David Gyasi

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David Gyasi
Born
David Kwaku Asamoah Gyasi

(1980-01-02) 2 January 1980 (age 44)
Hammersmith, London, England
Alma materMiddlesex University
Years active2003–present
SpouseEmma Gyasi
Children2

David Kwaku Asamoah Gyasi (/ˈdʒæsi/;[1] born 2 January 1980) is a British actor. His films include Cloud Atlas (2012) and Interstellar (2014). On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC series White Heat (2012) and Troy: Fall of a City (2018), the CW miniseries Containment (2016), the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row (2019–2023), and the Netflix political thriller The Diplomat (2023).

Early life[edit]

Gyasi was born 2 January 1980[2] in Hammersmith, London, one of seven children to Ashanti Ghanaian parents[3] who had arrived in England in 1966.[4] They divorced when he was young. Gyasi grew up in Fulham and Hayes. He attended Bishopshalt School[5] and completed his A Levels at East Berkshire College.[6] He went on to study Drama at Middlesex University.[7]

Career[edit]

Gyasi landed his first main television role as Jeremy Hands in the 2005 ITV comedy Mike Bassett: Manager, a follow-up to Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), and his first major film role that same year in Michael Caton-Jones' Shooting Dogs. Gyasi appeared alongside Kit Harington in the 2008 National Theatre production of War Horse.

In 2012, Gyasi starred in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas as a Moriori slave called Autua; his inaccurate casting caused controversy for perpetuating false stereotypes about Moriori people.[8][9] He then young Victor (played by Hugh Quarshie later in the character's life) in the BBC Two historical drama White Heat. This was followed by roles in the BBC One television film The Whale (2013) and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (2014), the latter of which earned him a Black Reel Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. Gyasi was cast as the lead of The Interceptor, also on BBC One, but had to drop out due to a heel injury. The role was taken over by O. T. Fagbenle.[10]

Gyasi starred as Major Alex "Lex" Carnahan in 2016 the CW miniseries Containment. He went on to portray Achilles in the 2018 BBC and Netflix adaptation of The Iliad, titled Troy: Fall of a City. From 2019 to 2023, he starred as Agreus in the Amazon Prime fantasy series Carnival Row.[11] He also led the Western film Hell on the Border[12] and appeared in Cold Blood, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Come Away. He had a recurring role as Ben Chambers in series 3 of The A Word.

Personal life[edit]

Gyasi began dating his wife Emma (née Llaudes) during sixth form at East Berkshire College. They had their first child, a daughter Elèna, who is now an actress.[13] The couple married that year and later had their second child, a son Nathaniel.[7] The family settled in a Buckinghamshire village.[14] Gyasi is a practising Anglican.[15]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2003 What a Girl Wants Ian's Band Member
2005 Shooting Dogs François
2006 Shoot the Messenger Timothy
2012 Red Tails Corporal
The Dark Knight Rises Skinny Prisoner
Cloud Atlas Autua / Lester Rey / Duophysite
2014 Interstellar Romilly
2018 Annihilation Daniel
Hunter Killer The Chief of the Boat of USS Arkansas
2019 Cold Blood Malcolm
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Percival
Hell on the Border Bass Reeves
2020 Come Away Captain Hook
2021 Ear for Eye US Dad

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Goal Joe Saunders 1 episode
2003–2004 Casualty Bryce 2 episodes
2004 Murder City Reporter 1 episode
William and Mary Policeman 1 episode
2005 Sea of Souls Lucas Hegarty 2 episodes
Dream Team Marlon 1 episode
No Angels Leonard 1 episode
The Brief DS Kitson 1 episode
Mike Bassett: Manager Jeremy Hands 5 episodes
The Bill Jason Fielding 1 episode
2005–2007 Doctors Joe Fisher / Sean Foster 2 episodes
2006 Torchwood Hospital Patient 1 episode
2007 Coming Up Marlon 1 episode
Silent Witness DS Ian Cross 1 episode
2008 Waking the Dead Charlie Ayanike 2 episodes
Apparitions Father Daniel 2 episodes
2009 Demons Physics Teacher 1 episode
Law & Order: UK Lennie Gaines 1 episode
Murderland Will 2 episodes
2010 Holby City Moses Abebe 1 episode
2012 White Heat Victor Main role; 6 episodes
Doctor Who Harvey 1 episode
2013 The Whale Peterson Television film
2016 Containment Lex Carnahan Lead role
2017 Man in an Orange Shirt Steve Episode 2
2018 Troy: Fall of a City Achilles 8 episodes
2019–2023 Carnival Row Agreus Main role
2020 The A Word Ben 5 episodes
2022 The Sandman The Grey Cat (voice) Episode: "Dream of a Thousand Cats"
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself Marcus Edge 3 episodes
2023 The Diplomat Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison Main role

Stage[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio Library Theatre, Manchester[16]
2008–2009 War Horse Lieutenant Stewart / Rudi Royal National Theatre, London

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Cast Of "Carnival Row" Tells Us About Their Firsts". BuzzFeed Celeb. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. ^ Kebble, Mark (June 2021). "Living the Dream". Absolutely Berkshire magazine. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. ^ Ngimbi, Emmanuella (2020). "Hell On The Border: Interview With David Gyasi". Pride. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. ^ "EUR Exclusive: 'Interstellar' Star David Gyasi Discusses Key Role in Film (Watch) – EURweb". 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  5. ^ "david gyasi [carnival row]". A Book of Magazine. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  6. ^ "College and Firestation Arts team-up to ignite new talent". Windsor Forest College. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b Hoggard, Liz (29 March 2012). "I never thought about what my father went through when he came here". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  8. ^ Monji, Jana J. (19 November 2012). "A hovering accusation of racism shadows 'Cloud Atlas'". Age of the Geek. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ says, Desechables Monterrey (25 March 2014). "Accumulated Histories and Disposable People in Cloud Atlas and the Black Atlantic". The Black Atlantic. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  10. ^ Dowell, Ben (30 August 2019). "The rise and rise of David Gyasi". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (22 September 2017). "'Carnival Row': David Gyasi, Karla Crome, Indira Varma & Tamzin Merchant Join Amazon's Fantasy Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  12. ^ Colurso, Mary. "Filming of "Hell on the Border" in Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ Rosky, Nicole (16 July 2021). "Photos: New Shots of the Queens of the SIX UK Tour!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  14. ^ "ear for eye actor David Gyasi talks about how heart breaking having that "conversation" with 13 year old son was". Alt a Review. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  15. ^ Handley MacMath, Terence (1 February 2021). "Interview: David Gyasi, actor". Church Times. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  16. ^ "David Gyasi". BBA Shakespeare. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

External links[edit]

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