Skip to content
David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo

Acting·1976·63 films

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo (/oʊˈjɛloʊwoʊ/ oh-YEL-oh-woh; Yoruba pronunciation; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award, two NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award. In 2016, he was appointed as an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama.

As Actor

Interstellar
Interstellar (2014)School Principal
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)Steven Jacobs
The Help
The Help (2011)Preacher Green
Jack Reacher
Jack Reacher (2012)Det. Emerson
Lincoln
Lincoln (2012)Corporal Ira Clark
The Cloverfield Paradox
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)Kiel
The Butler
The Butler (2013)Louis Gaines
Chaos Walking
Chaos Walking (2021)Aaron
The Last King of Scotland
The Last King of Scotland (2006)Dr. Thomas Junju
Selma
Selma (2014)Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Midnight Sky
The Midnight Sky (2020)Adewole
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)The It (voice)
A Most Violent Year
A Most Violent Year (2014)D.A. Lawrence
See How They Run
See How They Run (2022)Mervyn Cocker-Norris
Derailed
Derailed (2005)Patrol Officer
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)Nigel Basil-Jones
The Paperboy
The Paperboy (2012)Yardley Acheman
Gringo
Gringo (2018)Harold Soyinka
Red Tails
Red Tails (2012)Joe 'Lightning' Little
Role Play
Role Play (2023)Dave
A United Kingdom
A United Kingdom (2016)Seretse Khama
Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe (2016)Robert Katende
Don't Let Go
Don't Let Go (2019)Detective Jack Radcliff
A Sound of Thunder
A Sound of Thunder (2005)Marcus Payne
Come Away
Come Away (2020)Jack Littleton
Captive
Captive (2015)Brian Nichols
The Water Man
The Water Man (2020)Amos Boone
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014)Agent Kallus (voice)
The Book of Clarence
The Book of Clarence (2024)John the Baptist
As You Like It
As You Like It (2006)Orlando De Boys
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015)Agent Kallus (voice)
96 Minutes
96 Minutes (2011)Duane
Nina
Nina (2016)Clifton Henderson
The After
The After (2024)Dayo
The Best Man
The Best Man (2005)Graham
Nightingale
Nightingale (2014)Peter Snowden
Five Nights in Maine
Five Nights in Maine (2016)Sherwin
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)Joseph Asagai
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (2012)Brian
Rage
Rage (2009)Homer
Born Equal
Born Equal (2006)Yemi
Complicit
Complicit (2013)Edward Ekubo
Sweet Nothing in My Ear
Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008)Leonard Grisham
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
The Tiger Who Came to Tea (2022)The Tiger (voice)
Default
Default (2014)Atlas
Shoot the Messenger
Shoot the Messenger (2006)Joseph Pascale
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar (2017)Scar (voice)
Dog Eat Dog
Dog Eat Dog (2001)CJ
Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around
Jack Reacher: When the Man Comes Around (2013)Self
Rahab
Rahab (2012)Cen
Family Feud
Family Feud (2018)2148 Descendant
9 Kisses
9 Kisses (2014)Customer
Who Do You Love
Who Do You Love (2008)Muddy Waters
The Bastard King
The Bastard King (2022)The Bastard King
Becoming King
Becoming King (2024)Self
Tomorrow La Scala!
Tomorrow La Scala! (2002)Charlie
Newborn
Newborn (2026)Chris Newborn
August 28: A Day in the Life of a People
August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (2017)
Clarissa
Clarissa (2026)Peter
Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire
Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire (2022)Narrator
National Theatre Live: Coriolanus
National Theatre Live: Coriolanus (2025)Coriolanus
Brave Girl Rising
Brave Girl Rising (2019)Narrator

As Director