Bio
Dennis Haysbert is an American actor best known for his starring television roles as President David Palmer on 24 (2001-2006), and as Sergeant Major Jonas Blaine in The Unit, from 2006-2009.
He also appeared in the action comedy series Now And Again, which was cancelled after its first season.
Haysbert also starred in the feature film Goodbye Bafana, in which he plays the role of Nelson Mandela. He also appeared in the film Breach opposite Ryan Phillippe, Chris Cooper and Laura Linney.
His other feature film credits include Far From Heaven, Love & Basketball, Absolute Power, Love Field, Major League, Heat, Random Hearts, What's Cooking, Waiting to Exhale, The Thirteenth Floor, Navy Seals, Suture and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, as the voice of Kale.
Haysbert's acting career began when he won his first television role on the Emmy Award-winning episode of Lou Grant, in which Jesse Jackson guest starred.
He has had recurring roles in the following television series:
Quincy M.E.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Code Red
Off The Rack
Growing Pains
Crime Story
Just The Ten Of Us
Soul Food
Static Shock
Justice League (voice)
In 2004 he hosted and narrated the Discovery Channel special Secrets of Pearl Harbour.
Haysbert has also had guest roles in the following television series:
The White Shadow
Laverne and Shirley
The Incredible Hulk
Galactica 1980
The A-Team
Dallas
Riptide
Magnum P.I.
What's Happening Now!
The Fall Guy
227
Scarecrow and Mrs King
Knots Landing
Valerie
Our House
Facts Of Life
Night Court
American Playhouse
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man
The New Batman Adventures
Superman
The Outer Limits
He has had roles in the following made-for-tv movies:
Code Red (1981)
Grambling's White Tiger (1981)
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. (1984)
A Summer to Remember (1985)
K-9000 (1991)
The Writing on the Wall (1996)
Secrets of Pearl Harbor (2004)
Filmography
He has had roles in the following feature films:
Major League (1989)
Navy Seals (1990)
Mr. Baseball (1992)
Love Field (1992)
Suture (1993)
Major League II (1994)
Heat (1995)
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Insomnia (1996)
Widow's Kiss (1996)
Amanda (1996)
Absolute Power (1997)
Standoff (1998)
How to Make the Cruelest Month (1998)
Major League: Back to the Minors (1998)
The Minus Man (1999)
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
Random Hearts (1999)
What's Cooking? (2000)
Love & Basketball (2000)
Far from Heaven (2002)
Ticker (2002) (uncredited)
Jarhead (2005)
Goodbye Bafana (2007)
Breach (2007)
Haysbert has lent his voice to the following video games:
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (2004)
Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)
24 - The Game (2006)
Personal
He is very active in the fight against AIDS and in 2000 he was the spokesperson for the Harlem Health Expo Break the Silence and is the spokesperson for the National Leadership Commission on AIDS, as well as The Western Center on Law and Poverty.
Off the set, Haysbert enjoys golfing and scuba diving and is an avid environmentalist.
He was born and raised in Northern California and currently resides in Los Angeles.