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 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |