David Ajala
David Ajala | |
|---|---|
| File:David Ajala by Gage Skidmore.jpg David Ajala at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 | |
| Born | 21 May 1986 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Terri Martin |
| Children | 2 |
David Ajala (born 21 May 1986[1]) 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 (2020–2024).[2] Since November 2025, he has been a regular cast member on Law & Order.[3][4]
Early life
[edit | edit source]Ajala was born on 21 May 1986 in Hackney, London.[5] He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin.[6] 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".[5]
Career
[edit | edit source]On stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet,[7] and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.[8]
In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood[5] and Brotherhood;[9] he has also appeared in The Dark Knight[7] and in major roles in Starred Up[5] and the 2016 Seekers.[9] On TV he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who[7] and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.[10]
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)[11] and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.[12]
In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of Supergirl.[13]
From 2020 to 2024, Ajala played the series regular role of Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.[14]
On September 24, 2025, it was revealed that Ajala will play a regular NYPD detective character on Law & Order starting partway through the show's 25th season.[15][4] He would debut on Law & Order as Detective Theo Walker on the November 13, 2025 episode "Guardian".[3]
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.[16]
Filmography
[edit | edit source]Film
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Kidulthood | Desmond | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Adulthood | ||
| The Dark Knight | Bounty Hunter #2 | ||
| 2009 | Hamlet | Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner | |
| 2010 | Winter Sun | Guy | Short |
| Following Footsteps | Christopher Knight | ||
| 2011 | One Day | Floor Manager | |
| Spirit | Terror | Short | |
| 2012 | Payback Season | Baron | |
| Illegal Activity | Edward | Short | |
| Offender | Kelvin | ||
| Sentenced Served | Marvin | Short | |
| 2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Ivory | |
| Starred Up | Tyrone | ||
| Breakthrough | Henry | Short | |
| 2014 | Queen of Diamonds | Bench Guy | |
| Emulsion | Jeff | ||
| 2015 | Jupiter Ascending | Ibis | |
| He Works the Long Nights | Short | ||
| Spirit | Terror | ||
| 2016 | Seekers | Amadu | |
| Kill Command | Drifter | ||
| Brotherhood | Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch | ||
| 2017 | The Art of Love | Anthony | Short |
| Support | Chris | ||
| Without Disguise | Leo | ||
| 2021 | Italian Studies | Ade | |
| 2023 | Daylight Rules | Frank | Short |
| 2025 | The Woman in Cabin 10 | Ben |
Television
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dream Team | Sean Campbell | 18 episodes |
| 2008 | The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury | Steve | Episode: "Technology Bytes" |
| The Bill | Lenny Jones | Episode: "Beth Undercover" | |
| Trexx and Flipside | Flipside | 6 episodes | |
| 2009 | Hamlet | Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner | TV film |
| 2010 | Doctor Who | Peter | Episode: "The Beast Below" |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | Mark Blakefield | 2 episodes |
| Coming Up | Malachi | Episode: "Micah" | |
| Misfits | Private Investigator | Episode #3.6 | |
| 2012 | Monroe | Max Portas | Episode #2.4 |
| 2013 | Death in Paradise | Louis Nelson | Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" |
| Black Mirror | Jeff Carter | Episode: "The Waldo Moment" | |
| Law & Order: UK | Gavin Dale | 2 episodes | |
| 2014 | Black Box | Will Van Renseller | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands | Rate | 6 episodes |
| Hooten & the Lady | Dawit | Episode: "Ethiopia" | |
| The Break | Xavier | Episode: "System Cycle" | |
| 2016–2018 | Falling Water | Burton | 20 episodes |
| 2018 | Nightflyers | Roy Eris | 10 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Supergirl | Manchester Black | Recurring role |
| 2019 | Urban Myths | The Burglar | Episode: "Grace Under Pressure" |
| 2020–2024 | Star Trek: Discovery | Cleveland "Book" Booker | Main role (seasons 3–5)[17] |
| The Ready Room | Himself | 4 episodes | |
| 2024 | The Jetty | Casey | |
| 2025 | Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue | Zack Ellis | Main role |
| Law & Order | Detective Theo Walker | Main role (season 25)[18] |
Video games
[edit | edit source]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Additional voices |
| Need for Speed: Payback | Sean 'Mac' McAlister |
Theatre credits
[edit | edit source]| 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) | ||
| 2009 | Death and the King's Horseman | HRH The Prince | Royal National Theatre, London |
| Nation | Milo | ||
| 2010 | Ruined | Fortune | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 2012 | The Witness | Simon | Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 2016 | One Night in Miami | Jim Brown | Donmar Warehouse, London |
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- David Ajala at IMDb
Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- 1986 births
- Living people
- 21st-century English male actors
- Actors from the London Borough of Hackney
- Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School
- Black British male actors
- British male film actors
- British male television actors
- British male voice actors
- British male video game actors
- British people of Nigerian descent
- British people of Yoruba descent
- Male actors from London
- People from Hackney, London