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Daniel Sunjata is an American actor who plays the legendary FBI Agent Paul Briggs, on Graceland.


Biography[]

Sunjata is best known for his portrayal of firefighter Franco Rivera in the critically acclaimed series “Rescue Me,” opposite Denis Leary, for seven seasons. In 2006, Sunjata portrayed fashion designer James Holt in the feature-film adaptation of the best-selling novel “The Devil Wears Prada,” starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, and in the romantic comedy “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” alongside Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey.

In addition, Sunjata’s other film credits include “Bad Company,” which starred Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock; the 2004 Woody Allen film “Melinda Melinda,” opposite Will Ferrell; and “Noel,” starring Penélope Cruz and Susan Sarandon. Sunjata garnered rave reviews for his portrayal of Langston Hughes in the 2004 Rodney Evans film “Brother to Brother” as well as for his performance as legendary baseball player Reggie Jackson in the TV series “The Bronx Is Burning.”

Sunjata’s other television credits include notable appearances on “Love Monkey,” “Law & Order,” NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” “Sex and the City,” the film “The Feast of All Saints,” and a starring role alongside Andie MacDowell in “At Risk” and “The Front”—two movies adapted from the novels of America's #1 best-selling crime writer Patricia Cornwell.

Sunjata’s repertoire is not only limited to film and television though. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Darren Lemming in “Take Me Out,” the 2003 Tony Award-winning play by Richard Greenberg. He has also appeared in “Henry VIII” at the New York Shakespeare Festival, “Twelfth Night” at the Guthrie Theater and “Cyrano de Bergerac,” opposite Kevin Kline at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Sunjata has also starred opposite Katherine Heigl in “One for the Money,” in the independent drama “Gone” (opposite Amanda Seyfried), and in the massive blockbuster hit “The Dark Knight Rises,” opposite Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway.

Born in Evanston, Ill., Sunjata was raised in Chicago and graduated from Mount Carmel High School. He did his undergraduate studies at Florida A&M University and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and received his Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University.

Sunjata currently resides in Los Angeles.

Career[]

Theatre[]

Dates Title Role Venue Notes
Apr 25 - Jun 2018 Saint Joan Dunois, Bastard of Orleans Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Original Broadway Revival
Oct 2 - Nov 23, 2014 The Country House Michael Astor Samuel J. Friedman Theatre Original Broadway Production
Nov 21, 2013 - Jan 12, 2014 Macbeth Macduff Vivian Beaumont Theatre Original Broadway Production
Nov 1, 2007 - Jan 6, 2008 Cyrano de Bergerac Christian De Neuvillette Richard Rodgers Theatre Original Broadway Revival
Feb 27, 2003 - Jan 4, 2004 Take Me Out Darren Lemming Walter Kerr Theatre Original Broadway Transfer
Jul 16 - Aug 30, 1998 Twelfth Night Valentine, u/s Orsino Vivian Beaumon Theatre Original Broadway Revival
u/s Orsino

Television[]

Year Title Role Episodes Notes
2024 Wake Up With Dr. Phil Karadec
2023 The Company You Keep Robert Renway "All In"
2022 Echoes Charlie Davenport 7 Episodes
2021-22 Power Book II: Ghost Mecca 10 Episodes
2021 Christmas Again Mike Clybourne TV Movie
2020 The Stand Cobb "The End"
2020 The Twilight Zone Detective Peter Reece "The Who of You"
2020 #Freerayshawn SWAT Commander Nick Alvarez 15 Episodes
2020 Prodigal Son Quentin Vosler "Internal Affairs"
2018-20 Manifest Danny 5 Episodes
2019 Happy! Simon 3 Episodes
2017 Animal Kingdom Smurf's Criminal Lawyer "Betrayal"
2016 Notorious Jake Gregorian 10 Episodes
2013-15 Graceland Paul Briggs 38 Episodes
2014 Graceland Insider Paul Briggs 2 Episodes
2013 Smash Peter Gilman 4 Episodes
2010-11 Grey's Anatomy Eli Lloyd 8 Episodes
2004-11 Rescue Me Franco Rivera 93 Episodes
2010 30 Rock Chris "College"
2010 The Front Win Garano TV Movie
2010 At Risk Win Garano TV Movie
2009 Lie to Me Andrew Jenkins "Blinded"
2008 Great Performances Christian de Neuvillette "Cyrano de Bergerac"
2008 Rescue Me Minisodes Franco Rivera
2007 The Bronx is Burning Reggie Jackson 8 Episodes
2006 Love Monkey Diego 4 Episodes
2005 Law & Order Kenny Tremont "Mammon"
2002-04 Law & Order: SVU CSU Technician Burt Trevor 15 Episodes
2000 Bomb Squad Officer "Remorse"
2003 Ed Danny Martin "The Case"
2002 Sex and the City Louis Leroy "Anchors Away"
2001 The Feast of All Saints Christophe Mercier TV Movie
2001 All My Children Zachary Pell
2000 D.C. Lewis Freeman 7 Episodes
1998 Twelfth Night, or What You Will Valentine TV Movie

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Small Town Crime Detective Whitman
2014 Lullaby Officer Ramirez
2012 The Dark Knight Rises Captain Jones
2012 Generation Um... Charles
2012 Gone Powers
2012 One For the Money Ranger
2010 Weakness Alejandro
2009 Ghosts of Girlfriends Past Brad
2006 The Devil Wears Prada James Holt
2004 Melinda and Melinda Billy Wheeler
2004 Noel Marco
2004 Brother to Brother Langston
2002 Bad Company Officer Carew

Podcasts/Audiobooks[]

Year Title Role Notes
2022 Marvel's Wastelanders: Wolverine Cyclops Podcast, 10 Episodes
2022 The Crew Has It Podcast Series

Discography[]

Year Album Label Notes

Awards[]

Year Award Category Work Result
2008 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special The Bronx is Burning Nominee
2005 Satellite Award Best Cast - Television Series Rescue Me Winner
2003 Theatre World Award Take Me Out
Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Nominee
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play Nominee

Graceland Episodes[]

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3

Trivia[]

External Links[]

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