
Sherwin David “Wood” Harris is known for his role as Avon Barksdale on the HBO crime drama The Wire. A Chicago native, Harris played basketball for Northern Illinois University while earning his Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts. Appearing in several off-Broadway plays and theatrical productions, he would start his professional acting career in the befitting basketball drama Above the Rim. Harris would subsequently be featured in a variety of television shows and films also portraying the legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the film, Hendrix in 2000. For his standout performance as “Julius Campbell” in the Blockbuster film Remember the Titans, Harris would earn his first NAACP Image Award nomination and a nomination for “Favorite Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture”. Harris’ dynamic performances caught the eye of director Martin Guigui who revealed that Harris would star as Nate “Sweetwater” Clifton in the movie about the NBA’s first black player which is still in pre-production.
In 2012, Harris would get the opportunity to narrate the 30 for 30 documentary film about Chicago’s superstar native basketball player Benji. He would reunite with his former cast member Michael B. Jordan in the latest installment of the Rocky franchise, Creed. Harris continues to show his dedication to his craft and has earned a Master of Arts from New York University. His newest role on the popular Starz series BMF introduces him to another generation of artists. Today, Harris is one of the most respected and sought-after actors in the American entertainment industry. His unique ability to capture the essence of the characters he portrays makes him a true champion of his artistry.