Omari Hardwick

Omari Hardwick, born in Savannah and raised in Decatur, Georgia, grew up with a name his parents hoped would inspire him—“Omari” for “most high,” “Latif” for “gentle.” Dude’s childhood was a mix of strict discipline and sports mania—he crushed it in football, basketball, and baseball, but the arts kept tugging at his sleeve. By fourteen, he was scribbling poetry and, honestly, that passion never faded. University of Georgia gave him the chance to shine on the football field, but he still couldn’t shake his love for acting, even minoring in theatre. After college, he took a shot at the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, but a nasty knee injury ended his sports dreams fast. So, he pivoted hard—headed to New York, hit the acting classes, did the off-Broadway grind, then packed up for LA in 2000. Life wasn’t exactly glamorous; there were odd jobs, broke days, and even living out of his car. Wild twist? Years later, he’d be acting on the exact spot where he once slept on the street. His break showed up in 2003 with Spike Lee’s Sucker Free City, then roles in The Guardian and TNT’s Saved, plus a string of guest spots and movies. He really blew up as Ty Curtis on Dark Blue, and then, of course, as Ghost in Power—massive hit, spawned a bunch of spinoffs. He’s kept the momentum going with projects like Sorry to Bother You, Army of the Dead, Pieces of Her, and more coming on Netflix. Off-screen, he’s built theater groups, started a production company, and written thousands of poems. The guy doesn’t quit.