Dennis Haysbert

Dennis works out almost every day. He plays basketball, baseball, golf and racquetball. He relaxes by practicing martial arts, reading and cooking.

When Dennis was asked during an interview what would have been President David Palmers campaign slogan had he really been running for presidency, he replied: people first.

Dennis's father is a Catholic and his mother a Baptist. They were raised as Baptists but had a lot of Catholic upbringing (such as fish on Fridays and no birth control).

Dennis was such a good fencer at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts that he was invited to train for the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team.

Dennis is backing the Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama. Dennis believes that his character on the TV Series 24 is partly responsible for opening America's mind to a black commander in chief.

Dennis's sister, Rita Haysbert, is a teacher.

Dennis's father, Charles Haysbert Sr., served as a temporary police officer in San Mateo, California before becoming sheriff at the San Francisco airport.

Dennis became the first civilian diver to investigate a midget submarine sunk by a single cannon shot. He also investigated the USS Arizona, the USS Saratoga and the Nagato, which is the ship from which Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned the attack on Pearl Harbor. Dennis had to dive 160 feet below the surface with a special mask. In order to talk, Dennis has to turn off his air and then turn it back on again.

Dennis was born with with a hole in his heart. As a result he has a 15% handicap.

Following is a list of awards and nominations Dennis received:
In 2007 Dennis was nominated for the Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for The Unit (2006).
In 2006 Dennis was nominated for an Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for 24 (2001).
In 2005 Dennis was nominated for Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for 24 (2001).
In 2004 Dennis was nominated for an Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for 24 (2001).
In 2003 Dennis won the Black Reel Theatrical award for Best Supporting Actor in Far from Heaven (2002).
In 2003 Dennis was nominated for the Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor in Far from Heaven (2002).
In 2003 Dennis was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for 24 (2001).
In 2003 Dennis was nominated for an Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for 24 (2001).
In 2003 Dennis won the Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama for Far from Heaven (2002). He was also nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Drama for 24 (2001).
In 2003 Dennis was nominated for Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for 24 (2001).
In 2002 Dennis won the WAFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor for Far from Heaven (2002).
In 2001 Denis was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama for Now and Again (1999).
In 2000 Dennis won the Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Supporting Actor for Now and Again (1999).

Dennis is a big sci-fi buff. One of his favorite shows is Battlestar Galactica.

Dennis's brother, Adam, was a wide receiver for the Cougars in the 1980s.

Dennis is very passionate on the subject of global warming and the environment. Towards the end of 2006 he began the process of making his home greener. The process includes putting in solar panels, solar roof panels, using light bulbs that reduce Co2 emissions, replacing his pool with a saline pool and putting in two 8,000-gallon rain catchers with tanks under the ground. In addition to that he has placed an order for an electric car, a Tesla, that can drive 250 miles after being charged for three hours.

His code name on The Unit is Snake Doctor.

Dennis Haysbert is the voice of President David Palmer on 24:The Game.

Dennis Haysbert played football on his high school football team, but decided to go with acting.

He got is big break in the movie Love Field opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. He was hired after Denzel Washington dropped out and after Eriq La Salle was hired, and fired.

Dennis Haysbert stars in a very small role, as the Psych Ward Staff, in the episode One More Time of the TV show The A-Team.

Dennis Haysbert missed out on playing golf with Tiger Woods three times. Once because the game was rained out, and twice because of his work schedule.

Dennis's favorite television shows include CSI:Crime Scene Investigation, Six Feet Under and Battlestar Galactica.

Dennis attended the San Mateo High School in California.

Dennis Haysbert got his first major acting gig on television in 1986 when he joined the daytime drama The Young And The Restless in the recurring role of Ron.

In 2004, he was honored along with talk show host Tavis Smiley at the Roy Wilkins Freedom Fund Dinner. This is the annual awards banquet for the NAACP.

In 2002, he was the spokesperson for the Harlem Health Expo.

In 2004, he became the on-screen announcer for the Military Channel.

Dennis's alma mater is the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He is active in voiceover work. Not only has he lent his voice to the television cartoon Justice League, but he has also voiced video games (Call of Duty: Finest Hour) and animated movies (Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)

His character Magonius from the television mini-series Empire (2005) is historically inaccurate. The character was a created solely for the mini-series.

On August 7, 2005, he became the Grand Marshal for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. The race was held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

In 2004, he broke the record for the deepest dive with a movie mask at the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The movie mask allows the diver to breath while maintaining the ablity to speak into a microphone. He was 165 feet below sea level.

He played defensive end on his high school football team.

In 2003, he became the spokesman for Allstate Insurance.