As a child, lived for seven years in Nigeria, where his parents were born and his family descended from royalty.
Was a member of London's National Youth Music Theatre, which is where he met his wife.
Played King Henry VI in a 2001 Royal Shakespeare Company trilogy of the Bard's plays, and was the first black actor to portray an English king in an RSC production.
For his role in the British spy drama Spooks, he met with British-intelligence officers.
Cowrote a 2006 romantic comedy-drama for the BBC called Graham and Alice, about two London loners who decide to rob a betting shop.
Fulfilled a bucket-list wish by working with Steven Spielberg on 2012's Lincoln.
As part of the training for his role as a WWII Tuskegee Airman in 2012's Red Tails, he got to fly in vintage P-51 Mustangs.
Appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 New Year Honours.
David Oyelowo
April 1, 1976 (age 48)
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
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Bio
As a child, lived for seven years in Nigeria, where his parents were born and his family descended from royalty.
Was a member of London's National Youth Music Theatre, which is where he met his wife.
Played King Henry VI in a 2001 Royal Shakespeare Company trilogy of the Bard's plays, and was the first black actor to portray an English king in an RSC production.
For his role in the British spy drama Spooks, he met with British-intelligence officers.
Cowrote a 2006 romantic comedy-drama for the BBC called Graham and Alice, about two London loners who decide to rob a betting shop.
Fulfilled a bucket-list wish by working with Steven Spielberg on 2012's Lincoln.
As part of the training for his role as a WWII Tuskegee Airman in 2012's Red Tails, he got to fly in vintage P-51 Mustangs.
Appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 New Year Honours.