Daniel Ezra | |
|---|---|
 Ezra in 2018 | |
| Born | 15 December 1991 Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2014-present |
Daniel Ezra (born 15 December 1991)[1] is a British actor. He is best known for his role as Spencer James on the television series All American (2018–2023).[2][3][4]
Ezra was born in Birmingham, England.[5][6][7] Both his paternal and maternal grandparents were from Jamaica.[6] Growing up, he was a fan of Harry Potter, Philip Pullman books, and The Lord of the Rings.[8] He grew up playing basketball, but stopped sports when he began acting.[8] Ezra attended Great Barr School, now known as Fortis Academy in Great Barr, Birmingham.
Ezra wasn't interested in acting until he turned 16 when a teacher at school convinced him to take a role in a school production. On stage, Ezra appeared as Sebastian in Twelfth Night and was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award.[9][10][11] After making his screen debut in the 2014 television film Murdered by My Boyfriend, Ezra began appearing in BBC dramas, including Undercover and The Missing.[10][7] In 2018, Ezra had a recurring role in the British fantasy drama A Discovery of Witches.[8]
In March 2018, Ezra was cast in a leading role in the American sports drama series All American, which marked his U.S. acting debut and required him to use an American accent.[11][12][13][6] Once he learned that he had received the role, he spent as much time as he could in South Central Los Angeles and carried a football with him everywhere so that he could practice his accent and learn about the local culture.[6][5][14] His favorite rapper, Nipsey Hussle, was from Crenshaw, where the show takes place, so Ezra also studied every song and interview of Nipsey Hussle as a way of practicing his American accent.[5][15] He did not have an accent coach.[15] In addition, Spencer Paysinger, the real-life football player on whom Ezra's character is based, drove Ezra and his costar Taye Diggs around his local neighborhood so that they could understand the neighborhood dynamics.[16] To prepare for the show, Ezra also watched the NFL Network constantly to learn about the rules of American football.[14] Ezra first realized the show was successful when he attempted to walk in Times Square and was recognized by many fans running up to his chest.[17][18]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Murdered by My Boyfriend | Joseph | Television film |
| 2014 | The Village | Ghana Jones | Episode: "2.1" |
| 2014 | Precipice Hours | Tim | |
| 2014 | Blood Cells | Thom | |
| 2015 | Vera | Cameron Thorne | Episode: "Shadows in the Sky" |
| 2015 | No Offence | Ajamu | Episode: "1.6" |
| 2016 | Prey | Alan Gill | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Undercover | Dan Johnson | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | The Missing | Daniel Reed | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Prime Suspect 1973 | DC Ashton | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | National Theatre Live: Twelfth Night | Sebastian | |
| 2018–2022 | A Discovery of Witches | Nathaniel Wilson | 10 episodes |
| 2018–present | All American | Spencer James | Main Cast |
| 2022 | All American: Homecoming | Spencer James | Episode: "We Need a Resolution" |
| 2022 | The Smeds and the Smoos | Bill | Television film |