Dennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well...
Actor, Film Producer, Television producer, Voice Actor, Film director
Education
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Lynn Griffith (m. 1989–2001), Elena Simms (m. 1980–1984)
Children
Charles Haysbert, Katharine Haysbert
Parents
Gladys Haysbert, Charles Haysbert, Sr.
Siblings
Charles Haysbert, Jr., Stanley Haysbert, Lenier Haysbert, Rita Haysbert, Al Haysbert, Adam Haysbert
Nicknames
Dennis Dexter Haysbert
Awards
Saturn Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television, Satellite Award for Best Actor – Televisio...
Movies
‘Love Field’ (1992), ‘Love & Basketball’, ‘The Details’, ‘Life of a King’, ‘Men,Women & Children’
TV Shows
‘The Young and Restless’, ‘Just the Ten of Us’, ‘Now and Again’
Star Sign
Gemini
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Trademark
1
Muscular physique
2
Towering height
3
Deep resonant voice
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Quote
1
(on the powers of visualizing your goals) I visualize the roles that I want. If I hadn't visualized playing athletes, I wouldn't have gotten Major League. If I hadn't visualized playing a president, David Palmer never would have happened. You've got to have a sense of what you want to do; otherwise, the universe is just going to throw something at you.
2
(2006) I think I'd make a great superhero. I'm serious. I want to play a superhero and I've already got one in mind. I think I've still got the body for the costume and it's something I really want to do.
3
(on high school) I played a little basketball, but basketball interfered with theater season. That's when we did our term plays and did nutshell versions of Shakespeare for English classes. And, believe me, I got a fair amount of looks from the guys on the team. "You're in theater but you can play football?!" I got a lot of shit about it.
4
From the time I was 10, I think I knew that I wanted to act, and then there was the caption under my high school picture, [so] it was obvious I had no doubts, I knew what I wanted to do. But I also had a catalyst, an older brother who died of cancer, and I just happened to be with him the [day] before he died. He asked me a simple question "What do you want to do?" And I said "Well, I want to be an actor." He asked "Where do you want to do it? Can you do it from here?", and when I said "No, not really", he said "Well, get the hell out of here then because tomorrow's not promised." I'll always remember those words: "Tomorrow's not promised.".
5
(on playing Nelson Mandela in The Color of Freedom (2007)) I just remember it being a very daunting situation. I was a little nervous about it and almost turned it down. I had a momentary loss of confidence and didn't think I was worthy. He's such a hero of mine.
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Fact
1
Commercial spokesman for the Allstate Insurance Corporation (2003-08).
Shares two roles with the late Michael Clarke Duncan: Green Lantern, Kilowog and Manute in the "Sin City" films.
4
In the photo caption for his San Mateo, California, high school yearbook, he cited having his face on the cover of Ebony and TV Guide as life goals, both of which he later achieved.
5
Is the eighth of nine children of Charles Whitney Sr. and Gladys Haysbert.
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Enjoys golf, tennis and scuba diving in his spare time.
7
When he first moved to Los Angeles, he worked in a grocery store and took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. When he was not in class or working at the store, Haysbert says, he consumed any self-help book he could get his hands on, including "How to Visualize What You Want" and "The Power of Positive Thinking".
8
His parents were married for 51 years before his father's death.
9
Is also a certified Deep Sea diver per Discovery Channel's Secrets of Pearl Harbor (2004), that he hosts, narrates and stars in. [June 2008]
10
(August 7, 2005) Grand marshal of the "Allstate 400 at the Brickyard" auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
11
Attended and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA).
12
Attended and graduated from San Mateo High School in San Mateo, California in 1972.
13
He was a defensive end on his high school football team.