David Ajala

David Ajala
David Ajala at San Diego Comic-Con 2019
Born (1986-05-21) 21 May 1986 (age 38)
Hackney, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present
SpouseTerri Martin
Children2

David Ajala (born 21 May 1986[1]) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Manchester Black in Supergirl (2018–2019), Captain Roy Eris in Nightflyers (2018), and Cleveland "Book" Booker in Star Trek: Discovery (2020–2024).[2]

Early life

David Ajala was born in Hackney, London.[3] He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin.[4] He trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls".[3]

Career

On stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet,[5] and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.[6]

In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood[3] and Brotherhood;[7] he has also appeared in The Dark Knight[5] and in major roles in Starred Up[3] and the 2016 Seekers.[7] On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who[5] and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.[8]

Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.

Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011)[9] and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.[10]

In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of Supergirl.[11]

From 2020 to 2024, Ajala played the series regular role of Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.[12]

Personal life

Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.[13]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Kidulthood Desmond Uncredited
2008 Adulthood Desmond
The Dark Knight Bounty Hunter #2
2010 Winter Sun Guy Short film
Following Footsteps Christopher Knight
2011 One Day Floor Manager
Spirit Terror Short film
2012 Payback Season Baron
Illegal Activity Edward Short film
Offender Kelvin
Sentenced Served Marvin Short film
2013 Fast & Furious 6 Ivory
Starred Up Tyrone
Breakthrough Henry Short film
2014 Queen of Diamonds Bench Guy Short film
Emulsion Jeff
2015 Jupiter Ascending Ibis
He Works the Long Nights Short film
Spirit Terror Short film
2016 Seekers Amadu Short film
Kill Command Drifter
Brotherhood Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch
2017 The Art of Love Anthony Short film
Support Chris Short film
Without Disguise Leo Short film
2021 Italian Studies Ade
2023 Daylight Rules Frank Short film
TBA The Woman in Cabin 10 Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Dream Team Sean Campbell 18 episodes
2008 The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury Steve Episode: "Technology Bytes"
The Bill Lenny Jones Episode: "Beth Undercover"
Trexx and Flipside Flipside 6 episodes
2009 Hamlet Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner TV film
2010 Doctor Who Peter Episode: "The Beast Below"
2011 Silent Witness Mark Blakefield 2 episodes
Coming Up Malachi Episode: "Micah"
Misfits Private Investigator Episode #3.6
2012 Monroe Max Portas Episode #2.4
2013 Death in Paradise Louis Nelson Episode: "Murder on the Plantation"
Black Mirror Jeff Carter Episode: "The Waldo Moment"
Law & Order: UK Gavin Dale 2 episodes
2014 Black Box Will Van Renseller 13 episodes
2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Rate 6 episodes
Hooten & the Lady Dawit Episode: "Ethiopia"
The Break Xavier Episode: "System Cycle"
2016–2018 Falling Water Burton 20 episodes
2018 Nightflyers Roy Eris 10 episodes
2018–2019 Supergirl Manchester Black 7 episodes
2019 Urban Myths The Burglar Episode: "Grace Under Pressure"
2020–2024 Star Trek: Discovery Cleveland "Book" Booker 33 episodes[14]
The Ready Room Himself 4 episodes
2024 The Jetty Casey 4 episodes
TBA Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue Zack In production

Video games

Year Title Role
2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Additional voices
Need for Speed: Payback Sean 'Mac' McAlister

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Venue
2006 You Are Right If You Say So Lamberto Laudisi Courtyard Theatre, London
How to Steal a Diamond YM Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
2007 The Swing of Things Claude Kabinda Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
2008 A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander (Understudy) Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Love's Labour's Lost Lord Dumaine (Understudy) Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
2009 Death and the King's Horseman HRH The Prince Royal National Theatre, London
Nation Milo Royal National Theatre, London
2010 Ruined Fortune Almeida Theatre, London
2012 The Witness Simon Royal Court Theatre, London
2016 One Night in Miami Jim Brown Donmar Warehouse, London

References

  1. ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (21 May 2024). "Famous birthdays list for today, May 21, 2024 includes celebrities Sarah Ramos, Mr. T". cleveland. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Emma Brown (1 May 2014). "Discovery: David Ajala". Interview. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. ^ "David Ajala Talks About Current Role In ITV's New Drama Series, Beowulf". The British Blacklist. 10 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Rising Brit actor David Ajala talks Dr Who and Hollywood". Flavour Magazine. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  6. ^ Vincent Dowd (11 October 2016). "Muhammad Ali play puts icons of black America on stage". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Watch: Clare-Hope Ashitey & David Ajala Star in London-Set Short Drama-Thriller, 'Seekers'". Shadow and Act. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  8. ^ Nellie Andreeva (23 June 2015). "David Ajala To Star In USA Pilot 'Falling Water'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria, The Price of Oil, Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. ^ "See David Ajala As Manchester Black In New 'Supergirl' Photo". Heroic Hollywood. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. ^ Stone, Sam (1 May 2024). "Star Trek: Discovery's David Ajala Is Candid About Book's 'Complicated' Future". CBR.
  13. ^ "David Ajala". At the Movies. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.