What’s happened to Wood Harris? What is he doing today?

 

Who is Wood Harris?

American actor Sherwin David ‘Wood’ Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois USA, on 17 October 1969, making Libra his zodiac sign. He’s appeared in over 60 TV series and movies, but is probably still known best for playing Julius Campbell, one of the main characters in the 2000 biographical sports movie “Remember the Titans”, directed by Boaz Yakin, and which also starred Denzel Washington and Will Patton. It tells the true story of an African-American football coach, and the movie won eight of its 26 award nominations.

Wood’s still today active in the film industry, and has just recently finished shooting for the upcoming movie “Shooting Stars”.

Education and early life

Wood was raised in Chicago alongside his older brother Steve Harris, who’s today also a successful actor, by their father John Harris who was a bus driver, and mother Mattie who was a seamstress; Wood respects his family’s privacy, and thus hasn’t shared any other details about them.

It was his neighborhood friends who nicknamed him ‘Wood’, because ‘Sherwin’ was too difficult for them to pronounce. Wood was mostly into sports while attending St Joseph High School, excelling in basketball; he was on the school’s basketball team, and it was believed that he would pursue a career as a professional player.

He became interested in acting not long before he matriculated in 1988, and thus enrolled at Northern Illinois University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre arts in 1992. Wood continued his education at New York University, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in 1994.

Roles in movies

Wood made his debut film appearance in the 1994 crime sports drama “Above the Rim”, written and directed by Jeff Pollack, and which starred Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur and Leon. It follows the life of a teenager who wants to become a professional basketball player, and the film was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Song. Some of Wood’s following roles were in the 1997 romantic comedy “As Good as It Gets”, which won two Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Helen Hunt) and Best Actor in Leading Role (Jack Nicholson), the 1998 comedy “Celebrity”, and the 1998 action thriller “The Siege”.

In 2002, Wood played the lead character Ace in the crime action “Paid in Full”, directed by Charles Stone III, and which also starred Mekhi Phifer and Chi McBride. It follows a young man who’s become a drug dealer in Harlem, New York City and the movie was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Wood could then have been seen appearing in the 2004 crime drama “Joy Road”, the 2006 mystery comedy “Southland Tales” and the 2009 romantic drama “Lost Easily Horizons”.

He played Tony ‘Little Duke’ Burton in the critically acclaimed 2015 sports action “Creed”, written and directed by Ryan Coogler, and which starred Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson. It follows World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa as he’s coaching Adonis Johnson, and the movie won 45 of its 111 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Sylvester Stallone).

Wood’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2021 crime thriller “Ransum Games”, the 2021 adventure comedy “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and the 2023 sports drama “Creed III”.

Roles in TV series

Wood’s debut TV series role was playing Hector in the 1996 episode “Moby Greg” of the crime mystery “NYPD Blue”, and the remainder of the decade saw him appear in an episode of the crime thriller “Oz”, the comedy “Cosby” and the crime drama “New York Undercover”.

From 2002 through 2008, he starred as Avon Barksdale in the popular crime thriller “The Wire”, which David Simon created, and which also starred Dominic West and Lance Reddick. The series shows the lives of drug dealers from Baltimore, and it won 16 of its 72 award nominations. Wood appeared in several other series in the 2000s, including in an episode of the crime mystery “Numb3rs”, the mystery “House” and the comedy “Played by Fame”.

In 2017, he played the main character Barry Fouray in all the eight episodes of the musical “The Breaks”, created by Dan Charnas and Seith Mann, and which also starred Afton Williamson and Tristan Mack Wilds; the series follows three best friends who want to become famous rappers.

Wood’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in four episodes of the 2021 biographical crime drama “BMF”, two episodes of the 2021 comedy “The Last O. G.” and six episodes of the 2022 biographical sports drama “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”.

Other credits

Wood produced the 2009 action crime comedy movie “Next Day Air”, the 2009 musical film “Just Another Day” and the 2017 reality series “Akil the Fugitive Hunter”.

Some of his most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered”, “The Official Winning Time Podcast”, and “Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay”.

Awards and nominations

Wood won two Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series in 2017 and 2022, for “The New Edition Story” and “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”, respectively.

He was also nominated for a 2001 Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture and a 2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Drama, both for his performance in “Remember the Titans”, and a 2014 Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, for “The Watsons Go to Birmingham”.

Love life and marriage

Wood avoids speaking about his love life in public, but it’s known that he’s been married to Rebekah since 2001; she isn’t involved in the entertainment industry, and prefers to stay away from media.

Wood and Rebekah have two children together, however, wanting them to be able to lead normal lives, they haven’t disclosed their children’s names and birthdays; it’s believed that they have a son and a daughter who are today both over 20 years old, but this is yet to be confirmed.

There are no other women whom Wood’s been with, that the public knows about; he’s married to Rebekah as of April 2023, and they have two children together.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Wood’s been interested in music since he was a teenager, and has stated that he’s going to try and launch a career as a rapper.

Over 300,000 people are following him on Instagram today, and he’s posted more than 1,000 pictures and videos onto the social media network, while most of these are comedy content.

Wood works out at the gym two to three times every week, and occasionally plays basketball with his friends.

His brother Steve’s appeared in 66 TV series and movies, and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1999 and 2000, for his performance in the crime mystery series “The Practice”.

Wood’s favorite actor is Danny DeVito, and some of his favorite movies include “Get Shorty”, “Matilda” and “Twins”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Wood’s age is 53. He has brown eyes and short black hair, is 6ft 2ins (1.88m) tall and weighs around 190lbs (85kgs).

Wood’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of April 2023.