Steve Harris (born December 3, 1965) is an American actor. He has played Eugene Young on the legal drama The Practice,[1] Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman on the NBC drama Awake, and Charles McCarter in Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Steve Harris
Born (1965-12-03) December 3, 1965 (age 58)
OccupationActor
Years active1985–present
RelativesWood Harris (brother)

Early life

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Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of John Henry Harris, a bus driver and Mattie Harris, a housewife. He is the older brother of actor Wood Harris.[2] He attended St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a private school with a reputation for developing star athletes. Harris was a running back, and later played linebacker for Northern Illinois University, where he studied drama.[3] His athletic career was cut short due to a torn ligament in his ankle.[citation needed] After graduating from Northern Illinois University in 1989, Harris obtained a master's degree in acting at the University of Delaware.[1][2]

Career

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Harris appeared on Law & Order and earlier had a role in Homicide: Life on the Street's pilot.[1][2] In 2006, he appeared in the now-cancelled TV series Heist.[4][5] He also appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. He appeared in several episodes of New York Undercover.[1] He has appeared in a number of films including; Quarantine, Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Bringing Down the House,[citation needed] The Rock,[1] The Mod Squad,[2] Takers, and Minority Report.

Harris starred in actress Regina King's directorial debut Let The Church Say Amen which was adapted from ReShonda Tate Billingsley's 2005 best selling novel. The film premiered on Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 2013. He appeared in the TNT show Legends, which aired on TNT from August 13, 2014 to December 28, 2015, playing Nelson Gates, the boss of troubled FBI agent Martin Odum (Sean Bean).

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Don't Mess With My Sister Radio Announcer
1988 Seven Hours to Judgment Reardon's Van Driver
1993 Sugar Hill Ricky Goggles
The Good Policeman Big Blue TV movie
1994 Against the Wall Cecil TV movie
1996 The Rock Private McCoy
1997 George Wallace Neal TV movie
Lesser Prophets Brick Thrower
1998 Nightmare Street Detective Miller TV movie
Lovers and Liars FBI Agent
1999 The Mod Squad Briggs
2000 King of the World Sonny Liston TV movie
The Skulls Detective Sparrow
2001 Beyond the City Limits Troy
2002 Minority Report Jad
2003 Bringing Down the House Widow
2004 Death and Texas Bobby 'Barefoot Bobby' Briggs
2005 Diary of a Mad Black Woman Charles McCarter
The Unseen Roy
2006 Silas Hunt: A Documentary Narrator
2007 Protect and Serve Dennis Harvey TV movie
2008 Ball Don't Lie Rob
Quarantine Scott Percival
Good Behavior Will Stone TV movie
2009 12 Rounds FBI Agent George Aiken
2010 Takers Lieutenant Carver
2013 Let the Church Say Amen Simon Jackson TV movie
2014 The Gable 5 Lt. Wade Short
In Your Eyes Giddons
2015 Chi-Raq Ole Duke
2017 Burning Sands Dean Richardson
Type A Carson TV movie
2018 The First Purge Freddy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Homicide: Life on the Street Bernard Episode: "Gone for Goode"
1994 Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III Magic Magee Recurring Cast
New York Undercover Bulldog Episode: "The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer"
Law & Order Joey 'Dogs' Lang Episode: "Wager"
1995 Murder One Daryl Jackson Episode: "Chapter Two"
New York Undercover Terry Ellers Episode: "Private Enemy No. 1" & "The Finals"
Dark Eyes Jay Staples Episode: "Pilot"
Law & Order Calvin Tiller Episode: "Act of God"
1997 Chicago Hope A.S.A. Charles Lamb Episode: "Lamb to the Slaughter"
1997-2004 The Practice Eugene Young Main Cast
1998 Ally McBeal Eugene Young Episode: "The Inmates"
1999 Jeopardy! Himself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "1999-A Celebrity Jeopardy! Game 4"
2000 The List Himself Episode: "Best TV Theme Songs"
The Wild Thornberrys Makai (voice) Episode: "Critics Masai"
2002 Intimate Portrait Himself Episode: "LisaGay Hamilton"
2004 World Poker Tour Himself Episode: "Hollywood Home Game I"
2004-06 The Batman Detective Ethan Bennett/Clayface (voice) Recurring Cast: Season 1-4
2005 Higglytown Heroes Sports Coach Hero (voice) Episode: "Havin' a Ball"
2006 Heist James Johnson Main Cast
Grey's Anatomy Omar Troussant Episode: "Time Has Come Today"
2008 Eli Stone Jayson Turk Recurring Cast: Season 1
2009-10 Friday Night Lights Virgil Merriweather Recurring Cast: Season 4
2011 Harry's Law Jeffrey Rollins Episode: "Innocent Man"
Eden Max Hunt Episode: "Pilot"
2012 Awake Detective Isaiah 'Bird' Freeman Main Cast
2014 Justified Roscoe Recurring Cast: Season 5
Legends Nelson Gates Main Cast: Season 1
2015 NCIS Gerald Tanner Episode: Cadence
2017 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Captain Jackson #2 Episode: Jane D'oh!
2018 Santa Clarita Diet Bill Ramirez Episode: Hailbut!
The Crossing Beaumont Recurring Cast
2019 The Twilight Zone Neil Harrison Episode: "Replay"
Tales McBride Episode: "Slippery"
2020 Chicago PD Brian Rochester Episode: "Before The Fall"
Filthy Rich Franklin Lee Main Cast
2021 Law & Order: Organized Crime Ellsworth Lee Recurring Cast: Season 1
2021- Black Mafia Family Detective Bryant Main Cast
2022 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Dr. Thomas Day Recurring Cast

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Givhan, Robin (September 26, 1999). "HARRIS CHALLENGES STEREOTYPES ON THE PRACTICE". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Putting Honor Into 'Practice'". Washington Post. September 5, 1999. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Emmy-nominated NIU alum Matt Walsh part of a line of accomplished actors". Daily Chronicle. September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (March 22, 2006). "Dougray Scott and Orlando Jones Are Stars in 2 New Crime Series". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Wilkes, Neil (April 11, 2006). "NBC pulls plug on 'Heist'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on April 12, 2006.
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