Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Mr. Eko)

Biography for
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Date of Birth
22 August 1967, Islington, London, England, UK


Birth Name
Adewale Rotimi O. C. E. Akinnuoye Agbaje


Nickname
Triple A
Wally


Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)


Mini Biography
Born and raised in London, England, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje began his career as a model in Milan before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. Fluent in several languages, including English, Italian, Yoruba and Swahili, he is best known for his roles in the movies Congo (1995) and The Mummy Returns (2001), and the HBO series "Oz" (1997).


Trivia
Has a masters in Law from the University of London, but took a different career path when bitten by the acting bug.

Is perhaps best known for his role as the cunning, fierce super-criminal Adebisi on "Oz" (1997).

He went from playing Ernie Hudson's good friend, the guide "Kahega" to Hudson's "Capt. Munro" in Congo (1995), to playing his enemy, the sociopath "Adebisi" to Hudson's hard-headed "Warden Glynn" in "Oz" (1997).

He has Nigerians parents

Born on the same day as the Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley.

The son of immigrants from Nigeria, he has played almost entirely African characters despite having been born and raised in England. He usually employs a deep, Nigerian timber while acting, while off-screen he has a very British, somewhat Cockney accent.

He is fluent in several languages including Italian, Yoruba, Swahili, and (of course) English. He can "get along" in a few other languages, including French.

He is a Buddhist and admitted that he had to chant more than usual while playing the brutal character of "Majestic" in Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005).



Personal Quotes
"I've never been really great at trusting anybody, just because of the way I grew up. I was always led to believe you should take care of yourself, trust in your abilities and you're the author of your own destiny. Coming to this show is the opposite." - talking about "Lost"

"The only way you can influence your fate is to put your soul into your performance and hope it registers with the audience."

"I kind of feel for the people on the show who are just coming into the business and this is their first gig. They've got a big letdown coming." - on his younger cast mates on "Lost"

"They gave me a stick and said, 'Knock those three guys out.' There's no better way to make an entrance." - when asked if he was made to feel like the "new kid on the block" when joining Lost

"When a star character on a hit show chooses to leave there's always speculation as to whether or not they've done this or that or not gotten along with this or that person. Straight up: it was probably one of the best relationships I've ever had in terms of developing a character, and I think the character will be a testament to that." -on working on "Lost" (2004)

"The only way I know how to deliver is to focus; some people can turn it on or off - I'd rather stay in character. There was no socializing. I would start two hours before I went to the set and I wouldn't say any other words other than the ones that I needed to say, that's just the way I work and I think that intensity comes across in my characters." -on his "method acting" style, which has sometimes allegedly caused resentment on sets


Filmography

Actor:
In Production
2000s
1990s
Survive (2008) (in production) (in talks)
Horton Hears a Who! (2008) (post-production) (voice) .... Town Crier
... aka Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! (USA: complete title)


"Lost" .... Mr. Eko (28 episodes, 2005-2006)
- I Do (2006) TV Episode (credit only) .... Mr. Eko
- The Cost of Living (2006) TV Episode .... Mr. Eko
- Every Man for Himself (2006) TV Episode (credit only) .... Mr. Eko
- Further Instructions (2006) TV Episode .... Mr. Eko
- The Glass Ballerina (2006) TV Episode (credit only) .... Mr. Eko
(23 more)
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) .... Majestic
On the One (2005) .... Bull Sharky
... aka Preaching to the Choir (USA: new title)
The Mistress of Spices (2005) .... Kwesi
Unstoppable (2004) .... Junod
... aka 9 Lives (Europe: English title: DVD title)
The Bourne Identity (2002) .... Nykwana Wombosi
... aka Bourne Identität, Die (Germany)
Lip Service (2001) .... Sebastion
The Mummy Returns (2001) .... Lock-Nah
"Oz" .... Simon Adebisi (32 episodes, 1997-2000)
- You Bet Your Life (2000) TV Episode .... Simon Adebisi
- A Town Without Pity (2000) TV Episode .... Simon Adebisi
- A Word to the Wise (2000) TV Episode .... Simon Adebisi
- Gray Matter (2000) TV Episode .... Simon Adebisi
- Works of Mercy (2000) TV Episode .... Simon Adebisi
(27 more)
Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble (2000) (TV) .... Joe
Red Shoe Diaries 12: Girl on a Bike (2000) (V) (as Adewale) .... The Student (segment "The Written Word")


Legionnaire (1998) .... Luther
"Linc's" (1998) TV Series .... Winston Iwelu (unknown episodes)
"Pensacola: Wings of Gold" .... Ambassador Odeku (1 episode, 1997)
- Fallout (1997) TV Episode .... Ambassador Odeku
"Cracker" .... John Doe (1 episode, 1997)
... aka Cracker: Mind Over Murder (USA: new title)
... aka Fitz (UK)
- Madwoman (1997) TV Episode .... John Doe
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997/II) (TV) (as Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje) .... Cabe Attucks
Deadly Voyage (1996) (TV) (as Adewale) .... Emmanuel
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) (as Adewale) .... Hitu
... aka Ace Ventura Goes to Africa
Delta of Venus (1995) (as Wale) .... The Clairvoyant
Congo (1995) .... Kahega
"New York Undercover" .... Cliff Ramsey (1 episode, 1995)
... aka Uptown Undercover
- Downtown Girl (1995) TV Episode (as Adewale) .... Cliff Ramsey
"Red Shoe Diaries" .... The Student (1 episode, 1994)
- Written Word (1994) TV Episode (as Adewalé) .... The Student

Self:
2000s
1990s
"Fuse Celebrity Playlist" .... Himself - Guest (1 episode, 2006)
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (2006) TV Episode .... Himself - Guest
"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
... aka Live with Regis (USA: new title)
... aka Live with Regis & Kelly (USA: new title)
- Episode dated 2 November 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"Richard & Judy" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 5 July 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"Tavis Smiley" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 20 January 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" .... Himself (1 episode, 2006)
- Episode dated 18 January 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself


The Making of Special: '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' (1997) (TV) .... Cabe Attucks

Archive Footage:
Fire + Water: Anatomy of an Episode (2006) (V) .... Mr. Eko
The Lost Survival Guide (2006) (TV) .... Mr. Eko
Lost: Revelation (2006) (TV) .... Mr. Eko