David Harewood was born on December 8, 1965 in Birmingham, England. His parents are originally from Barbados in the Caribbean and they moved to England in the 50s and 60s. He grew up in Small Heath and is an avid Birmingham City FC fan. David is married and has two daughters.
At 18 years old he began training as an actor at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was the first black actor to play the title role in Othello – making history at the National Theatre in 1997. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed David a ‘Member of The Most Excellent Order’ of the British Empire for his services to acting in 2012, giving him the title David Harewood MBE.