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Hisham Tawfiq

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Hisham Tawfiq
Tawfiq in 2023
Born (1970-05-17) May 17, 1970 (age 54)
OccupationActor
Years active2002-present
TelevisionThe Blacklist
SpouseSpirit Tawfiq

Hisham Tawfiq (born May 17, 1970) is an American actor, best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond "Red" Reddington in NBC's The Blacklist.

Early life

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Born in New York City, Tawfiq discovered his love of the arts while performing the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou in high school. Tawfiq studied at the Negro Ensemble Company, known for educating actors such as Denzel Washington and Ossie Davis. He also studied with coach Susan Batson.

Prior to pursuing a full acting career, Tawfiq served in the U.S. Marines, deployed during Operation Desert Storm.[1] From 1994 to 1996, Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York.[2] While pursuing his acting career, Tawfiq also served as a firefighter for 20 years with the New York City Fire Department.[3]

Career

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Tawfiq performed with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Intimate Apparel and played Walter Lee Younger in a production of A Raisin in the Sun, which Tawfiq has said to be his dream role.[4]

Tawfiq starred in the BET film Gun Hill as Capt. Sanford, commander of a counter-crime task force. On television, Tawfiq has appeared in Lights Out, Law & Order spin-offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, Kings, Golden Boy, 30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake of Ironside.

Tawfiq played Dembe in NBC's The Blacklist. Starting with season 3, he was promoted to series regular.

Filmography

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Film
Year Film Role Notes
2009 Notorious Fatigue Guy
2010 Say Grace Before Drowning Chris
2010 Counterfeit Malik
2010 Contact Zone Prince
2010 Five Minarets in New York High Rolla
2011 Crazy Beats Strong Every Time Kofi
2013 Dead Man Down Jamaican Mike
2014 Gun Hill Capt. Sanford
2017 Dope Fiend Prince
2018 Skate Kitchen Lawrence
2018 Jinn Imam Khalid
2020 To Live and Die in Bed-Stuy Big Ed
2021 Maya and Her Lover Father
Television
Year Series Role Notes
2007–2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Firefighter #1/FDNY Vestry/Jules 3 episodes
2009 Kings Serviceman Walter 5 episodes
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Scaryman Episode: "Lost Children of the Blood" (S9 Ep11)
2011 Lights Out Jo Jo Reade
2012 30 Rock African Dictator 2 episodes
2013 Golden Boy Father Steven Truitt
2013 Ironside Cop 1 episode
2013–2023 The Blacklist Dembe Zuma Recurring Role (Seasons 1–2)
Main Cast (Seasons 3–10)
2021 Harlem Dr. Obinna Tseggai Episode: "Once Upon a Time in Harlem"
2024 The Equalizer (2021 TV series) Sameer Bentang 1 episode
Theater
Year Piece Role Notes
A Raisin in the Sun Walter Lee Younger
Intimate Apparel George Armstrong
A Soldiers Play Henson
Offspring Kyle
Bow Wow Club Sal
Shaka Zulu Shaka

References

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  1. ^ "'The Blacklist' star Hisham Tawfiq has gone from the Marines and the FDNY to full-time acting". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. ^ "New Yorkers dreaming of stardom pick up extra jobs while working towards fame". Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Blacklist actor Hisham Tawfiq is retiring from the FDNY after 20 years on the squad". Entertainment Weekly. July 17, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  4. ^ Hill, Jack W. (20 January 2011). "THEATER: Rep's Raisin in the Sun stars Little Rock native". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
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