Daniel Sunjata
Acting • Born 1971-12-30
Biography
Daniel Sunjata, born Daniel Sunjata Condon on December 30, 1971, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American actor acclaimed for his work in television, film, and theater. Adopted by white parents of Irish and Italian-German descent, Sunjata's name honors the Mandinka king Sundiata Keita, meaning "hungry lion." He grew up in the Chicago area, excelling in football at Mount Carmel High School before pursuing higher education at Florida A&M University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and ultimately earning a Master of Fine Arts from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His breakthrough came with a Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play Take Me Out where he portrayed a gay Major League Baseball player. Sunjata is widely recognized for his role as firefighter Franco Rivera in the FX series Rescue Me, as well as appearances in films like The Devil Wears Prada and The Dark Knight Rises. His television work includes roles on Grey's Anatomy, Graceland, and the ABC/Hulu series High Potential.
Filmography
48 credits
Bad Company
Movie • 2002
Officer Carew
Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup
Movie • 2009
Narrator
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Movie • 2009
Brad
Brother to Brother
Movie • 2004
Langston
The Dark Knight Rises
Movie • 2012
Captain Jones
The Front
Movie • 2010
Win Garano
At Risk
Movie • 2010
Win Garano
One for the Money
Movie • 2012
Ranger
Gone
Movie • 2012
Det. Powers
Generation Um...
Movie • 2012
Charles
Weakness
Movie • 2010
Alejandro
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
Movie • 2011
Self
The Devil Wears Prada
Movie • 2006
James Holt
Cyrano de Bergerac
Movie • 2008
Christian de Neuvillette
Noel
Movie • 2004
Marco
Melinda and Melinda
Movie • 2004
Billy
Lullaby
Movie • 2014
Officer Ramirez
Small Town Crime
Movie • 2018
Detective Whitman
Feast of All Saints
Movie • 2001
Christophe Mercier
Twelfth Night
Movie • 1998
Valentine
Christmas...Again?!
Movie • 2021
Mike
Melinda and Melinda
Movie • 2004
Billy Wheeler
Cyrano de Bergerac
Movie • 2008
Christian
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Kenny Tremont
The Tony Danza Show
TV • 2004
Self
Ed
TV • 2000
Danny Martin
The Stand
TV • 2020
Cobb
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Burt Trevor
30 Rock
TV • 2006
Chris
Rescue Me
TV • 2004
Franco Rivera
The Bronx Is Burning
TV • 2007
Reggie Jackson
Manifest
TV • 2018
Danny
Lie to Me
TV • 2009
Andrew Jenkins
D.C.
TV • 2000
Lewis Freeman
The Company You Keep
TV • 2023
Robert Renway
Graceland
TV • 2013
Paul Briggs
High Potential
TV • 2024
Adam Karadec
Power Book II: Ghost
TV • 2020
Mecca
Notorious
TV • 2016
Jake Gregorian
Echoes
TV • 2022
Charlie Davenport
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Bomb Squad Officer
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Eli Lloyd
The Crew Has It
TV • 2022
Smash
TV • 2012
Peter Gilman
Sex and the City
TV • 1998
Louis Leroy, USN
Prodigal Son
TV • 2019
Quentin Vosler
The Twilight Zone
TV • 2019
Love Monkey
TV • 2006
Diego