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Rockmond Dunbar

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Rockmond Dunbar
Dunbar in 2014
Born (1973-01-11) January 11, 1973 (age 51)
Oakland, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1993–present
Spouses
  • Ivy Holmes
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2003; div. 2006)​
  • Maya Gilbert
    ​
    (m. 2013)​
Children4

Rockmond Dunbar (born January 11, 1973) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Baines on the NBC series Earth 2, Kenny Chadway on Showtime family drama Soul Food,[1] and Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the Fox crime drama Prison Break. He also played Sheriff Eli Roosevelt on the FX Drama series Sons of Anarchy, FBI Agent Dennis Abbott on The Mentalist,[2] FBI Agent Abe Gaines in the Hulu series The Path, and Michael Grant on 9-1-1.[3]

Early life and education

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Dunbar was born January 11, 1973,[4] in Oakland, California.[5] He attended Oakland Technical High School and attended Morehouse College for one year before moving on to study at the College of Santa Fe and the University of New Mexico.[5][6]

Career

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Television

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Dunbar is known for his leading role as Kenny Chadway on the television series Soul Food, and TV Guide named him as one of "Television's 50 Sexiest Stars of All Time".[7] He landed a regular role as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the television series Prison Break. In 2007, Dunbar starred on the short-lived TNT medical drama Heartland. He made a guest appearance on Noah's Arc as himself to give Noah (screenwriter and the main character of the show) some ideas about his movie Fine Art. He also had a recurring role on the UPN series Girlfriends,[1] and is also known for his role as "Pookie" on the television series The Game. He was also a regular on the short-lived FX series Terriers.

Dunbar's other TV credits include guest appearances in Earth 2, Felicity, The Pretender, Two Guys and a Girl, and North Shore.

In 2011, he joined the cast of FX's show Sons of Anarchy as the new Sheriff of Charming, Eli Roosevelt. In 2013, Dunbar joined the CBS crime drama The Mentalist as FBI agent Dennis Abbott. In 2018, Dunbar joined the cast of 9-1-1 as Michael Grant, leaving in 2021 over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, after his requests for exemptions were denied.[8] In February 2022, it was reported that he has sued the makers of the show, saying he "was denied medical and religious exemptions and faced racial discrimination."[9] In July 25, 2022, it was reported that Dunbar's case of racial misconduct was dismissed as baseless by a judge in a Los Angeles Courtroom, but that Disney/Fox does face some claims from Rockmond Dunbar alleging religious and racial discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract, among other claims.[10]

Film

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His film projects include Punks (which debuted at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival), Misery Loves Company, Sick Puppies, Whodunit, Dirty Laundry, All About You,[1] Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and the Tyler Perry-produced film, The Family That Preys.

Other

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Dunbar has contributed to the art world through the mixed media exhibit, ARTHERAPY.[11] He posed for the November 2003 issue of Playgirl magazine.[12]

Personal life

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From 2003 to 2006, Dunbar was married to Ivy Holmes.[13]

On December 30, 2012, Dunbar became engaged, after dating for a year, to Maya Gilbert, an actress,[14][15] in Montego Bay, Jamaica.[16][17]

Dunbar is a member of the Church of Universal Wisdom, whose members are "obligated to avoid medical intervention that introduces disease into the body".[9][18] His lawsuit against Disney and Fox alleges that their lawyers called his religion "fake" and his beliefs "insincere" in discussions about the Covid-19 vaccination mandate.[19][20]

According to DNA analysis, Dunbar's ancestry is mainly from the Yoruba people of Nigeria.[21] On his visit to Nigeria, he was given the Yoruba name, Omobowale[22] (a variant form of Omowale) meaning "our son has come home."[23]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1993 Misery Loves Company Eric Haynes
2000 Punks Darby
2001 All About You Tim
2004 Hollywood Division Det. Reginald Feiffer TV movie
2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Mr. Fire
2006 Dirty Laundry Patrick/Sheldon
2008 The Family That Preys Chris
Alien Raiders Kane
Jada Simon
2009 Pastor Brown Amir Rahiem
2011 The Truth – Short
2012 A Taste of Romance Danny Marsh TV movie
Echo at 11 Oak Drive Abner
Raising Izzie Greg Freeman TV movie
2013 Doubt Steve Adams TV movie
2014 More to Love Terrence
Envy or Greed Anderson Connell Short
2015 Love Is a Four-Letter Word Nick TV movie
Curve Ball James
2016 Fate Enzo Friend Short
2017 The Cheaters Club Eric
2018 Edge of Fear Mike Dwyer
City of Lies Dreadlocks
2022 Red Winter Harold
TBA One Spoon of Chocolate TBA Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1994–95 Earth 2 Baines Recurring cast
1996 The Lazarus Man Patter Episode: "The Penance"
1997 Good News Bonz Episode: "Writing on the Wall" & "A Joyful Noise"
1998 The Wayans Bros. Barry Episode: "The Son of Marlon"
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Tommy Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Homecoming"
1999 Pacific Blue Tiger Bates Episode: "Infierno"
The Practice Byron Little Episode: "Infected"
The Pretender Joe Taylor Episode: "Qallupilluit"
Felicity Man on Train Episode: "The Depths"
2000 G vs E Sonny Rhymes Episode: "Renunciation"
2000–04 Soul Food Kenny Chadway Main cast
2003–04 Girlfriends Jalen Guest: season 3, recurring cast: season 4
2004 North Shore Agent Fernley Episode: "Secret Service"
2005 Head Cases Dr. Robinson Recurring cast
2005–17 Prison Break Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin Main cast: Season 1-2 & 5, recurring cast: Season 4
2007 Heartland Dr. Thomas Jonas Main cast
Shark Teddy Banks Episode: "No Holds Barred"
Grey's Anatomy Sean Brotherton Episode: "Physical Attraction... Chemical Reaction"
CSI: Miami James Reilly Episode: "Guerillas in the Mist"
2009–15 The Game Pookie Guest: season 3, recurring cast: season 5–9
2010 Private Practice Jacob Deever Episode: "All in the Family"
The Defenders Bounce Episode: "Nevada v. Killa Diz"
Terriers Det. Mark Gustafson Main cast
2011 The Chicago Code Robert Turner Episode: "O'Leary's Cow"
The Closer Antwone Decker Episode: "Unknown Trouble"
2011–13 Sons of Anarchy Sheriff Eli Roosevelt Recurring cast: season 4–6
2012–13 For Richer or Poorer Aubrey Main cast
2013–15 The Mentalist FBI Agent Dennis Abbott Main cast: Season 6-7
2016–17 The Path Detective Abe Gaines Main cast: season 1–2
2017 Scorpion Scotty Recurring cast: season 3
2018–21 9-1-1 Michael Grant Main cast: season 1–5
2021 Aftershock Lawrence Ansley Recurring cast
2021–22 The Game Pookie 2 episodes
2024 Law & Order Principal Sykes Episode: "Report Card"
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Uncle Willie Miniseries

References

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  1. ^ a b c Zondra Hughes (December 1, 2005). "Hollywood's Sexiest New Leading Men". Ebony. 61 (2). Johnson Publishing Company: 96. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  2. ^ Natalie Abrams (August 24, 2013). "Rockmond Dunbar Joins the Cast of The Mentalist". TV Guide. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Josh Wigler, "'Prison Break': Rockmond Dunbar Discusses C-Note's "Heartbreaking" Choice". Hollywood Reporter, May 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Rose, Mike (January 11, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 11, 2023 includes celebrities Mary J. Blige, Amanda Peet". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Rockmond Dunbar". TVGuide.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Carter, Lance (October 23, 2012). "Q&A: Rockmond Dunbar talks 'Sons of Anarchy', How He Got His Start and the Question That Changed His Life". DailyActor. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Rockmond Dunbar Returns as Dennis Abbott for the Final Season of THE MENTALIST on CBS". Broadwayworld. Wisdom Digital Media. November 23, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 16, 2021). "Rockmond Dunbar Exits '9-1-1' Over Covid Vaccine Mandate After Pursuing Medical & Religious Exemptions". Deadline.
  9. ^ a b "US TV actor Rockmond Dunbar sues Disney over Covid 'discrimination'". BBC. February 18, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Former '911' Castmember's Vaccine Dismissal Lawsuit Against Disney Narrowed by Judge". The Hollywood Reporter. July 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Rockmond Dunbar". Hallmark Channel.
  12. ^ Playgirl (November 2003)
  13. ^ "Wedding Bells Are Ringing: Rockmond Dunbar and Maya Gilbert Are Getting Married". MadameNoire. January 27, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Election Underway: Fran Drescher To Face Maya Gilbert-Dunbar For President; Joely Fisher And Peter Antico Vie For Secretary-Treasurer". Yahoo Entertainment. August 3, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Rockmond Dunbar and Maya Gilbert-Dunbar Campaign". lasentinel.net. August 24, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "Wedding Bells Are Ringing: Rockmond Dunbar and Maya Gilbert Are Getting Married". Madame Noire. January 27, 2013.
  17. ^ "Actor Rockmond Dunbar A New Dad". Contactmusic.com. December 13, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Hipes, Patrick; Patten, Dominic (February 17, 2022). "Rockmond Dunbar Sues Disney For Discrimination Over Vaccine Mandate That Led To '9-1-1' Exit". Deadline. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Lancaster, Alaina (February 17, 2022). "Actor Rockmond Dunbar Claims Disney In-House Lawyer Said Religion Was 'Fake' While Seeking COVID-19 Vaccine Workplace Exemption". ALM Law.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  20. ^ Cho, Winston (February 17, 2022). "Former '911' Castmember Sues Over Vaccine Refusal Dismissal, Claims Racial Discrimination". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Rockmond Dunbar Traces His DNA To Nigeria". Youtube. September 16, 2011. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  22. ^ "Homecoming for Rockmond Dunbar and mother". The Vanguard. April 28, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  23. ^ "Omowale". Online Nigeria Nigerian Names and Meanings.
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