David Ajala | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2006–present |
Spouse | Terri Martin |
Children | 2 |
David Ajala (born 21 May 1986) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Manchester Black in Supergirl (2018–2019), Captain Roy Eris in Nightflyers (2018), and Cleveland "Book" Booker in Star Trek: Discovery (2020–present). [1]
David Ajala was born in Hackney, London. [2] He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin. [3] He trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls". [2]
On stage Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet, [4] and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of Kemp Powers. [5]
In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood [2] and Brotherhood; [6] he has also appeared in The Dark Knight [4] and in major roles in Starred Up [2] and the 2016 Seekers. [6] On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who [4] and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water. [7]
Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.
Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011) [8] and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano. [9]
In 2018, Ajala was cast in season 4 of Supergirl, portraying Manchester Black. [10]
Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons. [11]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Kidulthood | Desmond | Uncredited |
2008 | Adulthood | Desmond | |
2008 | The Dark Knight | Bounty Hunter #2 | |
2010 | Winter Sun | Guy | Short film |
2010 | Following Footsteps | Christopher Knight | |
2011 | One Day | Floor Manager | |
2011 | Spirit | Terror | Short film |
2012 | Payback Season | Baron | |
2012 | Illegal Activity | Edward | Short film |
2012 | Offender | Kelvin | |
2012 | Sentenced Served | Marvin | Short film |
2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Ivory | |
2013 | Starred Up | Tyrone | |
2013 | Breakthrough | Henry | Short film |
2014 | Queen of Diamonds | Bench Guy | Short film |
2014 | Emulsion | Jeff | |
2015 | Jupiter Ascending | Ibis | |
2015 | He Works the Long Nights | Short film | |
2016 | Seekers | Amadu | Short film |
2016 | Kill Command | Drifter | |
2016 | Brotherhood | Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch | |
2017 | The Art of Love | Anthony | Short film |
2017 | Support | Chris | Short film |
2021 | Italian Studies | Ade | |
2023 | Daylight Rules | Frank | Short film |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Dream Team | Sean Campbell | Main cast |
2008 | The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury | Steve | Episode: "Technology Bytes" |
2008 | The Bill | Lenny Jones | Episode: "Beth Undercover" |
2008 | Trexx and Flipside | Flipside | Main cast |
2009 | Hamlet | Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner | TV movie |
2010 | Doctor Who | Peter | Episode: " The Beast Below" |
2011 | Silent Witness | Mark Blakefield | 2 episodes |
2011 | Coming Up | Malachi | Episode: "Micah" |
2011 | Misfits | Private Investigator | 1 episode |
2012 | Monroe | Max Portas | 1 episode |
2013 | Death in Paradise | Louis Nelson | Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" |
2013 | Black Mirror | Jeff Carter | Episode: " The Waldo Moment" |
2013 | Law & Order: UK | Gavin Dale | 2 episodes |
2014 | Black Box | Will Van Renseller | Main cast |
2016 | Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands | Rate | Miniseries |
2016 | Hooten & the Lady | Dawit | Episode: "Ethiopia" |
2016 | The Break | Xavier | Episode: "System Cycle" |
2016–18 | Falling Water | Burton | Main cast |
2018 | Nightflyers | Roy Eris | Main cast |
2018–19 | Supergirl | Manchester Black | Recurring |
2019 | Urban Myths | The Burglar | Episode: "Grace Under Pressure" |
2020–present | Star Trek: Discovery | Cleveland "Book" Booker | Main cast [12] |
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Additional voices |
2017 | Need for Speed: Payback | Sean 'Mac' McAlister |
Year | Title | Role | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | You Are Right If You Say So | Lamberto Laudisi | Courtyard Theatre, London |
How to Steal a Diamond | YM | Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh | |
2007 | The Swing of Things | Claude Kabinda | Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |
2008 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander ( Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
Love's Labour's Lost | Lord Dumaine ( Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | |
2009 | Death and the King's Horseman | HRH The Prince | Royal National Theatre, London |
Nation | Milo | Royal National Theatre, London | |
2010 | Ruined | Fortune | Almeida Theatre, London |
2012 | The Witness | Simon | Royal Court Theatre, London |
2016 | One Night in Miami | Jim Brown | Donmar Warehouse, London |