015)
as Brian Nichols
The Paperboy (2012)
as Yardley Acheman
Othello (—)
as Othello
Newborn (2026)
as Chris Newborn
Don't Let Go (2019)
as Detective Jack Radcliff
The Bastard King (2022)
as The Bastard King
Middle of Nowhere (2012)
as Brian
Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Affair (—)
as Reverend Elijah Grant
The Water Man (2020)
as Amos Boone
Heist of Benin (—)
Actor
As You Like It (2006)
as Orlando De Boys
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014)
as Agent Kallus (voice)
The Best Man (2005)
as Graham
Brave Girl Rising (2019)
as Narrator
The Tiger Who Came to Tea (2022)
as The Tiger (voice)
Rage (2009)
as Homer
The After (2024)
as Dayo
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015)
as Agent Kallus (voice)
Default (2014)
as Atlas
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar (2017)
as Scar (voice)
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
as Joseph Asagai
Born Equal (2006)
as Yemi
Shoot the Messenger (2006)
as Joseph Pascale
August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017)
Actor
Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around (2013)
as Self
Nightingale (2014)
as Peter Snowden
Five Nights in Maine (2016)
as Sherwin
Who Do You Love (2008)
as Muddy Waters
Dog Eat Dog (2001)
as CJ
Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008)
as Leonard Grisham
Blood and Oil (2010)
as Keme Tobodo
The Return of the Rocketeer (—)
as The Rocketeer
National Theatre Live: Coriolanus (2025)
as Coriolanus
Complicit (2013)
as Edward Ekubo
Tomorrow La Scala! (2002)
as Charlie
Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (2022)
as Narrator
Rahab (2012)
as Cen