David Ajala (born 21 May 1986[1]) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Manchester Black in Supergirl (2018–2019), Captain Roy Eris in Nightflyers (2018), and Cleveland "Book" Booker in Star Trek: Discovery (2020–2024).[2]
David Ajala | |
|---|---|
 David Ajala at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 | |
| Born | 21 May 1986 Hackney, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Terri Martin |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editDavid Ajala was born in Hackney, London.[3] He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin.[4] He trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls".[3]
Career
editOn stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet,[5] and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.[6]
In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood[3] and Brotherhood;[7] he has also appeared in The Dark Knight[5] and in major roles in Starred Up[3] and the 2016 Seekers.[7] On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who[5] and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.[8]
Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.
Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011)[9] and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.[10]
In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of Supergirl.[11]
From 2020 to 2024, Ajala played the series regular role of Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.[12]
Personal life
editAjala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.[13]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Kidulthood | Desmond | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Adulthood | Desmond | |
| The Dark Knight | Bounty Hunter #2 | ||
| 2010 | Winter Sun | Guy | Short film |
| Following Footsteps | Christopher Knight | ||
| 2011 | One Day | Floor Manager | |
| Spirit | Terror | Short film | |
| 2012 | Payback Season | Baron | |
| Illegal Activity | Edward | Short film | |
| Offender | Kelvin | ||
| Sentenced Served | Marvin | Short film | |
| 2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Ivory | |
| Starred Up | Tyrone | ||
| Breakthrough | Henry | Short film | |
| 2014 | Queen of Diamonds | Bench Guy | Short film |
| Emulsion | Jeff | ||
| 2015 | Jupiter Ascending | Ibis | |
| He Works the Long Nights | Short film | ||
| Spirit | Terror | Short film | |
| 2016 | Seekers | Amadu | Short film |
| Kill Command | Drifter | ||
| Brotherhood | Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch | ||
| 2017 | The Art of Love | Anthony | Short film |
| Support | Chris | Short film | |
| Without Disguise | Leo | Short film | |
| 2021 | Italian Studies | Ade | |
| 2023 | Daylight Rules | Frank | Short film |
| TBA | The Woman in Cabin 10 | Filming |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dream Team | Sean Campbell | 18 episodes |
| 2008 | The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury | Steve | Episode: "Technology Bytes" |
| The Bill | Lenny Jones | Episode: "Beth Undercover" | |
| Trexx and Flipside | Flipside | 6 episodes | |
| 2009 | Hamlet | Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner | TV film |
| 2010 | Doctor Who | Peter | Episode: "The Beast Below" |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | Mark Blakefield | 2 episodes |
| Coming Up | Malachi | Episode: "Micah" | |
| Misfits | Private Investigator | Episode #3.6 | |
| 2012 | Monroe | Max Portas | Episode #2.4 |
| 2013 | Death in Paradise | Louis Nelson | Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" |
| Black Mirror | Jeff Carter | Episode: "The Waldo Moment" | |
| Law & Order: UK | Gavin Dale | 2 episodes | |
| 2014 | Black Box | Will Van Renseller | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands | Rate | 6 episodes |
| Hooten & the Lady | Dawit | Episode: "Ethiopia" | |
| The Break | Xavier | Episode: "System Cycle" | |
| 2016–2018 | Falling Water | Burton | 20 episodes |
| 2018 | Nightflyers | Roy Eris | 10 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Supergirl | Manchester Black | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | Urban Myths | The Burglar | Episode: "Grace Under Pressure" |
| 2020–2024 | Star Trek: Discovery | Cleveland "Book" Booker | 33 episodes[14] |
| The Ready Room | Himself | 4 episodes | |
| 2024 | The Jetty | Casey | 4 episodes |
| TBA | Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue | Zack | In production |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Additional voices |
| Need for Speed: Payback | Sean 'Mac' McAlister |
Theatre credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | You Are Right If You Say So | Lamberto Laudisi | Courtyard Theatre, London |
| How to Steal a Diamond | YM | Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh | |
| 2007 | The Swing of Things | Claude Kabinda | Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |
| 2008 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander (Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Love's Labour's Lost | Lord Dumaine (Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | |
| 2009 | Death and the King's Horseman | HRH The Prince | Royal National Theatre, London |
| Nation | Milo | Royal National Theatre, London | |
| 2010 | Ruined | Fortune | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2012 | The Witness | Simon | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2016 | One Night in Miami | Jim Brown | Donmar Warehouse, London |
References
edit- ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (21 May 2024). "Famous birthdays list for today, May 21, 2024 includes celebrities Sarah Ramos, Mr. T". cleveland. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d Emma Brown (1 May 2014). "Discovery: David Ajala". Interview. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "David Ajala Talks About Current Role In ITV's New Drama Series, Beowulf". The British Blacklist. 10 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Rising Brit actor David Ajala talks Dr Who and Hollywood". Flavour Magazine. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ Vincent Dowd (11 October 2016). "Muhammad Ali play puts icons of black America on stage". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Watch: Clare-Hope Ashitey & David Ajala Star in London-Set Short Drama-Thriller, 'Seekers'". Shadow and Act. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ Nellie Andreeva (23 June 2015). "David Ajala To Star In USA Pilot 'Falling Water'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria, The Price of Oil, Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "See David Ajala As Manchester Black In New 'Supergirl' Photo". Heroic Hollywood. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ Stone, Sam (1 May 2024). "Star Trek: Discovery's David Ajala Is Candid About Book's 'Complicated' Future". CBR.
- ^ "David Ajala". At the Movies. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
External links
edit- David Ajala at IMDb