Gbenga Akinnagbe
Encyclopedia
Gbenga Akinnagbe is an American actor, best known for his role as Chris Partlow
on the HBO original series The Wire
.
to Nigeria
n parents and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland
, Akinnagbe was in and out of trouble as a youth. He is the second oldest of six children one of whom is Micahel Murphy, one older sister and four younger brothers. He is the first in his family to be born in the U.S. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School
in Rockville, Maryland
. Akinnagbe attended Bucknell University
on a wrestling scholarship, majoring in Political Science and English. He is the cousin of DC rapper Wale
.
and "Ben Ellis" in the episode Contenders on the TV Series Numb3rs
. In the summer of 2006, Gbenga performed the role of "Zim" in the NYC Fringe Festival's "Outstanding Play" award-winning production of "Modern Missionary". In 2003, Gbenga auditioned for the role of Chris Partlow
on the HBO series, The Wire
and starting in 2004 began a frequent recurring role. In 2008 during the show's fifth and final season, he was promoted to a series regular.
In 2007, Gbenga appeared in the film The Savages
with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney
, and Philip Bosco
. He appeared in the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
, which was released by Sony in June 2009. Gbenga made a guest appearance on a Season 10
Law and Order: SVU episode entitled "Hell" as Elijah Okello, a former Ugandan child soldier living in New York, facing deportation. Gbenga's former The Wire cast mate Robert Wisdom
also appeared in that episode as Father Theo Burdett. In 2010 in Seattle, WA Gbenga starred in world premiere play The Thin Place at The Intiman Theatre. He was also in this fall's movie Lottery Ticket
and is currently in The Good Wife as Pastor Isiah Easton. His former co-star from the The Wire, Frankie Faison
, portrayed his father on the show in several episodes. He is currently starring as Kelly Slater, a new nurse in the 3rd Season of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie
.
to climb the Himalayas
, and the other outlining the medical procedures he underwent to correct his severely flat feet
.
Chris Partlow
Chris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other...
on the HBO original series The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
.
Early life
Born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n parents and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Akinnagbe was in and out of trouble as a youth. He is the second oldest of six children one of whom is Micahel Murphy, one older sister and four younger brothers. He is the first in his family to be born in the U.S. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School
Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School
Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School is a secondary public school located in Rockville , Maryland.Magruder is named for Colonel Zadok Magruder, a Revolutionary War patriot and farmer. He was colonel in command of part of the Maryland militia and helped establish Montgomery County's government in...
in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. Akinnagbe attended Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
on a wrestling scholarship, majoring in Political Science and English. He is the cousin of DC rapper Wale
Wale (rapper)
Wale Victor Folarin , better known by his stage name Wale , is an American rapper from Washington, D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian parents. He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug " became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording music for the...
.
Acting
He also played "Yinka" on Barbershop: The SeriesBarbershop: The Series
Barbershop: The Series is an American sitcom which made its debut on the Showtime cable network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business , and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley...
and "Ben Ellis" in the episode Contenders on the TV Series Numb3rs
NUMB3RS
Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes...
. In the summer of 2006, Gbenga performed the role of "Zim" in the NYC Fringe Festival's "Outstanding Play" award-winning production of "Modern Missionary". In 2003, Gbenga auditioned for the role of Chris Partlow
Chris Partlow
Chris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other...
on the HBO series, The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
and starting in 2004 began a frequent recurring role. In 2008 during the show's fifth and final season, he was promoted to a series regular.
In 2007, Gbenga appeared in the film The Savages
The Savages (film)
The Savages is a 2007 American comedy-drama film, written and directed by Tamara Jenkins. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.-Plot:...
with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney
Laura Linney
Laura Leggett Linney is an American actress of film, television, and theatre. Linney has won three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has been nominated for three times for an Academy Award and once for a BAFTA Award...
, and Philip Bosco
Philip Bosco
-Personal life:Bosco was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of Margaret Raymond , a policewoman, and Philip Lupo Bosco, a carnival worker. Bosco went to high school at St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City. He attended the Catholic University of Washington, D.C. Bosco married Nancy...
. He appeared in the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009 film)
The Taking of Pelham 123 is a 2009 thriller film, directed by Tony Scott, and starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. It is a film adaptation of the novel by Morton Freedgood , and is a remake of the original 1974 film adaptation, which was also remade in 1998 as a TV movie...
, which was released by Sony in June 2009. Gbenga made a guest appearance on a Season 10
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 10)
This article contains a list of episodes for season 10 of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.-Cast:*Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler*Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson*Richard Belzer as Sgt. John Munch...
Law and Order: SVU episode entitled "Hell" as Elijah Okello, a former Ugandan child soldier living in New York, facing deportation. Gbenga's former The Wire cast mate Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom is an American actor. He is a graduate of Columbia University.-Biography:Wisdom was born in Washington, D.C. to Jamaican parents. He appeared in four of the five seasons of HBO program The Wire as Howard "Bunny" Colvin...
also appeared in that episode as Father Theo Burdett. In 2010 in Seattle, WA Gbenga starred in world premiere play The Thin Place at The Intiman Theatre. He was also in this fall's movie Lottery Ticket
Lottery Ticket (film)
For the common Lottery, see Lottery. For other uses, see Lottery .Lottery Ticket is a comedy film starring Bow Wow, Brandon T...
and is currently in The Good Wife as Pastor Isiah Easton. His former co-star from the The Wire, Frankie Faison
Frankie Faison
Frankie Russel Faison , often credited as Frankie R. Faison, is an American actor.-Personal life:Faison was born in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Carmena and Edgar Faison. He studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity...
, portrayed his father on the show in several episodes. He is currently starring as Kelly Slater, a new nurse in the 3rd Season of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie
Nurse Jackie
Nurse Jackie is an American series that premiered on June 8, 2009, on Showtime, Movie Central and The Movie Network.The series stars Edie Falco as the title character Jackie Peyton, an emergency room nurse at All Saints' Hospital in New York City...
.
Writing
As of 2009, Gbenga has begun a writing career, having had two articles published in the New York Times, one detailing a trip to NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
to climb the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, and the other outlining the medical procedures he underwent to correct his severely flat feet
Flat feet
Flat feet is a formal reference to a medical condition in which the arch of the foot collapses, with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground...
.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | They're Made Out of Meat They're Made Out of Meat "They're Made Out of Meat" is a Nebula Award-nominated short story by Terry Bisson. It was originally published in OMNI. It consists entirely of dialogue between two characters, and Bisson's website hosts a theatrical adaptation... |
Merlin | Short film |
| 2007 | Man-Up | Q | Short video |
| The Savages The Savages (film) The Savages is a 2007 American comedy-drama film, written and directed by Tamara Jenkins. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Jimmy | ||
| 2009 | The Taking of Pelham 123 | Wallace | Remake of the 1974 film of the same name |
| 2010 | Edge of Darkness | Darcy Jones | Based on the 1985 BBC television series of the same name Edge of Darkness Edge of Darkness is a British television drama serial, produced by BBC Television in association with Lionheart Television International and originally broadcast in six fifty-five minute episodes in late 1985... |
| Overnight | TMJ | ||
| Lottery Ticket Lottery Ticket (film) For the common Lottery, see Lottery. For other uses, see Lottery .Lottery Ticket is a comedy film starring Bow Wow, Brandon T... |
Lorenzo | ||
| 2011 | Clap (One Day) | Police Officer | Lead actor in a 9 minute music video by Pharoahe Monch |
Television
| Year | Television | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Barbershop | Yinka | 10 episodes |
| 2006 | Conviction | Calvin/Gary Wade | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Numb3rs NUMB3RS Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes... |
Ben Ellis | Episode: "Contendors" |
| 2008 | The Wire The WIRE the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma... |
Chris Partlow Chris Partlow Chris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other... /Officer in courtroom |
30 episodes |
| Cold Case | Victor Nash '05/'08 | Episode: "Street Money" | |
| 2009 | Maggie Hill | Elliot Springer | TV movie |
| Fringe Fringe (TV series) Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security... |
Akim | Episode: "The No-Brainer The No-Brainer "The No-Brainer" is the 12th episode of the first season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode was written by David H... " |
|
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced... |
Elijah Okello | Episode: "Hell" | |
| Dark Blue Dark Blue (TV series) Dark Blue was an action/drama television series which premiered on TNT on July 15, 2009, at 10 pm . It ended its run on September 15, 2010. The series is set in Los Angeles, California. It revolves around Carter Shaw , the leader of an undercover unit... |
Dante Rollings | Episode: "August" | |
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Pastor Isaiah Easton | |
| 2011 | Blue Bloods Blue Bloods (TV series) Blue Bloods is an American police procedural/drama series on CBS, filmed on location in New York City. The show premiered on September 24, 2010, with episodes airing on Fridays at 10:00 pm Eastern and Pacific/9:00 PM Central and Mountain.... |
Pierre | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 2011 | Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie is an American series that premiered on June 8, 2009, on Showtime, Movie Central and The Movie Network.The series stars Edie Falco as the title character Jackie Peyton, an emergency room nurse at All Saints' Hospital in New York City... |
Kelly |
External links
- Gbenga Akinnagbe interview on HoboTrashcan.com
- Gbenga Akinnagbe interview on thaformula.com
- Gbenga bio from HBO's The Wire Website
- Insomniac Magazine Interview by Dirty Angel November 17, 2006, Retrieved February 26, 2007
- Gbenga Akinnagbe NY Times article 9/27/2009 "In Nepal, a Long, Cold Climb to Inspiration"
- Gbenga Akinnagbe NY Times article 5/3/2010 "My Left Foot: The High Cost of Fallen Arches"