Obi Abili
Obi Abili | |
|---|---|
| Born | Obi Abili 1977 (age 47–48) |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Obi Abili is a British stage, television and film actor of Nigerian descent.
Early life
Obi Abili was born in London, England in 1977 and lived in "material comfort" until the family moved to Nigeria and fell into poverty when he was around 8-years-old. Making his way back to London with his father and siblings by age 12, he spent most of his adolescence in foster homes.[1]
Career
Abili studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (RADA). In 2006, he made his television debut with a role in the television series Afterlife. In 2012, Abili debuted in the film Gambit alongside Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz and in 2013 he starred as Tula: The Revolt.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Reunion | Mamadou Kargbo | |
| 2021 | Spinning Gold | Edwin Hawkins | |
| The Survivalist | John Larsson | ||
| 2020 | Violation | Caleb | |
| Here After | Stranger | Released as Faraway Eyes in 2020 at the Cinequest Film Festival and in the US as Here After in 2021.[2] | |
| 2019 | 21 Bridges | Sgt. Butchco | |
| 2018 | London Fields | Thelonius | |
| 2017 | Forgotten Man | Executive Slazenger | |
| 2016 | Bachelor Games| | Max | |
| 2013 | Tula: The Revolt | Tula | |
| 2012 | Gambit | Executive Slazenger |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Step up: High Water | ||
| 2018 | Billions | Roland Aduba | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Delicious | Reverend Norton | 3 episodes |
| 2011 | Injustice | DS Nick Taylor | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | The Nativity | Gaspar | |
| 2009 | The Take | Des | |
| Moses Jones | Joseph | 3 episodes | |
| 2008 | 10 Days to War | James | |
| 2006 | Afterlife | Aaron |
Podcast Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Hookup | PNPeter | Series Regular |
| 2021 | See You in Your Nightmares |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Venue(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Oresteia | Agamemnon | Theatre for a New Audience | Virtual premiere | [3] |
| 2017 | The Emperor Jones | Brutus Jones | Irish Repertory Theatre | [4][1] | |
| 2016 | Six Degrees of Separation | Paul | West End theatre | [5] | |
| 2015 | Antigone | Guard / chorus | Brooklyn Academy of Music | Performance released as a BBC 4 TV Movie titled, Antigone at the Barbican in 2015.[6] | [1] |
References
- ^ a b c Collins-Hughes, Laura (3 April 2017). "From Lost Soul in London to Glory Off Broadway". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
- ^ Billington, Alex (15 June 2021). "Dating in Purgatory Seems Like Hell in Trailer for Comedy 'Here After'". www.firstshowing.net. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Kathleen Chalfant, Obi Abili, Corey Allen & More to Star in Virtual Premeire of THE ORESTEIA". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Meet the Maker: John Douglas Thompson and Obi Abili". Irish Repertory Theatre. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ "Six Degrees of Separation Review | LondonTheatre.co.uk". London Theatre. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (6 March 2015). "BBC4 to screen Juliette Binoche and Ivo van Hove's Antigone". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.