Biography - Dennis Haysbert

Who is Dennis Haysbert?

Dennis Haysbert is an actor by profession and American by nationality. He is well known for portraying basketball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, Absolute Power, The Unit, and in TV series 24.

Dennis Haysbert – Bio, Age, Parents, Siblings

Dennis Haysbert’s birth took place on June 2, 1954, in San Mateo, California, USA. He was born Dennis Dexter Haysbert to his mother Gladys Haysbert, a homemaker and house cleaner, and his father Charles Whitney Haysbert, Sr., a deputy sheriff, and airline security guard. 

He is not the only child of his parents and has eight siblings, him being the eighth one. Along with his two sisters and six brothers, he grew up. His brothers are named Charles Haysbert Jr., Lenier Haysbert, Al Haysbert, Stanley Haysbert, Al Haysbert, and Adam Haysbert, and a sister of his is named Rita Haysbert.

Born with a congenital heart defect Dennis Haysbert was prevented from playing sports. He compensated for it by acting with his siblings. By the time he reached high school, he was cured of his condition and was allowed to play football.

Education, Ethnicity

For education, he attended San Mateo High School where he played football and graduated in 1972. As his height was 6 ft 5 inches after high school, he was offered athletic scholarships. However, he chose to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, while working in a grocery store.

His ethnicity is African-American.

Dennis Haysbert – Girlfriend, Wife, Children

Dennis Haysbert married his longtime girlfriend Elena Simms on 13 April 1980. But the marriage did not last long and the couple divorced on 17 August 1984.

He went on to date and marry his second wife Lynn Griffith in 1989. The couple has two children together- son Charles Haysbert III and daughter Katharine Haysbert. But this marriage too did not last and ended their 12-year marriage in divorce in 2001.

He dated Michelle Jonas in 2011.

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Dennis Haysbert – Career

Early Career

Dennis Haysbert began his professional career as an actor in 1978. His first roles were in TV series The White Shadow, Lou Grant, Growing Pains, Laverne & Shirley, The A-Team, etc. During this time, he also starred in the films Major League as Pedro Cerrano, Navy SEALs, Mr. Baseball, and Love Field.

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Series, Films

Over the years Dennis Haysbert has portrayed characters in films The Thirteenth Floor (1999), Love & Basketball (2000), Jarhead (2005), Welcome to the Jungle (2013), Think Like a Man Too (2014), Secret Obsession (2019). 

Moreover, he lent his voice to animated films Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Wreck-It Ralph (2012), and Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014), among others.

He has also starred in the TV series Now and Again (1999-2000), 24 (2001-2006), The Unit (2006-2009), and Incorporated (2016-2017).

Co-stars

In the Major League film trilogy, Dennis Haysbert has co-starred with Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger, Margaret Whitton, and Rene Russo.

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Dennis Haysbert – Awards, Nominations

Dennis Haysbert has won Satellite Award (2002), Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award (2002), Saturn Award and was nominated for Chlotrudis Award (2002), Golden Globe Award (2003), six NAACP Image Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, to name a few.

Dennis Haysbert – Net Worth, Salary

His net worth is estimated to be around $20 million while there has been no estimate on his annual salary.

Dennis Haysbert – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media, Dennis Haysbert is active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook with thousands of followers. He also has an official website - dennishaysbert.tv.

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