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William Jackson Harper

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William Jackson Harper
Harper in 2018
Born
William Fitzgerald Harper

(1980-02-08) February 8, 1980 (age 44)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma materCollege of Santa Fe
Occupation(s)Actor, playwright
Years active2007–present

William Fitzgerald Harper (born February 8, 1980), known professionally as William Jackson Harper, is an American actor and playwright. He gained acclaim for his role as Chidi Anagonye in the NBC comedy series The Good Place (2016–2020), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[1][2]

Harper started his career as a main cast member of the PBS Kids Go! series The Electric Company (2009–2011). As a playwright, he wrote We Live Here (2010)[3] and Travisville (2018).[4] He made his Broadway acting debut portraying civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael in the play All the Way (2013). Harper's other notable roles on stage include Romeo & Juliet (2012), After the Blast (2017), and Primary Trust (2023). For his role as Astrov in the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of Uncle Vanya (2024) he earned a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

He has starred in the Amazon limited series The Underground Railroad (2020), the second season of the HBO Max comedy series Love Life (2021) and in the Peacock comedy mystery series The Resort (2022). Harper has taken supporting roles in films such as Paterson (2016), Midsommar (2019), and Dark Waters (2019). He portrayed Quaz in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).

Early life and education

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William Fitzgerald Harper[5] was born on February 8, 1980, in Dallas, Texas.[6] Harper grew up in Garland, Texas, and attended Lakeview Centennial High School.[7] He graduated from the College of Santa Fe in 2003.[8] Harper chose the stage name "William Jackson Harper" when registering for the Actors' Equity Association; most variations of "William Harper" were already in use, and he thought that "Fitzgerald" was too long. He then decided to honor his mother by using her maiden name, "Jackson", as his stage middle name.[5]

Career

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Harper made his New York theatre debut in the 2006 Vital Theatre Company production of Full Bloom, a play about teenagers coming to terms with their sexuality.[9][10] In 2008 he performed in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Lynn Nottage's play, Ruined, which won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.[11][12] From 2009 to 2011, he played Danny Rebus in the PBS series The Electric Company.[13] In 2010 he appeared in the Public Theater's mobile unit production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure,[14] and in 2011 returned for Titus Andronicus, this time at the Anspacher Theater.[15] He starred as Marty Boy in debut of The Total Bent, a musical composed by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, that premiered at The Public Theater in 2012.[16][17] The show was later reworked around Ato Blankson-Wood.[18] Harper made his Broadway debut in 2014 portraying Stokely Carmichael in the Robert Schenkkan play All the Way starring Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson. The play revolved around the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[19] The production went on to win the Tony Award for Best Play. Harper and Carrie Coon co-starred together in the 2015 Melissa James Gibson play, Placebo at Playwrights Horizon Theater.[20][21][22] Marilyn Stasio of Variety praised him writing, "Harper inhabits the difficult role as comfortably as someone who lives in robe and slippers".[23] The following year he took a supporting role in the Jim Jarmusch drama Paterson (2016) starring Adam Driver.[24]

The Good Place cast (Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, D'Arcy Carden, Harper, Manny Jacinto, and Jameela Jamil) at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019

In 2016, Harper was cast on the NBC comedy The Good Place created by Michael Schur.[25] Before landing the role of Chidi Anagonye, he considered quitting acting.[26][27] Harper did not learn about the show's real premise until after he was cast.[28] His performance has received critical praise and he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2020.[29][30] In 2017, in between filming the show's first and second seasons, he had a leading role alongside Cristin Milioti in Zoe Kazan's futuristic romantic drama After the Blast at Lincoln Center's Claire Tow Theatre.[31][32] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "[Kazan] has...elicited superb performances from the lead actors, with Harper quietly persuasive as the husband desperately trying to keep his marriage intact".[33] Also in 2017 he had a supporting role in the VH1 drama series The Breaks.

In 2018, Harper's play Travisville had its world premiere at Ensemble Studio Theatre.[34] In an interview with Bloomberg News, he revealed that the play was inspired by the displacement of a poor Black community that was situated near the grounds of the Texas State Fair in Dallas.[35] The same year, he appeared in the sci-fi film They Remain.[36] In 2019, he starred in two critically acclaimed films, playing Josh in the Ari Aster directed horror film Midsommar and James Ross in the Todd Haynes legal thriller Dark Waters.[37][38] Also that year, he voiced John Mercer Langston in season one of the Airship podcast 1865, which details the weeks immediately following the assassination of US President Abraham Lincoln.[39]

It was announced in April 2020 that he would narrate the Marvel audio book series Black Panther: Sins of the King,[40] and in November 2020, that he would star in season 2 of the HBO Max anthology series Love Life.[41][42] In 2021 he acted in the Barry Jenkins directed Amazon Prime Video miniseries The Underground Railroad adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2016 historical novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead.[43] For his performance Harper was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries.[44] In October 2022, it was revealed that Harper joined the cast of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was released in theaters on February 17, 2023.[45]

In 2023 he starred as Kenneth in the Eboni Booth play Primary Trust at the Roundabout Theatre Company Off-Broadway. The play ran from May 4 to July 2 at the Laura Pels Theatre.[46] Naveen Kumar of The New York Times praised his performance writing, "Harper, who is onstage for nearly all of the production’s 95 minutes, performs with astonishing ease and vulnerability, particularly given the depths he is asked to plumb in monologues directly to the audience; he lends the currents flowing through Kenneth's interior life extraordinary subtlety and immediacy".[47] For his performance Harper won the 2023 Obie Award for Outstanding Performance. Harper is set to return to Broadway playing Astrov in the 2024 revival of the Anton Chekov play Uncle Vanya starring Steve Carell, Alison Pill, Jayne Houdyshell and Alfred Molina at Lincoln Center.[48] For his performance he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.[49]

Personal life

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Harper is in a relationship with actress Ali Ahn, who co-starred with him in an outdoor production of Romeo + Juliet in New York in 2012.[50][51]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2010 All Good Things Moynihan's Assistant
2012 That's What She Said Harry
2015 True Story Zak Rausch
2016 Paterson Everett
2018 They Remain Keith
2019 Lost Holiday Mark
Midsommar Josh
Dark Waters James Ross
2020 David David Short film
The Man in the Woods Buster Heath
2021 We Broke Up Doug
2023 Landscape with Invisible Hand Mr. Campbell
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Quaz
TBA Jodie Mack Mackenzie Voice role; in production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Chayne Danforth Episode: "Self-made"
2009 Great Performances Melville Episode: "Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story"
Mercy David Green Episode: "I Believe You Conrad"
2009–2011 The Electric Company Danny Rebus 52 episodes
2010 Law & Order Officer Derek Waldron Episode: "Boy on Fire"
2011 30 Rock Rioter Episode: "Plan B"
2013 Unforgettable Andry Fotre aka Arnold Episode: "Incognito"
2014 High Maintenance Andrew Episode: "Geiger"
2015 Person of Interest Strobel Episode: "Control-Alt-Delete"
The Blacklist Security Episode: "Tom Connolly (No. 11)"
2016 Deadbeat Adam Episode: "Death List Three"
2016–2020 The Good Place Chidi Anagonye Main cast; 53 episodes
2017 The Breaks Stephen Jenkins 3 episodes
2019 Jack Ryan Xander 2 episodes
2020–2021 American Dad! TV Reporter, General Store Cashier, Nathaniel (voices) 3 episodes
2021–2022 Dogs in Space Loaf (voice) 17 episodes
2021 The Underground Railroad Royal 4 episodes
Inside Job Bryan Jacobsen / Bryan Bot (voice) Episode: "Sex Machina"
Love Life Marcus Watkins Main role (season 2)
Death to 2021 Zero Fournine Television special
2022 The Resort Noah Main cast
Little Demon Jimmy (voice) Episode: "Everybody's Dying for the Weekend"
2024 A Man in Full Wes Jordan 6 episodes
2025 The Morning Show Ben

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
2007 Neglect Joseph Sharyn Rothstein Ensemble Studio Theatre, Off-Broadway
2007–2008 Queens Boulevard (The Musical) Performer Charles L. Mee Signature Theatre Company, Off-Broadway
2008 Paradise Park Benny
Rich Boyfriend Performer Evan Smith The New Group, Off-Broadway
Ruined Miner / Soldier
Simon / Aid Worker		 Lynn Nottage Goodman Theatre, Chicago [52]
2009 New York City Center, Off-Broadway [53]
2010 A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick Adebe Kia Corthron Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
microcrisis Fed Chair / Acquah Michael Lew HERE Arts Center, Off-Broadway
2011 The Sugar House at the Edge of the Wilderness Performer Carla Ching The Connelly Theater, Off-Broadway [54]
Titus Andronicus Demetrius William Shakespeare The Public Theater, Off-Broadway
2012 The Total Bent Marty Boy Stew The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [55]
Massacre (Sing To Your Children) Performer José Rivera Rattlestick Playwrights Theater [56]
Romeo & Juliet Romeo William Shakespeare Shakespeare on the Sound [57]
Modern Terrorism, or They Who Want to Kill Us
and How We Learn to Love Them		 Qala Jon Kern Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway
2013 All the Way Stokely Carmichael Robert Schenkkan American Repertory Theatre [58]
2014 Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway [59]
You Got Older Mac Clare Barron HERE Arts Center, Off-Broadway [60]
2015 Placebo Jonathan Melissa James Gibson Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway [61]
2017 After the Blast Oliver Zoe Kazan Lincoln Center Theater, Off-Broadway [62]
2023 Primary Trust Kenneth Eboni Booth Roundabout Theatre Company, Off-Broadway [63]
2024 Uncle Vanya Astrov Anton Chekov Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [64]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref
2018 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series The Good Place Nominated [65]
2019 Nominated [66]
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [67]
2021 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries The Underground Railroad Nominated [68]
2022 Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries Love Life Nominated [69]
2023 Obie Awards Outstanding Performance Primary Trust Won [70]
2024 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Nominated [71]
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated [72]
Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Nominated [73]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play Won [74]
Tony Award Best Actor in a Play Uncle Vanya Nominated [75]

References

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  1. ^ Saclao, Christian (September 26, 2016). "'The Good Place' Actor William Jackson Harper on Playing Kristen Bell's Onscreen Soulmate in the NBC Series". International Business Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Charles, Marissa (September 19, 2016). "William Jackson Harper on Starring in NBC's 'The Good Place'". Ebony. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "We Live Here". Abouttheartist. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Travisville". Abouttheartist. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Pape, Allie. "William Jackson Harper on the Other Good Place Character He'd Like to Play". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  6. ^ "William Jackson Harper". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Jorgenson, Paul (May 28, 2018). "After He Almost Quit Acting, A Garland Native Found Himself in a 'Good Place'". D Magazine. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Alumni". Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  9. ^ Hoban, Phoebe (March 18, 2006). "Teenage Girl With Issues and Salinger (Published 2006)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "Full Bloom at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre". New York Theater Guide. October 19, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Brantley, Ben (February 10, 2009). "War's Terrors, Through a Brothel Window (Published 2009)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pulitzer Winner Ruined Extends Through May 17 at MTC". Broadway.com. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Meslow, Scott (January 4, 2018). "The Good Place's William Jackson Harper Had No Idea What He Was Auditioning For". GQ. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Hetrick, Adam (October 25, 2010). "Public Theater's Mobile Unit Will Bring Shakespeare to New Audiences". Playbill. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  15. ^ Isherwood, Charles (December 14, 2011). "I Wouldn't Touch That Pie, if I Were You (Published 2011)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 24, 2012). "Stew and Heidi Rodewald's The Total Bent Debuts at the Public Feb. 24". Playbill. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Total Bent". iobdb.com. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  18. ^ Isherwood, Charles (May 26, 2016). "Review: In 'The Total Bent,' a Father-Son Rift and a Sensational Score (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "Inside Playbill Gallery". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  20. ^ McElroy, Steven (March 11, 2015). "Melissa James Gibson's 'Placebo' at Playwrights Horizons (Published 2015)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "'Placebo': Theater Review | Hollywood Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. March 16, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  22. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (March 17, 2015). "Off Broadway Review: 'Placebo' with Carrie Coon". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "Off Broadway Review: 'Placebo' with Carrie Coon". Variety. March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  24. ^ "William Jackson Harper in Paterson". Yahoo News. October 4, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 12, 2016). "'Good Place' NBC Comedy Series Casts William Jackson Harper". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  26. ^ Snierson, Dan (July 12, 2017). "'The Good Place' Star William Jackson Harper Promises 'Acupuncture and Pigs' in Season 2". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  27. ^ Magee, Ny (September 25, 2016). "'The Good Place' Saved William Jackson Harper From Quitting Hollywood". EURweb. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018.
  28. ^ Radish, Christina (October 5, 2017). "'The Good Place': William Jackson Harper on That Big Twist and Season 2 Challenges". Collider. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018.
  29. ^ Perkins, Dennis (January 19, 2017). "The Good Place ends an outstanding first season with its most masterful twist yet". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  30. ^ Cleary, Skye (June 21, 2017). "Philosophy on TV: "The Good Place"". American Philosophical Association. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  31. ^ "After The Blast". Lincoln Center Theater. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  32. ^ Brantley, Ben (October 23, 2017). "Review: Romancing the Bot in Zoe Kazan's 'After the Blast'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  33. ^ "The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. October 23, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  34. ^ Rickwald, Bethany (October 18, 2018). "William Jackson Harper on Taking the Sepia Tones out of Civil Rights in 'Travisville'". TheaterMania. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  35. ^ "How a Dallas Parking Lot Inspired a Play by William Jackson Harper". Bloomberg.com. December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  36. ^ Kenigsberg, Ben (March 1, 2018). "Review: In 'They Remain,' Scientists Investigate the Site of a Cult Massacre (Published 2018)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  37. ^ "'Midsommar' Film Review – Variety". June 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019.
  38. ^ Adams, Allen. "'Dark Waters' a low-key legal drama". themaineedge.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  39. ^ "AIRSHIP | 1865". Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  40. ^ "William Jackson Harper to Narrate 'Marvel's Black Panther: Sins of the King' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. August 19, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  41. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 5, 2020). "William Jackson Harper to Star in 'Love Life' Season 2 at HBO Max". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  42. ^ "Greenlit: William Jackson Harper Will Lead the Cast of 'Love Life' Season 2 + More". Backstage.com. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  43. ^ "How William Jackson Harper Brought Hope to The Underground Railroad". Vanity Fair. June 18, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  44. ^ "Critics Choice Awards 2022: 'The Power of the Dog,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession' Win Big (Full Winners List)". Variety. March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  45. ^ "William Jackson Harper Cast In 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'". Variety. October 28, 2022.
  46. ^ "Primary Trust (Off-Broadway, 2023)". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  47. ^ "'Primary Trust' Review: Sipping Mai Tais, Until Bitter Reality Knocks". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  48. ^ "Steve Carell Making Broadway Debut in 'Uncle Vanya' Opposite Alfred Molina, William Jackson Harper and More". Variety. November 14, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  49. ^ "2024 Tony Nominations: Hell's Kitchen, Stereophonic Lead—Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  50. ^ Villareal, Yvonne (October 24, 2021). "William Jackson Harper 'freaked out' he'd never make it. Now he's in a very good place". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  51. ^ Gates, Anita (July 6, 2012). "A Classic Love Story, Reimagined". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  52. ^ "William Jackson Harper". Ensemble Studio Theatre. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018.
  53. ^ "Titus Andronicus: Public announces full cast". New York Theatre Guide. October 19, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  54. ^ "Stew and Heidi Rodewald's The Total Bent Debuts at the Public Feb. 24". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  55. ^ "Stew and Heidi Rodewald's The Total Bent Debuts at the Public Feb. 24". Playbill. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  56. ^ "Massacre (Sing To Your Children)". Variety. April 13, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  57. ^ "William Jackson Harper theatre profile". AboutTheArtists.com. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  58. ^ "All The Way, Starring Bryan Cranston as LBJ, Opens at the American Repertory Theater Sept. 19". Playbill. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  59. ^ "All the Way (Broadway, 2014)". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  60. ^ "You Got Older". TimeOut. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  61. ^ "Placebo". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  62. ^ "First Look at After the Blast, Starring Cristin Milioti and William Jackson Harper". Playbill. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  63. ^ "Primary Trust". Roundabout Theatre. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  64. ^ "Steve Carell, Alison Pill, William Jackson Harper, More in Uncle Vanya At Lincoln Center Theater". Playbill. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  65. ^ de Moraes, Lisa; Blyth, Antonia; Hipes, Patrick (January 13, 2019). "Critics' Choice Awards: 'Roma' Wins Best Picture To Lead Night; 'The Americans' & 'Mrs. Maisel' Top TV – The Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  66. ^ Tapley, Kristopher (January 13, 2019). "'Roma,' 'The Americans' and 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Win Top Critics' Choice Honors". Variety. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  67. ^ "2020 Emmy Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  68. ^ "Critics Choice TV Nominations: 'Succession' Leads Field As HBO Edges Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. December 6, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  69. ^ "Critics Choice Awards 2022: 'The Power of the Dog,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession' Win Big (Full Winners List)". Variety. March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  70. ^ "2023 Obie Awards". Obie Awards. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  71. ^ "2024 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  72. ^ "2024 Drama League Awards Nominations Are Out; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  73. ^ "Wet Brain Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations; Read the Complete List". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  74. ^ "Dead Outlaw, Stereophonic Lead 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Theatermania. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  75. ^ "'Hell's Kitchen' and 'Stereophonic' lead Tony Awards with 13 nominations each". NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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