Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (/ˌædɨˈwÉ'Ëleɪ ˌækɨˈnuË.eɪ É'ËɡˈbÉ'ËdÊ'eɪ/; born 22 August 1967) is a British Nigerian actor and former fashion model, best known for his roles as Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Mr. Eko on Lost and Simon Adebisi on Oz. His upcoming roles include Malko in the fifth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones.
Early life and career
Akinnuoye-Agbaje was born in Islington, London. His parents are Nigerian, of Yoruba origin. He has a law degree from King's College London and a Masters in Law from the University of London. He is fluent in several languages including Yoruba, Italian, and Swahili. He can "get along" in a few other languages, including French.
His best known acting roles have been as the imposing convict Simon Adebisi in the 1990s HBO prison series Oz, and as Mr. Eko on ABC's survivor drama Lost>. He was also in an episode of New York Undercover. He has numerous film credits since he began acting in 1994 and has appeared in many top films, including The Bourne Identity, in which he played a deposed African dictator, Hitu the police officer in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, and Heavy Duty in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
In 2009, Akinnuoye-Agbaje was in talks with Marvel Studios to play the superhero Black Panther in a proposed film of the same name. In an interview, he stated his excitement about the possibility, saying that "the timing is so right" for a black superhero, and "while I’m in my prime, this is the time... I’m going to keep knocking on their door." In 2014 Marvel did announce a Black Panther film, though with Chadwick Boseman in the title role.
Akinnuoye-Agbaje has also stated that he will be directing a film about his life story. More recently, he guest starred in the second episode of season 8 of Monk, and played Derek Jameson in the 2011 film The Thing. He portrayed Kurse in the Marvel Studios film Thor: The Dark World. He will portray Joseph Cinqué in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, and Malko in the fifth season of Game of Thrones.
Personal life
Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the SÅka Gakkai International Buddhist association.
Akinnuoye-Agbaje asked to be written off Lost, citing a desire to return to London after his parents' recent passing and to direct a film there.
Filmography
Film
Television
Music videos
- "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" â€" Dawn Penn (1994)
- "Love No Limit" â€" Mary J. Blige (1993)
- "I Want It All Night Long" â€" Heather Hunter (1993)
- "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" â€" En Vogue (1992)
- "Jealousy" â€" Pet Shop Boys (1991)
- "Talk It Over" â€" Grayson Hugh (1989)
References
External links
Media related to Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje at Wikimedia Commons
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje at the Internet Movie Database
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje on Twitter
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje interview on the Tavis Smiley show