Actors Journal – Dorian Harewood

Harewood portrayed Simon Haley (father of author Alex Haley) in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. He is known for his roles in Full Metal Jacket, for starring as Jesse Owens in The Jesse Owens Story, and for his co-starring role in the ABC Television series Strike Force (starring Robert Stack). In 1994, he was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie, for his recurring role as jazz/blues saxophonist Clarence “Cool Papa” Charleston on the NBC drama series I’ll Fly Away. He also played Dr. Julian Wilkes in the NBC (later syndicated) TV series Viper. On Broadway, Harewood performed in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Streamers, and The Mighty Gents.