Philip David Boothe Akin (born April 18, 1950) is a Canadian actor of Jamaican heritage.
Akin has been acting and directing for over 40 years. He has had roles in American films such as The Sum of All Fears, S.W.A.T., and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. He has also done much voice work, including voicing the character of Bishop for the X-Men animated series and Tripp Hansen in Monster Force.
Life and career Akin was born in Kingston, Jamaica, as a middle brother of five sons. His parents moved to Oshawa, Ontario in 1953, and he and his brothers followed suit the next year. He has lived in Ontario ever since. Shortly after attending high school, Akin attended Toronto's Ryerson Theatre School. In 1975, he became the school's first acting graduate, landing a role just a few days later in a Shaw Festival production of Caesar and Cleopatra.
In 1983, Akin began studying Yoshinkan aikido and is presently a 5th degree black belt in that art. He has also trained in Jing Mo kung fu and tai chi.
Akin first came to prominence in the early 1980s when he performed on the zany comedy series Bizarre. Other noteworthy roles include boxer Kid Cornelius in the "Shadow Boxer" episode of Friday the 13th: The Series (1987) and his regular role as the wheelchair-using computer expert Norton Drake in the first season of War of the Worlds, a sci-fi television series (1988–90). His recurring role as Charlie DeSalvo in Highlander: The Series has also brought him much recognition. In Shake Hands with the Devil, he portrays Kofi Annan, then United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. In 2007, Akin performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada, a prestigious summer-long celebration of theatre held each year in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. He was cast in the title role of William Shakespeare's Othello,2013 Playbill and also in the role of Crooks in the Festival's rendition of John Steinbeck's novella Of Mice and Men.Of Mice and Men Philip Akin can also be seen in a long list of guest appearances on television series for example: F/X: The Series, Mutant X, Flashpoint (2008) and most recently, The Expanse (2015).
Akin is a founding member and was the artistic director (2006–2020) of the Obsidian Theatre Company, a Canadian theatre company comprising seasoned actors of African and Caribbean descent, devoted to the work of Black artists and creators. He won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play/Musical in 2012 for his production of Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, which starred Kevin Hanchard and Nigel Shawn Williams. In his role he helped foster mentorship programs aimed at Black theatre directors.
In the final year of his tenure as artistic director of Obsidian, Akin was awarded the biennial Herbert Whittaker Award for Distinguished Contribution to Canadian Theatre"Philip Aikin presented the Herbert Whittaker Award For Distinguished Contribution to Canadian Theatre". Aisle Say, February 18, 2020. - and was named one of the Canadian artists of 2019 by The Globe and Mail."The Globe’s runners-up for Canadian artist of 2019". The Globe and Mail, December 22, 2019. Upon his departure from Obsidian, the theatre established The Black Shoulders Award in Aikin's honour, to be awarded to Black artists to pursue their craft.
Akin was the director for the Shaw Festival's 2020 production of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress.
In 2026, he was named as an Member of the Order of Canada. He lives in Toronto.
Filmography Film
Three Card Monte (1978) – Monte Player Running (1979) – Chuck Stone Improper Channels (1981) – Motorcycle Cop Gas (1981) – Lincoln Jones Covergirl (1983) – Cairo Iceman (1984) – Dr. Fisterpoon Martin's Day (1985) – Cop 1 Prettykill (Tomorrow's a Killer) (1987) – Joey Nowhere to Hide (1987) – Harvey Blue Monkey (1987) – Anthony Rivers Switching Channels (1988) – Guard Millennium (1989) – Kevin Briley Stella (1990) – Police Officer F/X2 (1991) – Det. McQuay The Big Slice (1991) – Reggie / Regina Married to It (1991) – Limo Driver The Ref (1994) – State Trooper The Stupids (1996) – Henchman #1 Fly Away Home (1996) – Air Force Reporter Woo (1998) – Roger Smith Airborne (1998) – Romeo Cortez Down in the Delta (1998) – Manager One Tough Cop (1998) – Insp. Cheney Pushing Tin (1999) – Paul In Too Deep (1999) – Minister Left Behind (2000) – Alan Tompkins The Sum of All Fears (2002) – General Wilkes The Skulls III (2002, video) – Captain Harlan Cube 2: Hypercube (2002) – The General How to Deal (2003) – Mr. Bowden S.W.A.T. (2003) – Hijacked Passenger (uncredited) The Perfect Man (2005) – English Teacher The Man (2005) – Second I.A. Agent Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005) – Reverend Bottom Feeder (2007) – Sarge Shake Hands with the Devil (2007) – Kofi Annan This Beautiful City (2007) – Police Chief P2 (2007) – Karl Robocop (2014) – Dr. Alan
Television
+ Year Title Role Notes 1980–1982 The Littlest Hobo Policemand / Becker 3 episodes 1982 Shocktrauma Sam Hooker TV movie 1985–1987 Night Heat (various) 7 episodes 1986 The Park Is Mine Hardy TV movie 1986 The High Price of Passion Locksmith TV movie 1987 Friday the 13th: The Series Kid Cornelius 1 episode 1987 Starcom: The U.S. Space Force Col. John "Slim" Griffin (voice) 13 episodes 1988–1989 War of the Worlds Norton Drake 25 episodes 1991 Swamp Thing Bayou Jack 5 episodes 1990–1993 Top Cops Delbert Marion / Aldin Sims / Irving Robinson 3 episodes 1992 Quiet Killer Dr. Henshaw TV movie 1992–1995 X-Men: The Animated Series Bishop / Lucas Bishop 7 episodes 1993–1995 Highlander: The Series Charlie DeSalvo 17 episodes 1993 Liar, Liar: Between Father and Daughter Dr. Kerr TV movie 1993 Counterstrike The Detective Episode: "Free to Kill" 1996 Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice Det. Arthur Brown TV movie 1996 The Haunting of Lisa Sgt. Hill TV movie 1996 Talk to Me Public Defender TV movie 1996 Traders Carl Davison 7 episodes 1997 ...First Do No Harm TV movie 1997 Elvis Meets Nixon Cabbie TV movie 1997 Time to Say Goodbye? Airport Police Officer TV movie 1997 The Don's Analyst Dr. Lusting TV movie 1997 Ms. Scrooge George TV movie 1997 The New Ghostwriter Mysteries MIles Robeson 3 episodes 1997–2000 PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Aubrey / Military Man 2 episodes 1998 Giving Up the Ghost Judge Gleason TV movie 1998 Highlander: The Raven Simon Clark 1 episode 1998 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three ESU lieutenant TV movie 1998 Goosebumps Bob Erikson 3 episodes 1999 Deep in My Heart Ob-gyn doctor TV movie 1999 To Love, Honor & Betray Det. Gonda TV movie 1999 Strange Justice Charles Ogletree TV movie 1999 The Avengers: United They Stand Attuma (voice) 1 episode 2000 All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story Det. Albany TV movie 2000 Caitlin's Way Mr. Watson 4 episodes 2000 Who Killed Atlanta's Children? Police Spokesman TV movie 2000 One Kill Gunnery Sgt. Finch TV movie 2000 Relic Hunter Budur 1 episode 2000 One True Love Mark TV movie 2000 Range of Motion Flozell TV movie 2001 Blackout First Official TV movie 2001 Bojangles Williamson TV movie 2002 Pretend You Don't See Her Witness Protection Agent TV movie 2002 The Red Sneakers Mr. Seabrooke TV movie 2002 Mutant X General Sutton 1 episode 2002 Second String Dr. Grantham TV movie 2004 H2O U.S. President Monroe 2005 Knights of the South Bronx Asst. Principal Hill TV movie 2008 Friends and Heroes Isaac / John Ralston 13 episodes 2008–2011 Flashpoint Commander Norm Holleran / Commander Holleran 5 episodes 2009 Taking a Chance on Love Jules Grandfield TV movie 2010 Who Is Clark Rockefeller? Det. Lewis Cook TV movie 2011 Lost Girl Tshombe 1 episode 2012 King Drew Bannon 1 episode 2012 Covert Affairs Greg McCarthy 1 episode 2013 Prosecuting Casey Anthony Judge Belvin Perry TV movie 2014 The Best Laid Plans Managing Editor 3 episodes 2015 The Book of Negroes John Cartwright 1 episode 2015–2016 The Expanse Craig 3 episodes 2018 In Contempt Judge Cannon 1 episode 2018 Love, of Course Edward Seton TV movie
References
External links
Philip Akin at Apple TV+
Philip Akin – Canada's Theatre Museum Legend Library interview