Omari Hardwick

Last updated

Omari Hardwick
Omari Hardwick on BTVR (cropped).jpg
Hardwick interviewed about Power in 2015
Born
Omari Latif Hardwick [1]

January 9, 1974 (1974-01-09) (age 50)
Alma mater University of Georgia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • model
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Years active2001–present
Spouse
Jennifer Pfautch
(m. 2012)
Children3

Omari Latif Hardwick (born January 9, 1974) is an American actor known for his starring role as James St. Patrick / Ghost, the protagonist of Starz's Power and his role as Vanderohe in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead (2021). He is also known for his roles in Saved and Dark Blue , in Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna (2008), Kick-Ass (2010), Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls (2010) [2] and as Andre in BET Network's Being Mary Jane .

Contents

Hardwick earned a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album nomination for the album Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series. [3]

Early life and education

Hardwick was born in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Joyce and Clifford Hardwick III, an attorney. [4] He is one of four siblings. Growing up in Decatur, Georgia, Hardwick wrote poetry on a regular basis, and participated in many sports. [5] In high school, he attended Marist School in Brookhaven, Georgia, where he played baseball, basketball and football. He later enrolled at the University of Georgia on a football scholarship. [6] Hardwick continued acting and writing poetry, minoring in theater. In 1996, he pledged and became a member of the Zeta Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. [7]

Career

After graduation, Hardwick initially pursued a career in football, hoping to join the San Diego Chargers. He declared himself for the NFL Draft, where he was not selected, and eventually returned to acting. [7]

As a struggling actor, Hardwick did odd jobs in order to pay for acting classes and started living in his car. [8] In 2002, Hardwick was an extra in Floetry's "Say Yes" music video. [7] From 2003 to 2004, he participated in the National Poetry Slam competition, placing top 5 overall. [9] Hardwick finally got his break in the 2004 TV movie Sucker Free City . [8] In 2006, he booked a role in the feature film The Guardian and appeared as a series regular in the TV show Saved , which required he spend two years training as a fireman and a paramedic. [7] [9]

In 2010, Hardwick became a founding member of "Plan B Inc. Theater Group", and a co-founder of "Actor's Lounge" at the Los Angeles Greenway Theater. He also founded production company "Bravelife Films". [9] [10] [11] Hardwick was also featured in the urban lifestyle publication, Prominence Magazine for its Holiday issue.

Hardwick reading a poem, with Congresswoman Terri Sewell looking on, at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama in 2020.

In 2011, Hardwick received his best film reviews to date for his role as "Troy" in the critically acclaimed indie hit I Will Follow . [12] Hardwick has guest starred on an episode of NBC's Chase as Chris Novak, a hard luck criminal facing prison. [13]

In 2013, Hardwick was cast in the lead role of James "Ghost" St. Patrick on the Starz crime drama-thriller, Power . [14] The series ran for six seasons.

In 2016, he was featured by South African rapper Nasty C on a song titled "A Star Is Born". [15]

Hardwick co-starred in the science fiction comedy film Sorry to Bother You , [16] which was released in theaters on July 6, 2018. [17]

In July 2019, Hardwick was cast in Zack Snyder's Netflix film Army of the Dead . [18]

In January 2021, it was announced that Hardwick was cast as Gordon Oliver in Netflix's thriller series Pieces of Her , which is adapted from the Karin Slaughter novel of the same name. [19]

In April 2022, it was announced that Hardwick would star alongside Marsai Martin and Kelly Rowland in the Paramount+ film Fantasy Football , released on November 25. [20] [21]

Personal life

Hardwick began a relationship with Jennifer "Jae" Pfautch in the 2000s. [ citation needed ] Pfautch, who is of Native American and German descent, was disowned by her family in the aftermath for dating outside of her race. [22] In 2008, the couple's first child was stillborn. Hardwick and Pfautch married in June 2012 and have two children, daughter Nova and son Brave. [23] Hardwick is Catholic. [24]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002CirclesLameck
2004Within the WallSaulShort film
The Male Groupie'Act Shun'Short film
2005 Beauty Shop Byron
2006SpeechlessKu James
Gridiron Gang 'Free'
The Guardian Carl Billings
2008 Miracle at St. Anna Platoon Commander Huggs
Linewatch Drake / Kimo
2009 Next Day Air Shavoo
2010 Everyday Black Man Malik
Kick-Ass Sergeant Marcus Williams
The A-Team Jay 'Chopshop Jay'
For Colored Girls Carl BradmoreNominated – Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
I Will Follow Troy
2012 Sparkle Levi
Middle of Nowhere Derek
2013Kings & BeggarsNoahShort film; also writer
LuDr. HardenShort film
Things Never Said Curtis Jackson
The Last LetterMichael Wright
2014 Reach Me Dominic
Lap Dance Dr. Don Cook
2015 Chapter & Verse Jomo
2017 Shot Caller Ed Kutcher, Parole Officer
The RunnerRick Roslin
2018 Sorry to Bother You Mr. _______
A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. CassAlso executive producer
Sgt. Will Gardner Samuel 'Top' Gallegos
Nobody's Fool Frank Johnson
2019 American Skin Omar Scott
2020 Spell Marquis
2021 Army of the Dead Vanderohe
2022 Fantasy Football Bobby Coleman
2023 To Live and Die and Live Kevin
The Mother William Cruise
Phels HighPrincipal Floyd [25]
2025 Star Trek: Section 31 TBAPost-production
Unreleased The Mothership TBA

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Sucker Free City Dante PonceTelevision film
2005 Crossing Jordan Ronald PascoEpisode: "Judgement Day"
2006 Saved John 'Sack' HallonMain cast; 13 episodes
2008 CSI: Miami Eddie DashellEpisode: "And How Does That Make You Kill?"
SISDonovan RiversTelevision film
2009–2010 Dark Blue Ty CurtisMain cast; 20 episodes
Nominated – NAMIC Vision Award Best Performance, Drama (2011)
2009 Lie to Me Benny 'B' DavisEpisode: "The Better Half"
2010 Chase Chris NovakEpisode: "Betrayed"
2012 Breakout Kings Ronnie MarkhamEpisode: "Self Help"
2013–2014 Being Mary Jane Andre DanielsMain cast; 8 episodes
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series (2014)
Nominated – Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special (2014)
Nominated – Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2015)
2013A Christmas BlessingEarl JamesTelevision film
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
2014–2020 Power James 'Ghost' St. PatrickMain cast
Nominated – BET Award for Best Actor (2017) (seasons 1—6)
2021 That Damn Michael Che HimselfEpisode: "Sex Worker"
2022 Pieces of Her Gordon OliverMain cast
TBA Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas VanderoheMain cast

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRole
2000 "No More" Ruff Endz Store Clerk
2002"Say Yes" Floetry Passenger
2011"Break My Heart" Estelle featuring Rick Ross Love interest
2012"You Make Me Wanna"Eshe featuring Omari HardwickLove interest
2016"A Star is Born" Nasty C featuring Omari HardwickHimself (cameo)
2017"Flipmode" Fabolous, Velous and Chris Brown Himself (cameo)
2017"Family Feud" Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Mr. President
2018"First Began" PJ Morton Love interest

Discography

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Bloodshed"

(with Josiah Bell)

2017Non-album singles
"50+O=500"

(with 50 Cent and David Rush)

2018
"Some Kinda Way"2018
"hOme"

(with Anthony Hamilton)

2019
"Destiny"

(with Marsha Ambrosius and Keyon Harrold)

2024
"The Greatest"

(with Tank)

2024
"DMX"

(with Goapele)

2024

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References

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  3. Monroe, Jazz (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
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