O-T Fagbenle

Early life

Born in London to a Yoruba Nigerian father, journalist Tunde Fagbenle, and an English mother, Ally Bedford, Fagbenle was raised by his mother and lived in Nigeria, Spain, and the UK as a child. He started learning the alto saxophone and within a year joined the South Coast Jazz Band, which toured the Edinburgh Festival. In the UK he performed as a musician in big bands at the Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall.

His younger brothers include actor and film producer Luti Fagbenle, and video director and producer Daps. His sister is WNBA player and Olympian Temi Fagbenle.

Acting career

Theatre

He started acting at the age of 14 for the Ritual Theatre Arts and was given the lead role in an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, performing at international venues and at central London's Bloomsbury Theatre. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts

Fagbenle continued his Shakespearean roles by performing in Romeo and Juliet as Mercutio in a national tour culminating at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2004. The Evening Telegraph said of his performance, "O-T Fagbenle achieves the impossible by almost overshadowing the young lovers with his inspired performance of Mercutio".

Fagbenle was soon offered his first all-out lead. Outstanding reviews preceded a M.E.N. Theatre Award for best actor in a leading role for his portrayal of a man claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son in John Guare's award-winning play Six Degrees of Separation.

In 2008, Fagbenle flew to Paris with the theatre director Peter Brook to help workshop and develop Brook's international production of Tierno Bokar.

After John W. Bubbles in the original opera and Sammy Davis Jr. in the film, Fagbenle played the role of Sportin' Life in Sir Trevor Nunn's production of Porgy and Bess - The Musical at the Savoy Theatre in the West End of London. Fagbenle received outstanding reviews. Variety magazine's review remarked 'There are moments everything takes wing as a musical, mostly whenever Fagbenle's splendidly serpentine, easeful Sportin' Life is around. Light on his feet, his every moment is poised and polished.'

In 2012 in London, England, Fagbenle took on the role of Slupianek in The Conquest of the South Pole at the Arcola and Rose Theatres. Again Fagbenle won critical acclaim across the board for his performance, with TimeOut, The British Theatre Guide, Spoonfed, Whatsonstage.com, and industry-standard 'The Stage' all praising his performance. Fagbenle went on to be panel nominated for 'Best Male Performance at the prestigious Off West End Awards.

It was announced by The Royal National Theatre that Fagbenle would be cast as the lead in their 2016 production of the play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Fagbenle led his cast to win the Olivier Award for best revival. BBC's Radio 4 said of his performance "Mesmeric - almost impossible to take your eyes off him." "I wanna see him again and again and again." "Rips your guts out."

Film

In 2006, Fagbenle appeared as Joe in the feature film Breaking and Entering with Jude Law and Juliette Binoche. He portrayed Sean, an American television star, opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd, in Amy Heckerling's 2007 I Could Never Be Your Woman.

In 2021, he appeared as Rick Mason in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow.

Television

Fagbenle starred in Little Miss Jocelyn from 2004 to 2006, as various characters in season one and as Mrs. Omwokwopopo's dead husband in season two. In 2006, Fagbenle starred in a BBC sitcom called Grownups and also appeared in the British TV series Agatha Christie's Marple. Fagbenle played "Other Dave" in the 2008, two-part Doctor Who story, "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead". In 2008–2009, Fagbenle starred in two dramas for the BBC, including the role of Walter Tull in Walter's War, a biopic of the first mixed-heritage officer in the British Army, in which he again garnered outstanding international reviews.

In 2009, Fagbenle played the role of Topher Kiefer in the ITV series, FM, and in January 2010 Fagbenle took a leading role as Chris in the BBC One show Material Girl, starring Dervla Kirwan and Lenora Crichlow. He then had a continuing role in both three-episode installments of the 2010 Thorne television series with David Morrissey in the titular role, which were adapted from two Mark Billingham novels, Sleepyhead (episodes 1–2, also starring Natascha McElhone) and Scaredy Cat (episodes 4–6, also starring Sandra Oh), all directed by Stephen Hopkins. After his Material Girl performance, he went on to be cast in the 2011 American romantic comedy Double Wedding. Fagbenle also appeared as 'Mark Lightfoot' in episode six of the first season of Death in Paradise in that same year.

In 2012, after taking some time to "do some theatre and develop [his] writing projects", Fagbenle accepted a lead role in the 2013 BBC comedy Quick Cuts alongside actress and Smack the Pony star Doon Mackichan. That same year, he starred in the first season of HBO's original drama Looking, where played Frank, a sweet-hearted Ohio musician with troubles from a live-in partner (reprising the role in season 2). BBC Drama cast Fagbenle in the lead role of their criminal drama The Interceptor, which began filming in London in April 2014; in 2015 he was won the MViSA awards for best male actor for his performance in that work.

After appearing in the second season of HBO's Looking, Fagbenle was cast as the lead in American crime writer Harlan Coben's original drama series The Five which first aired in April 2016 on Sky 1 in the United Kingdom. On 14 November 2016 he appeared in a BBC2 adaptation of Zadie Smith's novel NW. In 2017, he began the role of Luke Bankole in Hulu's screen adaption of Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, for which he has received multiple nominations for Screen Actors Guild awards.

On 16 August 2021, it was announced that Fagbenle had joined the cast of Apple TV+ limited series WeCrashed in a recurring role as Cameron Lautner.

In 2023, Fagbenle reprised his role as Rick Mason from Black Widow in a cameo appearance in the Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion, also set in the MCU. In 2024 he was featured in Apple TV's Loot, starring Maya Rudolph, as Sophia Salina's boyfriend.

In 2024, he played Nico Della Guardia in Presumed Innocent.

Radio

For several months in 2004 he took the part of Kwame in the BBC World Service radio soap opera Westway.

He has performed multiple times for the BBC including the lead role in Six Degrees of Separation, playing Marvin Gaye in a biopic, and two roles in the BBC Radio adaptation of The Color Purple, which went on to win the Sony Radio Academy Awards for Drama in 2009.

Writing and directing

In April 2020 Fagbenle made history when he became the first person to write, direct, compose, star and executive produce the opening episode of a TV series on a major US network with his show Maxxx (Hulu).

In 2021 Deadline reported that following the success of Maxxx "The multi-hyphenate currently has drama, comedy and non-scripted content in development."

Fagbenle's debut short film Moth won Best Sci-fi Horror at the London Film Festival The film, which was a metaphor for the effect of mentally ill parenting on children, was also made a part of a number of film festivals including the official selection at the Los Angeles Screamfest Film Festival, New York City Horror Film Festival, Austin Film Festival.

After a being awarded a fund by the Nigerian high commission/TRSE to write and direct a teaser for his movie idea, Fagbenle was commissioned by Bafta-nominated Lutimedia to develop Big Bad Blood, a teen comedy television series.

Music

Along with a starring actor credit, Fagbenle composed the music and penned the lyrics for several songs for the NBC drama Quarterlife, created by Marshall Herskovitz and Oscar-winner Ed Zwick.

In 2011 Fagbenle co-wrote the song "Storm" for Grammy nominated artist Tyga on his Black Thoughts Vol. 2 mixtape and received over 8 million hits on worldstarhiphop.com.

Awards and nominations

Fagbenle was the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 13th African Film Awards. In 2012, Fagbenle was nominated for Best Male Performance at the Off West End Awards for his 'charismatic' portrayal of Slupianek in The Conquest of the South Pole.

Fagbenle was awarded Best Actor in a Leading Role at the M.E.N. awards for his performance in Six Degrees of Separation. In 2015, Fagbenle was nominated for "Best Male Performance on TV" by the Screen Nation Awards for his performance as Frank on HBO's Looking.

In 2015, Fagbenle was nominated and awarded by the MViSA awards for BEST MALE ACTOR for his performance in The Interceptor.

In 2016, Fagbenle and the cast of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Royal National Theatre led the production to an Olivier Award, the most prestigious honour in British Theatre.

In 2018, Fagbenle collected The Handmaid's Tale's International BAFTA Award. In 2019, Fagbenle received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role on The Handmaid's Tale.

In 2021 O-T Fagbenle received an Emmy Award nomination for his performance on the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale. For four seasons, he has played Luke, who is the husband of June Osborne played by Elizabeth Moss.

In 2021 O-T Fagbenle was nominated for best comedy performance at the Royal Television Society Awards for the comedy Maxxx, which he also wrote and produced.

In 2021 O-T as nominated for Best Actor at the prestigious Edinburgh TV awards for his show Maxxx.

In 2021 Maxxx received a nomination for Best Scripted Comedy at the National Comedy Awards celebrating the UK's most brilliant comedy content and creators. He was also individually nominated for best comedy actor.

In 2021 O-T Fagbenle was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Actor and Maxxx was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy Series at the National Comedy Awards launched by Channel 4.

Filmography

Film

TV

References

References

1. "'Looking' Interview: O-T Fagbenle on Playing Frank and His Cool Name". [[Logo TV.
2. (31 October 2010). "O-T Fagbenle...One of Many". ivymunro.com.
3. "O-T Fagbenle".
4. (21 May 2018). "Celebrated Columnist, Tunde Fagbenle loses son".
5. "Temi Fagbenle has many ambitions, and one is to play for the Lynx".
6. "O-T Fagbenle".
7. (31 October 2010). "O-T Fagbenle…One of Many".
8. "Temi Fagbenle".
9. Fagbenle, Temi. (7 July 2012). "Passions: Basketball star loves to tread the boards".
10. "Fallout at The Royal Court Theatre". royalcourttheatre.com.
11. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/coventry-evening-telegraph-england/mi_7969/is_2003_Nov_13/juliet-woeful-art-thou-reviews/ai_n33589505/ findarticles.com, 13 November 2003.
12. Baxter, Lew. (10 May 2004). "Six Degrees of Separation".
13. Walker, Lynne. (27 April 2004). "Six Degrees of Separation, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester".
14. (2004-04-24). "Six Degrees of Separation, Royal Exchange, Manchester".
15. link. (15 July 2011 reviewsgate.com, 26 April 2004.)
16. "The British Theatre Guide: Manchester Evening News Awards Winners".
17. "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess - West End - Tickets, Reviews, Info and More". theatermania.
18. [http://london.broadway.com/blog/id/3005838/O-TFagbenle O-T Fagbenle] {{webarchive. link. (7 January 2009 London.Broadway.com, 7 February 2007.)
19. "Awards".
20. link. (15 July 2011 reviewsgate.com, 22 November 2006.)
21. (2006-11-10). "Porgy and Bess, Savoy, London".
22. http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Theatre-Review/porgy-and-bess-savoy-theatre-review {{Webarchive. link. (15 February 2019 indielondon.com, 10 November 2006.)
23. http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/porgybessnunn-rev.htm {{Webarchive. link. (9 June 2011 British theatre guide.com, 10 November 2006.)
24. https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932102.html?categoryid=33&cs=1&query=porgy+and+bess+nunn Variety.com, 12 November 2006.
25. (1 May 2012). "The Conquest of the South Pole".
26. "The Conquest of the South Pole".
27. http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/the-conquest-of-arcola-theatre-7478 {{Webarchive. link. (6 October 2014 britishtheatreguidet.co.uk, 2 May 2012.)
28. (25 May 2012). "The Conquest of the South Pole".
29. (2 May 2012). "The Conquest of the South Pole".
30. "Subscription".
31. http://www.olivierawards.com/video/view/item358998/best-revival-ma-raineys-black-bottom/ {{Webarchive. link. (3 August 2016 olivierawards.com, 25 May 2016.)
32. BFI staff. (15 November 2021). "Breaking and Entering (2006)".
33. (10 April 2019). "Marvel's 'Black Widow' Snares 'The Handmaid's Tale' Actor O-T Fagbenle". [[Deadline Hollywood.
34. (2006-08-22). "Little Miss Jocelyn". Brown Eyed Boy, Pozzitive Productions, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
35. "O-T Fagbenle".
36. Wicks, Kevin. (3 March 2014). "'Looking' for 'Doctor Who': Russell Tovey, O.T. Fagbenle's Whovian". BBC America.
37. http://torontoist.com/2009/1/televisualist_the_best_comedy_show_on_tv_has_a_fart_machine.php {{dead link. (May 2017)
38. (8 November 2008). "TV picks: A History of Scotland - Walter's War - Walter Tull: Forgotten Hero - The Commander".
39. (8 November 2008). "The weekend's television choices".
40. (11 November 2008). "Walter's War, BBC4".
41. Pryce, Craig. (2010-06-20). "Double Wedding". Jaffe / Braunstein Enterprise, Lifetime Network.
42. "Movie Video & Screen Awards".
43. Gerard O'Donovan. (15 April 2016). "Harlan Coben's ''The Five'' is like a blood-spattered ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang''". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
44. "'WeCrashed': O-T Fagbenle Joins Apple TV+ Limited Series As Recurring".
45. (2023-07-19). "Secret Invasion fans react to surprise Black Widow cameo in episode 5".
46. (24 October 2009). "Alice Walker - The Color Purple".
47. Andreeva, Nellie. (2021-02-25). "'The First Lady': O-T Fagbenle To Play Barack Obama In Showtime Anthology Series".
48. "London Short Film Festival, UK (2015)".
49. "BIG BAD BLOOD TRAILER". Vimeo.
50. "Quarterlife - part 30 - quarterlife".
51. link. (27 March 2023 worldstarhiphop.com, 25 May 2012.)
52. Gbenga-Ogundare, Yejide. (27 November 2008). "Night of glitz, as African Movie Award holds in London". modernghana.com.
53. (1 May 2012). "The Conquest of the South Pole".
54. "Subscription".
55. http://www.citylife.co.uk/theatre_dance/news/9432_denise_and_o_t_reign_at_m_e_n__awards {{Webarchive. link. (4 August 2012 citylife.co.uk, 16 March 2010.)
56. "Screen Nation Awards".
57. "Movie Video & Screen Awards".
58. "Best Revival: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom".
59. (29 March 2018). "International - THE HANDMAID'S TALE".
60. (12 December 2018). "The Handmaid's Tale".
61. "O-T Fagbenle Reacts to His First Emmy Nomination".
62. "Comedians up for 2021 Royal Television Society Awards : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide".
63. (8 September 2021). "Edinburgh TV Awards shortlist unveiled".
64. (12 October 2021). "National Comedy Awards launched by Channel 4".
65. (12 October 2021). "National Comedy Awards launched by Channel 4 - News - British Comedy Guide".
66. Cordero, Rosy. (January 9, 2024). "Denis Leary & O-T Fagbenle Board Netflix's Ray Romano-Led 'No Good Deed'".
67. (19 March 2025). "What’s filming in Toronto and which celebrities you may just bump into".