Henry Ian Cusick (born 17 April 1967) is a Peruvian-Scottish actor of television, film, and theatre and a television director best known as Desmond Hume in Lost, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He also starred as Jesus in The Gospel of John, Stephen Finch on Scandal, Marcus Kane on The 100, Dr. Jonas Lear in The Passage, and Russell "Russ" Taylor on MacGyver.
Early life Cusick was born in Trujillo, Peru, to a Peruvian mother, Esperanza Chávez, and a Scottish father, Henry Joseph Cusick. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Madrid, Spain, before they later relocated to Trinidad and Tobago, where they lived for ten years. During this time, Cusick attended Presentation College, San Fernando. He moved to Scotland with his family at the age of fourteen.
Cusick studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. Following his studies, he became involved with the Strathclyde Theatre Group, an amateur theatre company, where he appeared in a number of productions. He went on to begin his professional acting career at the Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow, where his first role was as an understudy in the Christmas pantomime, portraying a polar bear. Cusick is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Career Cusick began his career as a classical theatre actor, establishing himself through performances in a wide range of stage productions. His early leading roles included Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray alongside Rupert Everett, Hamlet in The Marovitz Hamlet, and Horner in The Country Wife.
His performances as Torquato Tasso in the 1994 Edinburgh International Festival production of Torquato Tasso, and as Creon in the Citizens' Theatre production of Oedipus, earned him a commendation at the 1995 Ian Charleson Awards for outstanding performance by a young actor in a classical theatre role.Fowler, Rebecca. "Ribands in the cap of youth". Sunday Times. 12 March 1995.
Cusick transitioned to screen acting with recurring roles in television series including Casualty and The Book Group. In 2003, he portrayed Jesus Christ in the film The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John.
In 2005, Cusick was cast as Desmond Hume in the ABC series Lost. Before joining the series, he appeared as Theo Stoller in the fifth season of 24. Initially introduced as a recurring guest star during the second season, Cusick became a member of the main cast from seasons three through six. His performance earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Cusick has credited his casting in Lost to a meeting with executive producer Carlton Cuse, whom he met while staying with his friend, actor Brian Cox. Cuse had been looking for either a Scottish or Irish character, which contributed to Cusick being considered for the role.
Following Lost, Cusick appeared in the 2007 film Hitman and starred in Dead Like Me: Life After Death, a continuation of the television series Dead Like Me. He later appeared as Erik Weber in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed Stephen Finch in the ABC drama series Scandal, and played Trent Marsh in Body of Proof.
From 2014 to 2020, Cusick portrayed Marcus Kane in the science fiction drama series The 100.
Alongside his acting career, Cusick has worked as a director. His short film dress, filmed in Kailua, Hawaii, received awards at the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Peace on Earth Film Festival. He later directed the short film Salvador.
In 2017, Cusick partnered with technology start-up JamBios to promote its memory-sharing platform. He provided the voice of Monty, a digital biographer, and recorded more than 200 questions designed to encourage users to record and preserve personal memories. Personal life Cusick is married to Annie Cusick Wood. The couple have three sons and reside in Hawaii.
Filmography Films YearTitleRoleNotes1995The ContractShort film2002PossessionToby ByngUncredited2003Jesus Christ2006Half LightBrian9/TenthsWilliamAfter the RainAdrianShort film2007HitmanUdre Belicoff2009Dead like Me: Life After DeathCameron KaneDirect-to-video release2013Not Another Happy EndingWillie Scott 2014The Girl On The TrainDanny Hart Frank vs. GodDavid Frank DressBen Granger 10.0 EarthquakeJack2015Pali RoadTim YoungJust Let GoChristopher "Chris" Williams2016VisibleGuyShort filmEvergladesScott2017RememoryLawton2018Chimera StrainQuintHae Hawai'iShort film2022The Wind & the ReckoningMcCabe2023JamojayaMichael2024Getting LostHimself2025Fugitive from AsteronFeran2025SalvadorSalvadorShort film2026Los VampiresLuis de Ossorio
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1993TaggartIan GowrieEpisode "Fatal Inheritance"1997Richard IIHenry GreenTV adaptation of William Shakespeare's play2001Murder Rooms: The White Knight StratagemSgt. Michael Clark2001–02CasualtyJasonRecurring role; 9 episodes2002Gideon Mantell2002–03Two Thousand Acres of SkyDr. Ewan TalbotRecurring role; 9 episodes2003HappinessPhillipEpisode "A Nice Person"Adventure Inc.Gavin MerrillEpisode "Echoes of the Past"Miles LongmuirRecurring role; 6 episodesCarlaMattTelevision film2004Perfect RomancePeter CampbellTelevision filmMidsomer MurdersGareth HeldmanEpisode "The Fisher King"2005Waking the DeadJeremy AllenEpisode "Towers of Silence: Part 2"2005–10LostDesmond HumeGuest (Season 2)Main cast (Seasons 3–6): 77 episodesNominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television200624Theo StollerEpisodes "Day 5: 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m." and "Day 5: 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m."2009NovaCharles DarwinEpisode: "Darwin's Darkest Hour"2010Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Erik WeberEpisodes: "Locum" and "Bullseye"2012, 2015ScandalStephen FinchMain role (season 1); 6 episodesGuest role (season 4), Episode: "No More Blood"2012FringeAgent Simon FosterEpisode: Season 4, Episode 19 "Letters of Transit"The MentalistTommy VolkerEpisodes: "If It Bleeds, It Leads", "Days of Wine and Roses", "Little Red Corvette"2013Hawaii Five-0Ernesto, terrorist group leaderEpisode: "We Need Each Another"CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationDr. JimmyEpisode: "Last Woman Standing"Body of ProofDr. Trent MarshEpisodes: "Eye for an Eye", "Daddy Issues"2014–19The 100Marcus KaneMain role (Seasons 1-6): 80 episodes Also directed two episodes2016Rush HourThomasEpisode: "Pilot"2017InhumansDr. Evan DeclanRecurring role; 6 episodes2019The PassageDr. Jonas LearMain role2020–21MacGyverRussell "Russ" TaylorMain role2022–23Big SkyAvery McCallisterRecurring role; 13 episodes2022–presentThe Wingfeather SagaArtham Wingfeather/ Peet the Sockman (voice)Recurring role; 9 episodes2023–24NCIS: HawaiʻiOSP Supervisory Special Agent John SwiftRecurring role; 5 episodes20249-1-1: Lone StarEnzo De La Costa2 episodes2025ButterflyNick BarnesEpisode: "Seoul"2026Twenty Twenty SixVincente Guajardo
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2008Lost: Via DomusDesmond Hume (voice)
Theatre
Title Role Venue Notes Ref. The Soldiers Stolzius Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Edinburgh International Festival (preview) Torquato Tasso Torquato Tasso Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Commendation, Ian Charleson Awards Oedipus Rex Creon / Messenger Glasgow Citizens Theatre Commendation, Ian Charleson Awards The Picture of Dorian Gray Dorian Gray Glasgow Citizens Theatre The Country Wife Horner Glasgow Citizens Theatre The Marowitz Hamlet Hamlet Glasgow Citizens Theatre The Birthday Party McCann Glasgow Citizens Theatre The Dying Gaul Jeffrey Glasgow Citizens Theatre The LA Plays Nick Almeida Theatre, London The Home Show Pieces Glasgow Citizens Theatre Othello Cassio Royal Shakespeare Company A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius Royal Shakespeare Company Antony and Cleopatra Pompey Royal Shakespeare Company Richard II Henry Green Royal National Theatre The Machine Wreckers Arthur Royal National Theatre Antony and Cleopatra Dolabella Royal National Theatre Les Liaisons Dangereuses Le Vicomte de Valmont Liverpool Playhouse Angels in America Louis Ironson 7:84 Theatre Company Don Juan Don Juan Theatre Babel By Molière Macbeth Ross / Witch Glasgow Citizens Theatre
References
External links
Official Website Official Fan Site