David Oyelowo

ActorProducerDirectorCrew Apr 1 (age 49) Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK 1988–2026 (38 year career)

5.9 avg rating

Biography

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 Kin…

Known For

Film

Interstellar

School Principal

Film

The Help

Preacher Green

Film

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Steven Jacobs

Film

Jack Reacher

Det. Emerson

Film

The Butler

Louis Gaines

Film

The Last King of Scotland

Dr. Thomas Junju

Film

Lincoln

Corporal Ira Clark

Film

Selma

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Filmography

Acting (114)

Movies (66)

Newborn

2026 Upcoming

as Chris Newborn

Apr 10

National Theatre Live: Coriolanus

2025

as Coriolanus

The Book of Clarence

as John the Baptist

The After

as Dayo

Becoming King

as Self

Role Play

as Dave

See How They Run

as Mervyn Cocker-Norris

6.4

Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire

2022

as Narrator

5.0

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

as The Tiger (voice)

The Bastard King

as The Bastard King

Chaos Walking

as Aaron

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

as Nigel Basil-Jones

The Midnight Sky

as Adewole

Come Away

as Jack Littleton

The Water Man

as Amos Boone

Don't Let Go

as Detective Jack Radcliff

6.9

Brave Girl Rising

2019

as Narrator

The Cloverfield Paradox

as Kiel

A Wrinkle in Time

as The It (voice)

Gringo

as Harold Soyinka

Family Feud

as 2148 Descendant

August 28: A Day in the Life of a People

2017

1.0

The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar

as Scar (voice)

Five Nights in Maine

as Sherwin

A United Kingdom

as Seretse Khama

Queen of Katwe

as Robert Katende

Nina

as Clifton Henderson

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

2015

as Agent Kallus (voice)

Captive

as Brian Nichols

Interstellar

as School Principal

Selma

as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Most Violent Year

as D.A. Lawrence

Default

as Atlas

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion

2014

as Agent Kallus (voice)

7.3

9 Kisses

2014

as Customer

Nightingale

as Peter Snowden

The Butler

as Louis Gaines

Complicit

as Edward Ekubo

Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around

as Self

Jack Reacher

as Det. Emerson

Lincoln

as Corporal Ira Clark

6.9

Red Tails

2012

as Joe 'Lightning' Little

The Paperboy

as Yardley Acheman

Middle of Nowhere

as Brian

Rahab

as Cen

The Help

as Preacher Green

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

as Steven Jacobs

96 Minutes

as Duane

Rage

as Homer

A Raisin in the Sun

as Joseph Asagai

Who Do You Love

as Muddy Waters

Sweet Nothing in My Ear

2008

as Leonard Grisham

6.3

The Last King of Scotland

as Dr. Thomas Junju

As You Like It

as Orlando De Boys

Born Equal

as Yemi

Shoot the Messenger

as Joseph Pascale

Derailed

as Patrol Officer

A Sound of Thunder

as Marcus Payne

The Best Man

as Graham

Tomorrow La Scala!

as Charlie

Dog Eat Dog

as CJ

Heart of Benin

Clarissa

as Peter

Othello

as Othello

American Blend

Heist of Benin

Television (48)

The American Revolution

2025

as Olaudah Equiano / Sam (voice)

Government Cheese

as Hampton Chambers

After Midnight

as Self

Big Cats, Small World

2024

as Narrator (voice)

Silo

2023

as Sheriff Holston Becker

8.1

Lawmen: Bass Reeves

2023

as Bass Reeves

7.1

Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter

2023

as Self

4.0

The Jennifer Hudson Show

as Self

Sherri

as Self - Guest

Earth's Great Rivers II

2022

as Self - Narrator (voice)

8.0

The Girl Before

2021

as Edward Monkford

6.3

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

2020

as Prince Humperdinck

7.5

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self

Tamron Hall

as Self - Guest

Earth's Great Rivers

as Self - Narrator (voice)

7.8

Les Misérables

2018

as Javert

7.3

The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale

2018

as Self - Special Guest

5.8

Black Hollywood: 'They've Gotta Have Us'

as Self

The Lion Guard

as Scar

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

as Self - Guest

6.2

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

2015

as Self

6.2

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014

as Self

5.9

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014

as Self

5.2

Star Wars Rebels

2014

as Agent Kallus (voice)

7.7

Star Wars Rebels

2014

as Agent Kallus (voice)

7.7

Off Camera with Sam Jones

2014

as Self

4.0

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

as Self

The Frame

as Steven Jacobs

The Arsenio Hall Show

as Self

Conan

as Self

Blood And Oil

as Keme Tobodo

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009

as Self - Guest

5.1

The Good Wife

2009

as Judge Edward Weldon

7.6

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

as Kremlin Busang

Glenn Martin, DDS

Small Island

as Gilbert

The Passion

as Joseph of Arimathea

Five Days

as Matt Wellings

The One Show

as Self

Mayo

as Eddie Barton, 'Sexy' M.P.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

as Self - Guest

Spooks

as Danny Hunter

Maisie Raine

as Sonny McDonald

The View

as Self

As Time Goes By

as Patrick

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

as Self - Guest

Tony Awards

as Self - Presenter

The Oscars

as Self

Crew (27)

Movies (24)

Television (3)

Government Cheese

Executive Producer

Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Executive Producer

Les Misérables

Executive Producer