Dennis Dexter Haysbert (born
June 2,
1954) is an
American film and
television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the
Major League film trilogy, President
David Palmer on the American television series
24, and Sergeant Major
Jonas Blane in
The Unit, as well as his work in commercials for
Allstate insurance. He believes his role playing the President of the United States on
24 helped
Barack Obama win the Democratic presidential nomination.
[Haysbert: Prez role on `24' may have helped Obama]
Personal life
Haysbert was born in
San Mateo, California, the son of Gladys (
née Minor), a homemaker, and Charles Haysbert, Sr., a deputy
sheriff.
[Dennis Haysbert Biography | TVGuide.com] He is the eighth of nine children, having two sisters and six brothers.
[Denzel's reject is Dennis Haysbert's reward - how actor Dennis Haysbert is able to do film parts that Denzel Washington turns down | Ebony | Find Articles at BNET.com] After high school, measuring 6 feet 4.5 inches (1.94
m) tall, Haysbert was offered various athletic scholarships, but instead chose to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Haysbert is a divorced father of two.
Career
TV
Haysbert has been acting in film and television since 1979, starting with a guest role in
The White Shadow. His television guest starring roles include
Lou Grant,
Laverne & Shirley,
The A-Team,
Dallas,
,
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century[Haysbert appears in the first season episode "A Dream of Jennifer" in a one time role as a spaceport guard. In the second season Haysbert becomes a crew member of the science starship Searcher. Haysbert played "the helmsman" in the "The Guardians" (season 2, episode 3) which is currently available online at Hulu www.hulu.com/watch/13985/buck-rogers-the-guardians#s-p2-so-i0 His most lines are in "The Hand of the Goral" (season 2, episode 9) where he is named as Lt. Parsons. On Hulu at www.hulu.com/watch/13988/buck-rogers-the-hand-of-the-goral#s-p1-so-i0], and
Duckman. In 1993 he had a featured role in
Return to Lonesome Dove as outlaw Cherokee Jack Jackson. In 1999, Haysbert starred with
Eric Close in
Now and Again, which was cancelled after its first season.
