Wood Harris Wiki Biography, brother, net worth, wife, height

Known for movies

Remember the Titans (2000)
as Julius Campbell

Ant-Man (2015)
as Gale

Creed (2015)
as Tony 'Little Duke' Burton

Dredd (2012)
as Kay

• Born in Chicago, Wood Harris grew up in an African-American family with part-time actor parents.
• He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and a Master of Arts, starting his career in stage productions.
• Harris is renowned for his roles in “The Wire” and “Paid in Full,” showcasing his versatility in acting.
• Married since 2001, Harris maintains a stable personal life amidst a busy acting career.
• As of 2024, his net worth is approximately $4 million, reflecting a successful and consistent acting career.

Who is Wood Harris?

Sherwin David “Wood” Harris, an American actor, entered this world in Chicago, Illinois, on 17 October 1969, during the astrological reign of Libra. At 54 years of age, he has garnered recognition primarily for his compelling depiction of Avon Barksdale, a drug dealer and crime syndicate leader, in the renowned HBO series “The Wire.”

Additionally, audiences laud his portrayal of Ace, yet another compelling drug dealer character, in the highly acclaimed 2002 crime drama film “Paid in Full.” Known for his diverse portrayals ranging from basketball players to boxers and drug dealers, Sherwin is widely regarded as one of the most adaptable actors of his era, owing largely to his keen situational awareness. He shares the acting craft with his brother, Steve Harris.

 

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Early Life and Education: Growing Up in Chicago

Wood was born into an African-American family – his father John was a bus driver, while his mother Mattie was a seamstress. Interestingly, both of them were part-time actors but didn’t have much success in pursuing their dreams of being movie stars. However, the notion that they didn’t achieve their goals was exactly the example and the motivation young Wood needed in his early life. After matriculating from high school in 1988, he took a gap year to travel around the country, then enrolled at Northern Illinois University (NIU), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts. Later in his career, he enrolled at New York University, from which he holds a Master of Arts. While studying, he started appearing in a number of independent plays and was also cast in the role which propelled him to stardom.

Career Beginnings: Various Stage Productions and Above The Rim

During his time at NIU, Harris delved into acting, primarily participating in stage productions featuring works by renowned playwrights such as Shakespeare. However, his foray into film began in 1994 when he secured the role of Motaw in the basketball drama “Above the Rim,” co-starring alongside Tupac Shakur. The film revolves around the narrative of two brothers, Shep (Leon) and Birdie (Tupac).

In “Above the Rim,” Shep, once a basketball luminary turned security guard, does his best to shield a young man from the sway of Birdie, a hustler and drug peddler. Portraying Motaw, Wood seamlessly integrated with the principal characters and earned acclaim for his adaptability, particularly noteworthy as this marked his debut acting credit. His remarkable performance foreshadowed his future success.

1996 – 2001: NYPD Blue, Oz, Cosby and More

After breaking out with his role in “Above the Rim”, Wood was determined to continue trending upwards. He took some time off from acting to finish his thesis and earn his Bachelor of Arts, so his next acting credit came in 1996. The role of Hector in “NYPD Blue” might have been an insignificant one in the grand scheme of his career, but it ultimately defined him as an actor. He became known as one of the best crime drama actors of all time, able to flawlessly assume the role of any drug kingpin or police officer.

In 1997 he continued in the same direction, and appeared as Officer Gordon Wood in “Oz”. The same year, he decided to experiment a bit, so he amazed comedy fans by playing Tony in “Cosby”. After a minor role in “As Good as It Gets”, he assumed roles in “New York Undercover” and in movies such as “Celebrity”, “The Siege”, “Committed” and others.

2000 was a particularly hectic year for him, as he had seven acting credits in a span of just a few months, the most notable of which were “Hendrix” and “Remember the Titans”. However, 2002 was the year when Harris became a true household name.

A True Star: The Wire and Paid In Full

Because of his already impressive resume, in 2002 Wood was cast as the notorious drug kingpin Avon Barksdale in the hit HBO series “The Wire”. He appeared in a total of 38 episodes over the course of six years, and critics regularly praised him for his uncanny way of approaching such a difficult role. This particular part allowed him to become one of the greats in the crime drama genre.

The same year, he appeared in “Paid in Full”, a dramatic crime movie about a young African-American who was fed up with living in poverty, and subsequently decided to build one of the biggest drug empires the East Coast has ever seen. Directed by Charles Stone III, the film is seen as a cult classic by both fans and critics alike. These two roles allowed Harris to blossom even further.

A Never-Ending Streak of Quality Roles

After 2002, Wood continued getting important roles and he played them masterfully. His most notable appearances in the mid-2000s include “Dirty”, “Joy Road”, “The Twilight Zone” and even an appearance on “House”. He was also praised for his quality acting in “Just Another Day” and “Dough Boys”, both of which are deemed to be exceptional titles. An interesting thing about Wood’s acting is that he doesn’t only have raw talent and an admirable work ethic – he also has “a nose” for picking the right movie. Rarely does a movie with Harris in it turn out to be a flop. While he doesn’t have too many awards to his name, he is still one of the most consistent actors of the last 20 years, considering the fact that he has multiple roles on a yearly basis.

The 2010s

Entering the 2010s with vigor, Harris made notable appearances in three episodes of “Southland,” a television series focusing on the conflict between criminals and law enforcement in Los Angeles. Subsequently, he was featured in “Hawaii Five-0” and “Justified” for several episodes. The year 2015 marked a significant milestone in his career, with standout roles in two blockbuster hits: “Creed” and “Ant-Man.”

Sherwyn’s compelling portrayal in “Creed” earned him recognition to reprise his role as Tony Burton, aka Little Duke, in “Creed II,” as insisted by director Ryan Coogler. In the late 2010s, he graced the screen in “Blade Runner 2049” and “9/11” with his most recent project being a 10-episode stint on “Empire,” portraying Damon Cross. Currently, he has several projects in post-production, including “Sweetwater,” depicting the narrative of Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton, the pioneering African-American to join the NBA.

I'm on T.V again momma. Watch The Breaks w my mom. She crazy bout her baby…lol..me. pic.twitter.com/fFZwfgswR1

— Noble Wood Harris (@WoodHarris) February 28, 2017

A Possible Venture into Music?

In 2005, Wood produced his own rap album named “Beautiful Wonderful”, but problems with finding the right record label resulted in the album never being released. Harris is an avid hip-hop fan, so we might see him release something to the public in the near future.

Personal Life: Is Wood Harris Married? Who is His Wife?

Wood Harris married Rebecca in 2001; they met at a party organized by a mutual friend and clicked immediately. Despite Wood’s hectic work rate, they have managed to keep their marriage functional, and there isn’t even the slightest hint of controversy surrounding them. Wood, as mentioned, has an older brother, Steve Harris, who is also an actor, and has also appeared in several crime dramas. While in high school, he was a star football player who wanted to go into the National Football League (NFL), but was unable to fulfill his dreams because of a nasty ankle injury.

Body Measurements: How Tall is Wood Harris?

Wood Harris is 6 feet 3 inches (191cms) tall, which surely helps him whenever he plays his favorite sport, basketball. His other measurements are unknown.

How Rich is Wood Harris?

According to several credible sources, Wood Harris has a net worth of approximately $4 million, as of 2024 accumulated due to his incessant will to improve as an actor, which resulted in him appearing in five or more films or TV shows on a yearly basis. Given the fact that he is still going strong, we might see this number rise in the near future.