Hill Harper
Education and Career Development


“I want young men to have knowledge of the things that can bring them true empowerment: education, a strong sense of purpose, compassion, confidence and humility...” – Hill Harper

As an accomplished film, television and stage actor, Hill Harper captivates audiences with his charismatic and authentic style, which he dedicates to each eclectic character he portrays. A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Brown University and recipient of graduate degrees in both law and public administration from Harvard, Harper continues to excel by receiving nominations and countless awards for his acting in independent film, international film and television projects. Recently selected as one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” (2004), Harper emits the classic “guy next door” image, but also exudes a seriousness that commands roles embodying depth and intelligence rarely offered to young black actors. Harper has the opportunity to defeat the stereotypes of black males by starring in the hit CBS drama series, CSI: NY, where he portrays Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, who recently left the crime lab as a reclusive and conflicted coroner that walked away from a promising surgical career after the traumatic loss of two patients to join Gary Sinise’s character Detective Mac Taylor in the field.

In 2001, the NAACP Image Awards nominated Harper as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the CBS series, City of Angels and as Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for his work on CSI: NY in 2005 and again in 2007. Prior to CSI: NY, Harper co-starred as an ambitious undercover FBI operative on the CBS series, The Handler, alongside Emmy Award nominee Joe Pantoliano. The role earned him a 2004 Golden Satellite Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

In February 2005, Harper starred in the HBO movie Lackawanna Blues, which was based on the critically acclaimed stage play by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. This film fueled by rhythm & blues went on to win the Image Award in 2006 for “Outstanding TV Movie” and the Emmy Award in 2005 for “Outstanding Casting in a Movie.” Other recent film roles include the lead in the independent film, Love, Sex and Eating the Bones, which was accepted into the Toronto, Palm Springs, and Pan African film festivals. This intriguing film won “Best Canadian First Feature Film” in the 2003 Toronto Film Festival and both “Best Feature” and Audience Favorite” in the 2004 Pan African Film Festival. He has also completed work on the independent film American Brown, which was accepted into the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival.

Harper received critical acclaim for his performance in the independent film, The Visit, directed by Jordan Walker-Pearlman, which tells the story of two brothers who are forced to come together when the HIV positive younger sibling (played by Harper) is sentenced to death row for a crime he seemingly did not commit. His performance which Daily Variety called “riveting”, earned him a Best Actor nomination by the Independent Spirit Awards. He re-teams with Walker-Pearlman in the upcoming independent feature,
Constellation, which chronicles the lives and loves of family in the Deep South. Later
this year, Harper will star in the Wes Craven produced independent horror film The Breed co-starring Michelle Rodriguez, Taryn Manning and Oliver Hudson.

As Harper’s success as a desired actor continues, he persists in keeping up with organizations where he volunteers such as Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Los Angeles and speaks to youth in public schools about the values of a good education. "Education has always been really important to me and my family," he says, "And I'm a big proponent of trying to get young, urban kids to go to school and educate themselves, because the world offers a wealth of opportunities." It is Harper’s deep-rooted passion regarding the plight of today’s youth that drove him to write Letters to a Young Brother, the first in a series of books intended to provide the frequently regarded “lost generation” with words of encouragement and guidance.

Letters to a Young Brother, published through Gotham Books, hit bookshelves nationwide in April 2006. This educated mentor has created a piece written with a sincere tone, in a very colloquial, youth-friendly style and hip vibe. Targeted toward mentoring young males lacking positive role models, Harper shares compelling accounts of perseverance that are intended to become educational resources for teachers to share with students. Revolutionary in how he deals with adolescent issues that no other writer has dared to penetrate, Harper won both NAACP Image Awards that he was nominated for in March 2007, Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author, and Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens.

Harper’s other screen credits include: Loving Jezebel, The Nephew (with Pierce Bronsan), The Skulls (with Joshua Jackson), In Too Deep (with Omar Epps, L.L. Cool J and Nia Long), Beloved, Hav’ Plenty, He Got Game (with Denzel Washington), and Get on the Bus. He also appears in Zooman (with Louis Gossett Jr., Charles S. Dutton and CCH Pounder), Cross The Line (with Ellen Burstyn and Taye Diggs) and One Red Rose, which he also co-wrote, for Showtime.

As a television actor, Harper has had numerous guest starring roles. He recently appeared on recurring episodes of Showtime’s Soul Food and guest starred on HBO’s The Sopranos. He also starred in the CBS mini-series Mama Flora’s Family and the UPN Network comedy/drama Live Shot. Other guest appearances include: ER, NYPD Blue, Murder One, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Married…With Children.

Harper’s stage credits include appearances in off-Broadway productions of Your Handsome Captain, Freeman, and David Mamet’s American Buffalo. He completed a starring run of Jessica Hagedorn’s Dogeaters at New York’s Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Harper is a full-time member of Boston Black Folk’s Theater Company, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected African-American traveling theater troupes.

In July of 2000, Harper’s Bazaar wrote, “You might expect Hill Harper to be the next actor vying for the presidency…but he has other things on his agenda.” When Harper isn’t studying for his next big screen role or preparing for the next taping of CSI: NY, he is keeping an eye on his investments. Harper is co-owner of two hip New Orleans boutique hotels, International House and Loft 523. As a Businessman enterprising, he is also an investor in the hot, new 5-star Beverly Hills restaurant, The Lodge Steakhouse and Big Wang’s Sports Bar in Hollywood, co-owned with Ashton Kutcher. Harper has also invested in pampering New York City’s Silk Day Spa, voted one of NYC’s Best Spa’s.

Not only does Harper mesmerize his audience with his sheer, raw talent and chiseled good looks, he is also a shining example of a modern day Renaissance man. He is multi-dimensional with poise, sexy intelligence and charm as well as an apparent talent who will sustain a promising career by remaining humble and endearing. A fast rising star, Hill Harper will undoubtedly become globally known as one of the finest actors of his generation.