Omari Hardwick was born Jan 9, 1974 in Savannah, Georgia to parents Clifford IV and Joyce Hardwick. Omari is the second of four children which includes older brother Malik and younger siblings Jamil and Shani. Omari grew up in Decatur, Ga (suburban Atlanta) where he excelled in athletics and established himself as a standout individual, eventually earning himself a college football scholarship.Although many often witnessed Omari's demonstrations of talent for drama and comedy, it wasn't until his junior year at the University of Georgia where he formally began his acting training. After discovering his passion for football was equaled by his desire to act, he joined the Athens Theater Company and eventually starred in a number of plays including August Wilsons adaptation "Fences". Soon after graduating from UGA and after an injury cut short his attempt at his pro football career, Omari headed to the bright lights of New York City to hone and display his skills in Broadway and off Broadway theater, before eventually making the move to Los Angeles.After years of perseverance and struggle Omari eventually caught the eye of Spike Lee and landed his first major role as Dante' in Spike Lee's Sucker Free City. Since that time Omari's career and rise to success has taken off. "Hollywood power players have taken notice and raved about Omari's range as an actor, and his current rise to leading man status." Omari starred as the lead in the TNT drama series "Saved" as well as co-starred in films "The Guardian" alongside Kevin Costner and Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson in the Gridiron Gang. His future credits include starring roles in Bolden(Anthony Mackie and Jackie Earl Haley) Next Day Air (Mos Def) Linewatch (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Miracle at St. Anna (Derek Luke).

After winning a state football title at Marist in Atlanta, Georgia, Omari was a starting defensive back in college for the Furman Purple Paladins (1993-94) before transferring and playing the same position for the University of Georgia Bulldogs (1995-96). He is an accomplished poet and has finished in the top five of the US national Poetry Slam competition in 2003 and 2004. Co-founded the "Actors Lounge" at Los Angeles' Greenway Theater where young actors perform dramatic sketches for audiences, directors and producers. Coached and mentored Denzel Washington's son, John David Washington as a football player at Campbell Hall in Beverly Hills, California before he went on to become a standout at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. UpdateYou may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.Add resumeWith our Resume service you can add photos and build a complete resume to help you achieve the best possible presentation on the IMDb.Click here to add your resume and/or your photos to IMDb. Browse biographies section by nameA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z