Hisham Tawfiq Biography
Hisham Tawfiq is an American actor. He is best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond “Red” Reddington in NBC’s The Blacklist. Tawfiq has been featured in Lights Out, various Law & Order spin-offs such as Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, Kings, Golden Boy, 30 Rock, and the 2013 NBC remake of Ironside.
Hisham Tawfiq Age / Birthday
As of 2023, Tawfiq is 53 years old, he was born on May 17, 1970, in New, York, in the United States of America. He celebrates his birthday on May 17 every year.
Hisham Tawfiq Height / Measurements
Tawfiq is of average body stature and stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 11 inches tall.
Hisham Tawfiq Partner / Wife
Hisham Tawfiq is married to Spirit Tawfiq, though he keeps his personal life relatively private so not much is known about her. He has mentioned her in interviews and on social media, but he has never shared her last name or any other identifying details.
Hisham Tawfiq Kids / Children
Tawfiq has one son, whose name has not been publicly revealed. Tawfiq has chosen to keep his son’s life private out of the spotlight. He has spoken about his son in interviews but has never shared his name or any photos of him.
Hisham Tawfiq Family / Relatives
Tawfiq manages to keep information regarding his parents away from the limelight. Additionally, he shares no information regarding whether he has any siblings or not. We will update this information once it’s available.
Hisham Tawfiq Education
Hisham studied at the renowned Negro Ensemble Company in New York City. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from City College, which likely provided him with valuable skills in understanding human behavior and social dynamics, potentially beneficial for his acting career. He trained with renowned acting coach Susan Batson.
Hisham Tawfiq Career
Before embarking on a full-fledged acting career, Tawfiq had a diverse professional background. He served in the U.S. Marines and was deployed during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service, from 1994 to 1996. Tawfiq worked as a corrections officer at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. Concurrently, while pursuing his passion for acting. He dedicated 20 years of service as a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department.
Tawfiq’s journey in the entertainment industry includes notable performances with The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, where he appeared in “Intimate Apparel” and portrayed Walter Lee Younger in a production of “A Raisin in the Sun” – a role he has described as his dream role. His filmography extends to the BET film “Gun Hill,” where he portrayed Capt. Sanford, the commander of a counter-crime task force.
On the television front, Tawfiq has showcased his talent in various shows, including “Lights Out,” different “Law & Order” spin-offs like “Special Victims Unit” and “Criminal Intent,” as well as in series such as “Kings,” “Golden Boy,” “30 Rock,” and the 2013 NBC remake of “Ironside.” Notably, he currently portrays the character Dembe in NBC’s “The Blacklist,”. A role he has held since season 3, having been promoted to a series regular.
Hisham Tawfiq Net Worth
Through Tawfiq’s career as an Actor, he has been able to accumulate a net worth that ranges between $4 Million and $ 4.5 Million.
Hisham Tawfiq Accent
Tawfiq’s accent is often described as a transatlantic accent, a blend of American and British English pronunciation. This is likely due to his upbringing in New York City to Eritrean parents.
Hisham Tawfiq Firefighter
He served for 20 years with the New York City Fire Department, rising to the rank of station chief. Notably, his firefighting career coincided with his early acting days, showcasing his dedication and commitment to both passions. Tawfiq’s experience as a firefighter undoubtedly adds depth and authenticity to his portrayal of Dembe, a skilled bodyguard and confidante who often finds himself in dangerous situations. Tawfiq has used his firefighting knowledge to inform stunts and action sequences on “The Blacklist,” making them even more believable.
Hisham Tawfiq The Blacklist
” Hisham Tawfiq portrays the character of Dembe Zuma. Dembe is more than just a security detail member for Raymond “Red” Reddington, he’s Red’s trusted confidant, closest friend, and sometime bodyguard. Their relationship is one of the show’s central dynamics, offering loyalty, emotional support, and even humor amidst the high-stakes criminal world they navigate.
Dembe is fiercely loyal to Red, often acting as his right-hand man. He follows Red’s orders without question, even when they are morally ambiguous or dangerous. Dembe’s unwavering trust in Red is the bedrock of their relationship, even when faced with doubt or betrayal from others.
Hisham Tawfiq Leaving The Blacklist
Tawfiq’s departure from The Blacklist is indeed the end of an era for the show. While he hasn’t explicitly announced leaving the acting profession altogether. His character Dembe Zuma did say goodbye to the Task Force in the show’s finale.
Hisham Tawfiq Black Panther
Tawfiq did not have a role in the Black Panther movie. There seems to be some confusion because Hisham Tawfiq and Danny Sapani, who played M’Kathu in Black Panther, look alike. They both have Ghanaian roots, and Hisham Tawfiq even acknowledged the resemblance on Twitter.
Hisham Tawfiq Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Tawfiq has made two appearances on the long-running crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His first appearance was in a Season 7 episode titled “Bunga” in 2005, where he played a character named Tariq. He then returned to the show in Season 23, Episode 3, titled “I Thought You Were On My Side” in 2021, playing a character named Jules.
Hisham Tawfiq Religion
Tawfiq is a Sunni Muslim, and his faith has played a significant role in his life and career. His father was an Imam, and Tawfiq grew up immersed in Islamic culture and traditions. He has spoken openly about the importance of his faith in interviews. He has used his platform to advocate for Muslim communities.
Hisham Tawfiq Ethnicity
Tawfiq identifies as both African-American and Muslim. His father was an imam, and Hisham was raised in the Muslim faith. He is also proud of his African-American heritage and has spoken about the challenges of being both Black and Muslim in America. His father was an Egyptian immigrant who came to the United States in the 1960s. His mother is African-American. Tawfiq has said that he feels a strong connection to both sides of his family and that his upbringing has given him a unique perspective on the world.
Hisham Tawfiq Movies and TV Shows
Movies
- Dead Man Down (2013): A thriller starring Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace, in which Tawfiq plays a restaurant owner caught in the middle of a dangerous criminal plot.
- Five Minarets in New York (2011): An independent drama about a Muslim family living in New York City after the 9/11 attacks, in which Tawfiq plays a taxi driver struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
- Skate Kitchen (2018): A coming-of-age story about a group of female skateboarders in New York City, in which Tawfiq plays a supportive father figure to the main character.
- Gun Hill (2011): A crime drama set in the Bronx, in which Tawfiq plays a police captain leading a counter-crime task force.
- Jinn (2018): A supernatural thriller about a Muslim family in Brooklyn who are haunted by a jinn, in which Tawfiq plays the family’s imam.
- Kings (2009)
- Golden Boy (2013)
- Lights Out (2011)
- Skate Kitchen (2018)
- Jinn (2018)
- Dope Fiend (2017)
TV Shows
- The Blacklist (2013-2023): This is certainly his most recognizable role, where he plays Dembe Zuma, the loyal right-hand man and confidante to Raymond “Red” Reddington. He appeared in 216 episodes and was promoted to series regular in season 3.
- Gun Hill (2020-2023): Tawfiq starred as Captain Sanford, a confident and dedicated leader of a counter-crime task force, in this BET drama.
- Harlem (2021): He made a guest appearance as Dr. Obinna Tseggai in this coming-of-age story set in Harlem, New York.
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007-2021): Tawfiq has several recurring roles in this long-running crime drama, playing Jules, FDNY Vestry, and Firefighter #1 throughout different seasons.
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2010): He had a guest appearance as Officer Daniel Nack in this police procedural spin-off.
Hisham Tawfiq Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Tawfiq is active on his social media accounts. He has about 10k followers on his Facebook Page, about 80.2k followers on his Twitter account, and around 319k followers on his Instagram account.