Harry Lennix is veteran film, television and stage actor who most recently starred in the Golden Globe nominated ABC show "Commander in Chief" as Chief of Staff Jim Gardner.  Other critically acclaimed projects in which he has starred include the Oscar winning film "Ray," "The Matrix: Reloaded" and "The Matrix: Revolutions."  Lennix received a Golden Satellite Award as Aaron in Julie Taymor's "Titus," bringing new life to the toxic literary villain opposite Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange.  He has worked with a myriad of celebrated actors and directors including Spike Lee in "Get On The Bus", Robert Townsend in "The Five Heartbeats", Ben Kingsley in "Suspect Zero, Billy Bob Thornton in "Chrystal" and Anthony Hopkins once again in "The Human Stain,"  directed by Robert Benton.

In addition to his distinguished film career, Lennix made his mark on the small screen with his role as the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in Showtime's "Keep The Faith Baby" for which he won a Black Reel Award and was nominated for both an NAACP Image Award and a Golden Satellite Award.

Numerous other television appearances include recurring roles on "ER" and "Diagnosis Murder."

Lennix has directed and appeared in stage productions across the country, including the Northlight Theater Company's production of Permanent Collection, which recently closed at the Greenway Arts Alliance in Los Angeles under his co-direction, and wasremounted at Los Angeles' Kirk Douglas Theater. He directed the stage version of Townsend's The Five Heartbeats, which received 3 NAACP Theater Award nominations and The Glass Menagerie for the Steppenwolf Theater Company.

As a stage actor, Lennix was the first distinguished recipient of an Ollie Award for his portrayal of Malcolm X at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and two Joseph Jefferson Citations for his roles in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Caught in the Act and starred as King Hedley II at the Mark Taper Forum.  In 2001, he was part of the first American company to be invited to the Royal Shakespeare Company in the production of Cymbeline. He has recently directed his first short film subject "The Easy Winners," produced by David Schwimmer. Currently Mr. Lennix is working on the multiple Emmy winning drama "24" as Islamic diplomat, Walid Al-Rezani.

Lennix has also been extremely active in his native Chicago community where he was an English and music teacher in addition to his theatrical career.

He founded Legacy Productions with renowned director Chuck Smith in 1989.

The company is dedicated to promoting significant works about the African American experience.  He is on the staff of the Goodman Theater Co.  He also is active in various civic groups and is on the Advisory Council for his alma mater, Northwestern University where he delivered the Commencement this past year for the distinguished School of Communications.

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