| Harold Perrineau | |
|---|---|
![]() Harold Perrineau, 2007 |
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| Born | August 7, 1963 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Spouse(s) | Brittany Perrineau (2002–present) |
Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor, known for the roles of Michael Dawson in the U.S. television series Lost, Link in The Matrix films and games, Augustus Hill in the American television series Oz (his character also serves as the narrator for the series), and Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. He recently starred in ABC's comedy-drama television series The Unusuals, playing NYPD homicide detective Leo Banks.
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Perrineau was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Harold Williams and Sylvia Perrineau. His parents changed his name to Williams when he was 7. Harold later legally changed his name back to his birth name, after discovering there was already a Harold Williams in the Screen Actors Guild union. His French surname is actually his mother's maiden name. Perrineau attended Shenandoah University, but did not graduate. Perrineau and his wife, Brittany, have a daughter, Aurora Robinson Perrineau, born 1994. Their second daughter, Wynter Aria, was born on May 7, 2008.[1]
In 1989, Perrineau was cast as the original Tyrone Jackson in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of the 1980 hit movie Fame (now known as Fame: The Musical) at the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]
Perrineau took the role of Link in The Matrix series after the original operator Tank was written off the script when Marcus Chong was fired over money disputes.[3] Lost co-star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje starred with Perrineau on the HBO series Oz.
Perrineau played the character Michael Dawson on Lost. He was temporarily written off Lost when his character left the island with his son at the end of season two and did not appear at all in season three; however, his return to the show for its fourth season was announced in July 2007.[4]
Following his Lost departure[5], news broke that Perrineau had been cast in the upcoming pilot for ABC dramedy The Unusuals.[6]
He stars also in 30 Days of Night: Dark Days alongside Rhys Coiro, Mia Kirshner, Kiele Sanchez, Diora Baird and Monique Ganderton.[7]
Perrineau appeared in the 2008 music video, "Yes We Can".[8]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | King of New York | Thief on the subway | |
| 1995 | Smoke | Thomas "Rashid" Cole | |
| 1996 | Blood and Wine | Henry | |
| Romeo + Juliet | Mercutio | ||
| 1997 | The Edge | Stephen | |
| 1998 | Lulu on the Bridge | Bobby Perez | |
| 1999 | The Best Man | Julian Murch | |
| Macbeth in Manhattan | The Chorus | ||
| 2000 | Woman On Top | Monica Jones | |
| 2001 | Prison Song | Uncle Cee | |
| 2002 | On Line | Moe Curley | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Link | |
| The Matrix Revolutions | Link | ||
| 2007 | 28 Weeks Later | Flynn | |
| 2008 | Gardens of the Night | Orlando | |
| Ball Don't Lie | Jimmy | ||
| Felon | Lt Jackson | ||
| Television Appearances | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Episodes |
| 1989 | The Cosby Show | Season 5 - Episode 18 | |
| 1991–1993 | I'll Fly Away | Robert Evans | |
| 1997–2003 | Oz | Augustus Hill | |
| 2003 | Dead Like Me | Aroun Levert | 1 episode |
| 2004–2006, 2008, 2010 | Lost | Michael Dawson | 47 episodes |
| 2007 | CSI | Rev. Rhodes | 1 episode |
| 2009 | The Unusuals | Detective Leo Banks | |
| Video Game Voice-overs | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | Voice | Link |
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