Ato Essandoh

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Ato Essandoh
Ato Essandoh (40194937141) (cropped).jpg
Essandoh in February 2018
Born
Ato Essilfi Bracato Essandoh

(1972-07-29) July 29, 1972 (age 53)
Education Cornell University
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present

Ato Essilfi Bracato Essandoh (born July 29, 1972) is an American television and film actor. He has appeared in numerous films and TV series, including a major role in the 2023 Netflix political drama series The Diplomat .

Contents

Early life and education

Ato Essilfi Bracato Essandoh was born in Schenectady, New York, [1] on July 29, 1972, [2] the eldest child of Ebow and Monica Essandoh, from Ghana. [1]

He graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1990. He received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Cornell University. He first joined theater when he was dared to do so by a girlfriend. [3]

He studied acting under James Price at The Acting Studio - New York in New York City. [4]

Career

In 2020 Essandoh launched a podcast, Unrelated, together with childhood friend Chris Cecot, in which they discuss how race and color shaped their experiences growing up. [5] in the same year, he played an African-British-Jewish astronaut in the 2020 Netflix scifi drama series Away . [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001The Experience BoxDaniel
The AccidentCassiusShort
2002 Roger Dodger Bouncer
2004 Garden State Titembay
SalomeKing HerodShort
Saving Face Jay, The Neighbor
2005 Hitch Tanis
Prime Damien
Dawn's Early LightJamesShort
2006 Falling for Grace Jamal
Brother's ShadowSoy
Blood Diamond Commander 'Rambo'
2007Millennium CrisisHarkness
2008 Mia and the Migoo Baklava (voice)English dub
Nights in Rodanthe Jean's Lover
2010 Get Him to the Greek Smiling African Drummer
Camp Hell Young Priest
2011Tu & EuDr. ChampagneShort
Art & SexDaniel
2012 The Discoverers Winston
Django Unchained D'Artagnan
2013A Life for a LifeBoyleShort
2014 Wish I Was Here Audition Actor #3
2016 Jason Bourne Craig Jeffers
The Vampire LelandThe MonsignorShort
2017Frank EmbreeCharles Embree (voice)
2018 O.G. -
2019 Dark Phoenix Jones
2023 Reptile Dan Cleary
2024 Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Mr. Terrific, Anti-Monitor (voice)Direct to video [7]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Third Watch Bike MessengerEpisode: "Duty"
2003 Chappelle's Show ExtraEpisode: "Mad Real World & Ask A Gay Dude"
Law & Order Jason HendriEpisode: "Suicide Box"
Line of Fire Archibald 'Crazy Jazz' LincolnEpisode: "Pilot"
2005 Commander in Chief Manute Obama
2006 Conviction Byron 'B-Fly' WilliamsEpisode: "Indebted"
2007 Law & Order Andre BlairEpisode: "Bling"
2009 Royal Pains AntoineEpisode: "If I Were a Sick Man"
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent HassanEpisode: "Loyalty: Part 1 & 2"
2011 White Collar Frederik BilalEpisode: "Burke's Seven"
Damages Bomb TechRecurring role
2011–2012 Treme -2 episodes
2011–2016 Blue Bloods Reverend Darnell Potter Recurring role (seasons 2–7)
2012–2013 Copper Matthew FreemanMain role
2012–2018 Elementary Alfredo LlamosaRecurring role (seasons 1 & 3); Guest role (seasons 2, 4 & 6)
2014 Believe FBI Agent GardnerRecurring role
Madam Secretary King NungundeEpisode: "Pilot"
2015 Girls D. AugustRecurring role
Person of Interest Ray PrattEpisode: "Skip"
2016 Vinyl Lester GrimesMain role
2016–2021 Chicago Med Dr. Isidore LathamRecurring role (seasons 2–5); Guest role (season 6)
2018 Wolverine: The Long Night Agent Tad MarshallMain role
2018–2020 Altered Carbon Vernon ElliotMain role (season 1); Guest role (season 2)
2019 The Code Major Trey FerryMain role
2020 Tales from the Loop GaddisRecurring role
Away Kwesi Weisberg AnnanMain role
2021 Evil Nathan KatsarisEpisode: "D Is for Doll"
2021–2024Agent StokerEnGAGERecurring role
2022 Let the Right One In Frank3 episodes
2023 Extrapolations MarcoEpisode: "2046: Whale Fall"
2023–present The Diplomat Stuart HeyfordMain role

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 Saints Row: The Third Radio Voices (voice)

References

  1. 1 2 "Biography". Ato Essandoh. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  2. "Happy Birthday To New Rochelle's Ato Essandoh". New Rochelle Daily Voice. July 29, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. "Meet the affable Ghanaian Hollywood star Ato Essandoh". June 9, 2020. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  4. "New York Acting School Alumni, Acting Classes & Courses". The Acting Studio. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  5. Rubel, Abigail (September 3, 2020). ""Away" actor's complex Schenectady upbringing". Times Union. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  6. "In Netflix's 'Away,' Ato Essandoh is an African-British-Jewish astronaut. It's not his first Jewish starring role". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. September 10, 2020. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  7. Vejvoda, Jim (December 4, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One: Exclusive Clip and Voice Cast Reveal". IGN. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.