Hisham Tawfiq

Hisham Tawfiq (born May 17, 1970) is an American actor, best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond "Red" Reddington in NBC's The Blacklist.

Hisham Tawfiq
Tawfiq in 2023
Born (1970-05-17) May 17, 1970
New York City, New York
OccupationActor
Years active2002-present
TelevisionThe Blacklist
SpouseSpirit Tawfiq

Early life

Born in New York City, Tawfiq discovered his love of the arts while performing the poem "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou in high school. Tawfiq studied at the Negro Ensemble Company, known for educating actors such as Denzel Washington and Ossie Davis. He also studied with coach Susan Batson.

Prior to pursuing a full acting career, Tawfiq served in the U.S. Marines, deployed during Operation Desert Storm.[1] From 1994 to 1996, Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer in the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York.[2] While pursuing his acting career, Tawfiq also served as a firefighter for 20 years with the New York City Fire Department.[3]

Career

Tawfiq performed with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Intimate Apparel and played Walter Lee Younger in a production of A Raisin in the Sun, which Tawfiq has said to be his dream role.[4]

Tawfiq starred in the BET film Gun Hill as Capt. Sanford, commander of a counter-crime task force. On television, Tawfiq has appeared in Lights Out, Law & Order spin-offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, Kings, Golden Boy, 30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake of Ironside.

Tawfiq currently plays Dembe in NBC's The Blacklist. Starting with season 3, he was promoted to series regular.

Filmography
Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
2009NotoriousFatigue Guy
2010Say Grace Before DrowningChris
2010CounterfeitMalik
2010Contact ZonePrince
2010Five Minarets in New York High Rolla
2011Crazy Beats Strong Every TimeKofi
2013Dead Man DownJamaican Mike
2014Gun HillCapt. Sanford
2017Dope FiendPrince
2018Skate KitchenLawrence
2018JinnImam Khalid
2020To Live and Die in Bed-StuyBig Ed
2021Maya and Her LoverFather
Television
YearSeriesRoleNotes
2007–2008Law & Order: Special Victims Unit2 episodes
2009KingsServiceman Walter5 episodes
2010Law & Order: Criminal IntentScarymanEpisode: "Lost Children of the Blood" (S9 Ep11)
2011Lights Out
201230 Rock2 episodes
2013Golden Boy
2013Ironside
2013–2023The BlacklistDembe ZumaRecurring Role (Seasons 1–2)
Main Cast (Seasons 3–10)
2021Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1 episode
2021HarlemDr. Obinna TseggaiEpisode: "Once Upon a Time in Harlem"
Theater
YearPieceRoleNotes
A Raisin in the SunWalter Lee Younger
Intimate ApparelGeorge Armstrong
A Soldiers Play Henson
OffspringKyle
Bow Wow ClubSal
Shaka ZuluShaka

References
  1. "'The Blacklist' star Hisham Tawfiq has gone from the Marines and the FDNY to full-time acting". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. "New Yorkers dreaming of stardom pick up extra jobs while working towards fame". Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  3. "Blacklist actor Hisham Tawfiq is retiring from the FDNY after 20 years on the squad". Entertainment Weekly. July 17, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  4. Hill, Jack W. (20 January 2011). "THEATER: Rep's Raisin in the Sun stars Little Rock native". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
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