Dorian Harewood
A versatile actor who brought quiet dignity and emotional depth to roles ranging from Olympic heroes to compassionate ministers.
Born 1950 (age 76)·American actor·Birthday: August 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dorian Harewood built a career defined by grounded, resonant performances across film and television. Born in Dayton, Ohio, he honed his craft on stage before breaking through with a powerful portrayal of Olympic legend Jesse Owens in a 1984 television film, capturing both the athlete's triumph and the racial tensions he faced. Harewood became a familiar and reliable presence on TV, navigating genres from the police drama 'Strike Force' to the long-running family series '7th Heaven,' where his role as Reverend Morgan Hamilton offered a steady moral center. His voice also became well-known through narration and voice acting in animated series and video games. Harewood's work consistently avoided flashiness, instead focusing on the integrity and inner life of his characters, making him a respected figure in the industry for over four decades.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dorian was born in 1950, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dorian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1950
#1 Movie
Cinderella
Best Picture
All About Eve
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Dorian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1950Born
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1955Started school
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1963Became a teenager
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Could drive
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1968Could vote
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Turned 21
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1980Turned 30
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 40
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 50
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 60
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 70
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 76 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Olympic champion Jesse Owens in the 1984 biographical television film 'The Jesse Owens Story.'
- Played the recurring role of Reverend Morgan Hamilton on the family drama '7th Heaven' for seven seasons.
- Served as the narrator for the acclaimed PBS documentary series 'The American Experience.'
Did You Know?
He was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music with a BFA in acting.
He provided the voice for the character of Jubal Early in the sci-fi series 'Firefly.'
He performed the voice of Dr. Damon Richards for several years on the radio soap opera 'The Doctors.'
“The truth of a character is found in the silence between the lines.”
