harold perrineau

Harold Perrineau stars as Detective Leo Banks on the ABC's "The Unusuals."

Harold Perrineau has given color and life to an array of characters in film, television and on stage. Recently seen as Michael Dawson in ABC's hit series "Lost," Harold Perrineau is also renowned for his role as wheelchair-bound Augustus Hill on the HBO hit series "Oz," and has guest starred on numerous hit television shows, including NBC's "ER," Showtime's "Dead Like Me," CBS's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Law & Order" and "The Cosby Show."

Harold Perrineau film career is one that has crossed many genres, including Shakespeare, thriller, sci-fi and romantic comedies. Recently Harold Perrineau signed on to both executive-produce and star in the independent film "Case 219," based on Walter Dean Myers' novel, Shooter. In addition Harold Perrineau completed filming of "The Killing Jar," which he also executive-produced and starred in. Other film credits for Harold Perrineau include "28 Weeks Later," "The Matrix Reloaded," "The Matrix Revolutions," "Woman on Top," opposite Penelope Cruz, "Felon," with Val Kilmer, and Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. For his role in "The Best Man," opposite Terrence Howard and Taye Diggs, Harold Perrineau received an Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Additionally, Harold Perrineau received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Rashid Cole in Wayne Wang's critically acclaimed feature, "Smoke," with Harvey Keitel and William Hurt.  Harold Perrineau will next be seen in the upcoming "Ball Don't Lie," based on the Matt De La Pena novel, "Your Name Here," with Bill Pullman, and "Gardens of the Night," opposite John Malkovich.

No stranger to the theatre, Harold Perrineau most recently starred in the Los Angeles run of the Suzan Lori Parks' 2001 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Topdog/Underdog," for which he won an NAACP Image Award. Harold Perrineau has also starred in many other theatrical productions in the U.S. and abroad, including "The Exonerated," "The Love of Bullets," "A Soldier's Story" and "Fame High School." Harold Perrineau also acted in "Dreamgirls," the critically acclaimed "Avenue X," the Off-Broadway revival of "Godspell" and "The Love of Bullets" at the Public Theater. Harold Perrineau garnered critical acclaim in Joe Penhall's "Blue/Orange," where he starred as a young man who received the diagnosis of a borderline personality disorder.

Last year Harold Perrineau shared his musical side with the public. Moved by the sacrifices made by the U.S. servicemen and women around the world, Harold Perrineau co-wrote the song "Stay Strong," which is produced by Neff-U (Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Britney Spears) and dedicated to the troops, with a portion of the song's proceeds going to the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Harold Perrineau studied music and theatre at the Shenandoah Conservatory. Harold Perrineau also studied on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey Company.

Harold Perrineau presently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Brittany, and their daughters, Aurora and Wynter.