Sean Patrick Thomas is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Derek Reynolds in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance and as Jimmy James in Barbershop (2002), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and as Professor Macalester in Vixen (2015–2016).

Sean Patrick Thomas
Born
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Aonika Laurent
(m. 2006)
Children2

Early life

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Thomas was born in Washington, D.C., the son of emigrants from Guyana. He was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Cheryl, a financial analyst for DuPont, and Carlton Thomas, an engineer who also worked for DuPont.[1][2]

Thomas, who has two younger siblings, graduated from Brandywine High School in Delaware and attended the University of Virginia. He originally intended to study law, but upon successfully auditioning for a role in the play A Raisin in the Sun, Thomas changed directions and decided to attend New York University's prestigious Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 1995.[3]

Career

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Thomas began appearing in screen roles in the mid-1990s, and had minor roles in several films, including Conspiracy Theory (1997), Can't Hardly Wait (1998), and Cruel Intentions (1999). His first leading role was in the teen romance Save the Last Dance, in which he starred opposite Julia Stiles. The film opened in January 2001 and became successful among teen audiences, grossing over $90 million domestically. Subsequently, Thomas appeared in supporting roles in the films Barbershop and Halloween: Resurrection, both of which were released in 2002. Thomas was a cast member on The District, a television crime drama that aired on CBS from 2000 to 2004.

Thomas played recurring character Alan Townsend on Reaper. He originated the recurring character of Karl Dupree on Lie to Me. In 2009, he took to the stage, playing the title role in Othello for the Theatre for a New Audience in New York. This production moved to the Intiman Theatre in Seattle for the summer. In 2012, he worked with Ioan Gruffudd and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Ringer. He was originally cast as Cyborg for Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, replacing Shemar Moore from Justice League: War, who was initially not available to reprise his role. But after Sean Patrick Thomas recorded the role, Shemar Moore was available again so Andrea Romano, for the sake of continuity, recast Thomas with Shemar Moore who lip synced to the earlier performance of Thomas.[4]

Thomas portrayed Dr. Michael Cayle in the horror film Deep in the Darkness, based on the Michael Laimo novel with the same name.[5] In The Boys spinoff Gen V, he portrayed former superhero Polarity.[6] In 2024, Thomas will be portraying Professor Chadwick in a TV adaptation of Cruel Intentions. Thomas portrayed the character of Ronald Clifford in the 1999 film of the same name.[7]

Personal life

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Thomas married actress Aonika Laurent in New Orleans on Saturday, April 22, 2006. Their original wedding date had been Saturday, November 5, 2005, but had to be postponed due to Hurricane Katrina. The couple met at a party thrown by Barbershop director Tim Story.[8] The couple have two children.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1996 Courage Under Fire Sergeant Thompson
1997 Picture Perfect Ad Agency Researcher No. 2
Conspiracy Theory Surveillance Operator
1998 Can't Hardly Wait Ben, Jock No. 2
1999 Cruel Intentions Ronald Clifford
The Sterling Chase Darren
Graham's Diner -
2000 Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit Mo Voice
Dracula 2000 Trick
2001 Save the Last Dance Derek Reynolds
Not Another Teen Movie The Other Token Black Guy
2002 Barbershop Jimmy James
Halloween: Resurrection Rudy Grimes
2003 Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman Additional Voices Voice, direct-to-video
2004 Barbershop 2: Back in Business Jimmy James
2006 The Fountain Antonio
2007 Honeydripper Dex
2008 A Raisin in the Sun George Murchison Television film
The Burrowers Walnut Callaghan
2012 Murder on the 13th Floor Jordan Braxton Television film
The Selection Sylvan Santos Television film
2013 Finding Neighbors Paul
2014 Deep in the Darkness Dr. Michael Cayle
2015 The Murder Pact Detective Dakoulas Television film
2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Jimmy James
My B.F.F. Dr. LeBlanc
Merry Ex-Mas Mitchell Television film
2017 Vixen Professor Adam Macalester Voice, direct-to-video
2018 Rent-an-Elf Liam Television film
Union Justin Short
2019 The Curse of La Llorona Detective Cooper
Lying and Stealing Trey Walker
Christmas Hotel Connor Television film
2020 Influence Jeffrey Bowen
2021 The Tragedy of Macbeth Monteith
Horror Noire Mr. Clay
2022 Trophy Wife Marc Carter
Till Gene Mobley
2024 Kemba Gus Smith

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 One Life to Live Tico Episode: "Episode #1.6955"
1996 New York Undercover Russell Episode: "The Enforcers"
1998 Push - Episode: "Pilot"
2000–04 The District Officer/Detective Temple Page Main cast
2002 The Agency Det. Temple Page Episode: "Doublecrossover"
2003 Static Shock Marcus Reed, Dante Voice, 2 episodes
2009 Reaper Alan Townsend Recurring role (season 2)
Lie to Me Karl Dupree Recurring role (season 1)
2010 Army Wives Staff Sgt. Tyrell Sallers Episode: "Change of Station"
2011 Reed Between the Lines Kenneth Episode: "Let's Talk About Ms. Helen's Son, Part 1 & 2"
2012 Ringer Solomon Vessida Recurring cast
American Horror Story: Asylum Terry Episode: "Dark Cousin"
2015 Bones Dr. John Cruz Episode: "The Resurrection in the Remains"
2015–16 Vixen Professor Macalester Main cast
2016 NCIS: New Orleans Lieutenant Commander Mark Jacoby Episode: "No Man's Land"
2017 Criminal Minds Agent Terry Richardson Episode: "Killer App"
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World Rick Thomas Episode: "Brutal Acts of Kindness"
2018 Madam Secretary President Claude Galbert Episode: "The Courage to Continue"
2019 NCIS Ian Rackham Episode: "Crossing the Line"
The Good Fight Geoffrey Payton Recurring role (season 3)
Middle School Moguls Mr. Pierre Voice, recurring role
2020 Ghost Tape Luke Dixon Recurring role
S.W.A.T. Bishop Miller Episode: "Hopeless Sinner"
2021 Invincible Guard #2 Voice, episode: "It's About Time"
Insecure Taurean's Brother Episode: "Everything Gonna Be, Okay?!"
2022–2024 For All Mankind Corey Johnson Recurring role (seasons 3–4)
2022 The Boys Presents: Diabolical Reporter #1, Male Hostage Voice, episode: "One Plus One Equals Two"
Reasonable Doubt Brayden Miller Main cast
2023 Gen V Polarity Recurring role
2024 Cruel Intentions Professor Chadwick

References

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  1. ^ "Sean Patrick Thomas profile". Film Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  2. ^ Sean Patrick Thomas profile Archived May 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, movies.msn.com; accessed June 18, 2009.
  3. ^ "NYU Graduate Acting Alumni". 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Justice League
  5. ^ Deep in the Darkness
  6. ^ Club, Comic Book (October 1, 2023). "What Are Polarity's Powers On Gen V?". Comic Book Club. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Rahman, Abid (October 24, 2024). "Amazon's 'Cruel Intentions' Series Gets First Trailer, Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Main – Discover AOL". People.aol.com. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
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