David_Ajala
David Ajala
British actor
David Ajala (born 21 May 1986) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Manchester Black in Supergirl (2018–2019), Captain Roy Eris in Nightflyers (2018), and Cleveland "Book" Booker in Star Trek: Discovery (2020–present).[1]
David Ajala was born in Hackney, London.[2] He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin.[3] He trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls".[2]
On stage Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet,[4] and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of Kemp Powers.[5]
In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood[2] and Brotherhood;[6] he has also appeared in The Dark Knight[4] and in major roles in Starred Up[2] and the 2016 Seekers.[6] On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who[4] and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.[7]
Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.
Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011)[8] and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.[9]
In 2018, Ajala was cast in season 4 of Supergirl, portraying Manchester Black.[10]
Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.[11]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Kidulthood | Desmond | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Adulthood | Desmond | |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Bounty Hunter #2 | |
| 2010 | Winter Sun | Guy | Short film |
| 2010 | Following Footsteps | Christopher Knight | |
| 2011 | One Day | Floor Manager | |
| 2011 | Spirit | Terror | Short film |
| 2012 | Payback Season | Baron | |
| 2012 | Illegal Activity | Edward | Short film |
| 2012 | Offender | Kelvin | |
| 2012 | Sentenced Served | Marvin | Short film |
| 2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Ivory | |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Tyrone | |
| 2013 | Breakthrough | Henry | Short film |
| 2014 | Queen of Diamonds | Bench Guy | Short film |
| 2014 | Emulsion | Jeff | |
| 2015 | Jupiter Ascending | Ibis | |
| 2015 | He Works the Long Nights | Short film | |
| 2016 | Seekers | Amadu | Short film |
| 2016 | Kill Command | Drifter | |
| 2016 | Brotherhood | Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch | |
| 2017 | The Art of Love | Anthony | Short film |
| 2017 | Support | Chris | Short film |
| 2021 | Italian Studies | Ade | |
| 2023 | Daylight Rules | Frank | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dream Team | Sean Campbell | Main cast |
| 2008 | The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury | Steve | Episode: "Technology Bytes" |
| 2008 | The Bill | Lenny Jones | Episode: "Beth Undercover" |
| 2008 | Trexx and Flipside | Flipside | Main cast |
| 2009 | Hamlet | Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner | TV movie |
| 2010 | Doctor Who | Peter | Episode: "The Beast Below" |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | Mark Blakefield | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Coming Up | Malachi | Episode: "Micah" |
| 2011 | Misfits | Private Investigator | 1 episode |
| 2012 | Monroe | Max Portas | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Death in Paradise | Louis Nelson | Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" |
| 2013 | Black Mirror | Jeff Carter | Episode: "The Waldo Moment" |
| 2013 | Law & Order: UK | Gavin Dale | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Black Box | Will Van Renseller | Main cast |
| 2016 | Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands | Rate | Miniseries |
| 2016 | Hooten & the Lady | Dawit | Episode: "Ethiopia" |
| 2016 | The Break | Xavier | Episode: "System Cycle" |
| 2016–18 | Falling Water | Burton | Main cast |
| 2018 | Nightflyers | Roy Eris | Main cast |
| 2018–19 | Supergirl | Manchester Black | Recurring |
| 2019 | Urban Myths | The Burglar | Episode: "Grace Under Pressure" |
| 2020–present | Star Trek: Discovery | Cleveland "Book" Booker | Main cast[12] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Additional voices |
| 2017 | Need for Speed: Payback | Sean 'Mac' McAlister |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | You Are Right If You Say So | Lamberto Laudisi | Courtyard Theatre, London |
| How to Steal a Diamond | YM | Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh | |
| 2007 | The Swing of Things | Claude Kabinda | Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough |
| 2008 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander (Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Love's Labour's Lost | Lord Dumaine (Understudy) | Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon | |
| 2009 | Death and the King's Horseman | HRH The Prince | Royal National Theatre, London |
| Nation | Milo | Royal National Theatre, London | |
| 2010 | Ruined | Fortune | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2012 | The Witness | Simon | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2016 | One Night in Miami | Jim Brown | Donmar Warehouse, London |
- Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". www.deadline.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- Emma Brown (1 May 2014). "Discovery: David Ajala". Interview. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- "DAVID AJALA TALKS ABOUT CURRENT ROLE IN ITV'S NEW DRAMA SERIES, BEOWULF". The British Blacklist. 10 January 2016.
- "Rising Brit actor David Ajala talks Dr Who and Hollywood". Flavour Magazine. 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- Vincent Dowd (11 October 2016). "Muhammad Ali play puts icons of black America on stage". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- "Watch: Clare-Hope Ashitey & David Ajala Star in London-Set Short Drama-Thriller, 'Seekers'". Shadow and Act. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- Nellie Andreeva (23 June 2015). "David Ajala To Star In USA Pilot 'Falling Water'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- "Someone's Making a Killing in Nigeria, The Price of Oil, Drama - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- "See David Ajala As Manchester Black In New 'Supergirl' Photo". Heroic Hollywood. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "David Ajala". At the Movies. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- Andreeva, Nellie (20 July 2019). "'Star Trek: Discovery': David Ajala Joins Season 3 Of CBS All Access Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- David Ajala at IMDb