Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a British solicitor, actor and former fashion model who was born on August 23, 1967 in Islington, London. He is the son of Nigerian immigrants who moved to England when he was born. Akinnuoye-Agbaje has four sisters, and he is a polyglot who is well-versed in several different languages, such as Italian, Swahili, Yoruba, and English. He eventually went on to pursue higher learning, and earned a Master of Laws degree from King’s College London. Among the feature films that he has acted in are Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Mummy Returns, and The Bourne Identity.
Simon Adebisi is portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in the HBO prison drama television series Oz. He is the leader of the black gang in the prison, and is considered one of the facility’s most dangerous inmates. Simon was easily recognizable thanks to his clothing choices and accessories, which consisted of stereo headphones, muscle shirts, and knit hats worn far back up on his shaved head. He has a fierce and strongly violent demeanor, and is considered a monster by many. Simon originally hails from Nigeria, and comes from the people of Yoruba, though by the time he is incarcerated he has already lived in the United States for a decade.
(Photo courtesy of HBO)