Omari Hardwick
An actor of intense physicality and quiet depth who broke through as the charismatic, morally complex drug kingpin Ghost in the cultural phenomenon 'Power'.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American actor·Birthday: January 9·Generation X
Biography
Omari Hardwick played James "Ghost" St. Patrick on Starz's "Power," a nightclub mogul and drug lord whose internal conflict he embodied with both strength and vulnerability. Before that breakthrough, he worked through gritty roles in "Miracle at St. Anna" and "Dark Blue," building a reputation for simmering authenticity. Hardwick started as a college football prospect, then turned to poetry before finding his way to acting. His performance as Ghost showcased his ability to balance formidable strength with poetic sensitivity, a trait rooted in his own love for spoken word. The role opened doors to leading roles in major films. Hardwick commands the screen with muscle and soul.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Omari was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Omari Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Omari's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
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
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as James "Ghost" St. Patrick, the lead role in the hit Starz crime drama 'Power,' which became a cultural phenomenon.
- Played a leading role as Vanderohe in Zack Snyder's 2021 Netflix film 'Army of the Dead.'
- Portrayed the character of Andre in the BET series 'Being Mary Jane' opposite Gabrielle Union.
- Headlined the film 'Sparkle' (2012) alongside the late Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks.
Did You Know?
He was a standout football player at the University of Georgia, where he played as a running back.
Hardwick is a published poet and often incorporates spoken word into his creative process.
He comes from a military family; his father was in the Army.
Before his acting career took off, he worked as a high school football coach.
“I think Ghost is the ultimate representation of the American dream gone wrong.”
