Biography
Who is David Oyelowo?
Early life and education
David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, United Kingdom. His parents are from Nigeria, with his father hailing from Oyo State and his mother from the South East. He lived in London until the age of six before moving to Lagos, Nigeria, with his family.
During his childhood in Nigeria, his father worked for the national airline while his mother was employed by a railway company. He later returned to London at age 14 and settled in Islington. He studied theatre at City and Islington College before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, completing his studies in 1998.
Stage and television career
He began working on stage in 1999 with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played roles in Volpone and Antony and Cleopatra. In 2001, he portrayed King Henry VI in a series of Shakespearean plays, a role that earned him the Ian Charleson Award.
On television, he gained fame playing Danny Hunter in the British drama series Spooks between 2002 and 2004. He also appeared in the BBC miniseries Les Misérables as Javert in 2018. His voice work includes playing Agent Alexsandr Kallus in the Star Wars Rebels animated series.
Film and production work
David Oyelowo is widely recognized for his lead role as Martin Luther King Jr. In the 2014 film Selma. Other well-known film credits include The Butler, A United Kingdom, and Queen of Katwe. He also appeared in supporting roles in movies such as Lincoln and The Help.
In 2014, he established his own production company called Yoruba Saxon Productions. Through this company, he has co-produced several projects including Nightingale and Captive. He also stars in and co-produces the 2023 western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Family and personal life
He is married to Jessica Oyelowo. They work together in the film industry, as she co-runs his production company, Yoruba Saxon Productions, in Brighton. He also performed in a radio play alongside her.
His heritage includes being an omoba, or prince, of the Yoruba people. His grandfather served as a king in a portion of Oyo State. This background is a significant part of his family history.
Birthday and age
David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, which makes David 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. David shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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