Nyambi Nyambi

Nyambi Nyambi
Born (1979-04-26) April 26, 1979 (age 45)
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present

Nyambi Nyambi (born April 26, 1979) is an American actor. His most prominent role has been Samuel in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly.[1] He has played investigator Jay DiPersia in the Paramount+ legal drama The Good Fight from 2017 to 2022.

Early life and education

Nyambi was born in Norman, Oklahoma, to Nigerian parents on April 26, 1979. He attended Oakton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia.

He attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where he played Division I college basketball.[2][3][4]

After graduating, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in acting at New York University in New York City.[5] In 2012, he began working toward a second master's degree, via an online program in administrative leadership at the University of Oklahoma.[6]

Career

Nyambi took up acting in his senior year at Bucknell, and decided to attend NYU (rather than Yale, where he had also been admitted for graduate school) to pursue his acting interest.[7] He also attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.[8]

He had a bit part in the independent film Day Night Day Night as Organizer. He appeared in the episode "Four Cops Shot" in the final season of the original run of Law & Order and in the independent film William Vincent alongside James Franco and Josh Lucas.

Among his stage roles have been Caliban in a 2008 Classic Stage Company production of The Tempest[9] and Alfred in a 2009 production of Athol Fugard's Coming Home at The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia.[10]

His big break came when he was cast in the sitcom Mike & Molly as Samuel, a Senegalese waiter[7] who works at Mike and Carl's favorite restaurant.

In 2017, Nyambi joined The Good Fight in a recurring role as a law firm investigator.[11] For the second season, he was promoted to regular cast member.[12]

in 2018, he voiced J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter in the animated films The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen, as well as John Stewart in Lego DC Super-Villains. He also appeared in the 2018 American comedy-drama Blindspotting.

On January 18, 2024, it was reported that Nyambi Nyambi was promoted to a series regular on Night Court.[13]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Law & Order Jackson Early Episode: "Four Cops Shot"
2010–2016 Mike & Molly Samuel
2017–2022 The Good Fight Jay DiPersia Recurring role (seasons 2–6)
2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Verminator Rex, Ravagers Voice, 3 episodes[14]
2022–2023 Titans Freedom Beast 2 episodes[15]
2024-present Night Court Wyatt Shaw Series regular

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2018 The Death of Superman Martian Manhunter Voice, direct-to-video[14]
2019 Reign of the Supermen

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Lego DC Super-Villains John Stewart

References

  1. ^ "Nyambi Dextrous", Los Angeles Sentinel, May 31, 2012, via HighBeam Research.
  2. ^ Player bio at Bucknell Bison website (accessed 2012-05-07).
  3. ^ "Getting in the Act". Bucknell Magazine. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  4. ^ Item, Harold RakerThe Daily. "Former Bucknell hoops start now a TV star". The Daily Item. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  5. ^ Profile at CBS.
  6. ^ Heather Warlick-Moore, "Nigerian-American actor Nyambi Nyambi Sooner born and bred", The Oklahoman, May 7, 2012 (pay site).
  7. ^ a b Harold Raker, "Former Bucknell hoops start now a TV star", The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), April 14, 2012.
  8. ^ "Alumni Stories: Nyambi Nyambi '01", Bucknell University website, Winter 2009 (accessed 2012-05-07).
  9. ^ Charles Isherwood, "Music in Shakespeare’s Island Chaos", The New York Times, September 19, 2008. ("The handsome Mr. Nyambi is hardly a "misshapen" creature, and the pleading moan in his voice and his imploring eyes make a strong bid for our compassion.")
  10. ^ Howard Shapiro, "Fugard's bifurcated play, indulgent then compelling", Philadelphia Inquirer, October 23, 2009 ("a portrayal nailed by Nyambi Nyambi, and enhanced by the way he uses his large, sculpted hands").
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 25, 2017). "'The Good Fight' Adds Nyambi Nyambi As Recurring".
  12. ^ "'The Good Fight' Creators Discuss Season 2 Cast Changes". The Hollywood Reporter. 21 November 2017.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 18, 2024). "'Night Court' Revival at NBC Promotes Nyambi Nyambi to Series Regular (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Nyambi Nyambi (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 11, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  15. ^ Mysogland, Gregory (April 29, 2023). "'Titans' Season 4's Crossover Episodes Set Up the Franchise's Most Iconic Friendship". Collider. Retrieved December 11, 2023.