Gbenga Akinnagbe is a versatile, talented actor, writer, and activist who has appeared in several acclaimed films and TV shows. He is best known for his roles as Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and Larry Brown on the HBO series The Deuce. He has also starred in movies such as The Taking of Pelham 123, Edge of Darkness, The Savages, Knucklehead, and Passing. He has written articles for The New York Times and has produced several independent films. He is also involved in various social causes and campaigns. Here are some more details about his life and career.
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Early Life and Education
Gbenga Akinnagbe was born on December 12, 1978, in Washington, D.C., the son of Yoruba Nigerian parents. He is the first member of his family to be born in the United States. He is the second oldest of six children, with one elder sister and four younger brothers. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland. He wrestled in high school and won a scholarship to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 2000 with a degree in Political Science and English. His cousin is rapper Wale.
Acting Career
Gbenga Akinnagbe started acting in 2002 with a small role in the film Barbershop. He then appeared in several T.V. shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Numb3rs, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, Graceland, and The Following. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Chris Partlow, a ruthless and loyal enforcer for a drug kingpin, on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire from 2004 to 2008. He was promoted to a series regular in the fifth and final season of the show. He also had an uncredited background role as a court bailiff in the show’s pilot episode.
In 2007, he appeared in The Savages with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, and Philip Bosco. He played Jimmy, a nursing home aide who befriends the siblings of an older man with dementia. In 2009, he starred in the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 with Denzel Washington, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini. He played Wallace, a subway dispatcher who helps Washington’s character stop a hijacked train. In 2010, he co-starred in the thriller Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone. He played Detective Darcy Jones, a corrupt cop involved in a conspiracy to cover up a murder.
In 2021, he appeared in the film Passing, based on the novel by Nella Larsen. He played Dave, the husband of Irene (Tessa Thompson), a light-skinned African American woman who rekindles her friendship with Clare (Ruth Negga), another light-skinned woman who passes as white. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix for distribution. He also starred in two T.V. shows: Modern Love, an anthology series based on the New York Times column of the same name, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga, a biographical drama about the rap group Wu-Tang Clan. He played Jordan, a single father who dates Anne Hathaway’s character, and Mook, a drug dealer who clashes with RZA’s character.
He has two upcoming projects: The Old Man, a thriller series starring Jeff Bridges as a retired CIA officer, and Starbright, a fantasy film about a young girl who escapes into a magical world.
Writing Career
Gbenga Akinnagbe is also a freelance writer for The New York Times. He has written two articles for the newspaper, one detailing his trip to Nepal to climb the Himalayas and the other outlining the medical procedures he underwent to correct his severely flat feet. He also wrote a short story called The Unknown, adapted into a T.V. series in 2012.
Activism and Philanthropy
Gbenga Akinnagbe is an activist and philanthropist who supports various social causes and campaigns. He founded Liberated People, a clothing brand that raises awareness and funds worldwide for human rights and environmental issues. He is also a board member of Shine On Sierra Leone, a non-profit organization that provides education, health care, and microfinance to communities in Sierra Leone. He has also participated in protests against police brutality, racial injustice, and immigration policies in the United States.
Personal Life
Gbenga Akinnagbe is currently single and lives in Brooklyn, New York. He is fluent in Yoruba, his parents’ native language. He is a soccer fan and supports Arsenal F.C., a team from London, England. He has a tattoo of a lion on his chest, which he got after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Gbenga Akinnagbe Net worth, Income, and Other Details
Gbenga Akinnagbe Net worth of $1 million as of 2021. He earns income from acting, writing, and producing projects and his clothing brand, Liberated People. He has not disclosed his salary or other sources of income. He lives a modest lifestyle and does not flaunt his wealth on social media. He owns a house in Brooklyn, New York, where he resides. He also owns a car, but the model and brand are unknown. He does not have any endorsements or sponsorships as of now. He pays his taxes regularly and does not have any debts or liabilities. He also donates to various charities and causes that he supports.
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