# Sean Patrick Thomas

Sean Patrick Thomas is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Derek Reynolds in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance and as Jimmy James in Barbershop (2002), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and as Professor Macalester in Vixen (2015–2016).

## Early life

Thomas was born in Washington, D.C., the son of emigrants from Guyana. He was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Cheryl, a financial analyst for DuPont, and Carlton Thomas, an engineer who also worked for DuPont.
Thomas, who has two younger siblings, graduated from Brandywine High School in Delaware and attended the University of Virginia. He originally intended to study law, but upon successfully auditioning for a role in the play A Raisin in the Sun, Thomas changed directions and decided to attend New York University's prestigious Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 1995.

## Career

Thomas began appearing in screen roles in the mid-1990s, and had minor roles in several films, including Conspiracy Theory (1997), Can't Hardly Wait (1998), and Cruel Intentions (1999). His first leading role was in the teen romance Save the Last Dance, in which he starred opposite Julia Stiles. The film opened in January 2001 and became successful among teen audiences, grossing over $90 million domestically. Subsequently, Thomas appeared in supporting roles in the films Barbershop and Halloween: Resurrection, both of which were released in 2002. Thomas was a cast member on The District, a television crime drama that aired on CBS from 2000 to 2004.
Thomas played recurring character Alan Townsend on Reaper. He originated the recurring character of Karl Dupree on Lie to Me. In 2009, he took to the stage, playing the title role in Othello for the Theatre for a New Audience in New York. This production moved to the Intiman Theatre in Seattle for the summer. In 2012, he worked with Ioan Gruffudd and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Ringer. He was originally cast as Cyborg for Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, replacing Shemar Moore from Justice League: War, who was initially not available to reprise his role. But after Sean Patrick Thomas recorded the role, Shemar Moore was available again so Andrea Romano, for the sake of continuity, recast Thomas with Shemar Moore who lip synced to the earlier performance of Thomas.
Thomas portrayed Dr. Michael Cayle in the horror film Deep in the Darkness, based on the Michael Laimo novel with the same name. In The Boys spinoff Gen V, he portrayed former superhero Polarity. In 2024, Thomas will be portraying Professor Chadwick in a TV adaptation of Cruel Intentions. Thomas portrayed the character of Ronald Clifford in the 1999 film of the same name.

## Personal life

Thomas married actress Aonika Laurent in New Orleans on Saturday, April 22, 2006. Their original wedding date had been Saturday, November 5, 2005, but had to be postponed due to Hurricane Katrina. The couple met at a party thrown by Barbershop director Tim Story. The couple have two children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Sergeant Thompson | |
| 1997 | Picture Perfect | Ad Agency Researcher No. 2 | |
| 1997 | Conspiracy Theory | Surveillance Operator | |
| 1998 | Can't Hardly Wait | Ben, Jock No. 2 | |
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Ronald Clifford | |
| 1999 | The Sterling Chase | Darren | |
| 1999 | Graham's Diner | - | |
| 2000 | Herschel Hopper: New York Rabbit | Mo | Voice |
| 2000 | Dracula 2000 | Trick | |
| 2001 | Save the Last Dance | Derek Reynolds | |
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie | The Other Token Black Guy | |
| 2002 | Barbershop | Jimmy James | |
| 2002 | Halloween: Resurrection | Rudy Grimes | |
| 2003 | Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman | Additional Voices | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2004 | Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Jimmy James | |
| 2006 | The Fountain | Antonio | |
| 2007 | Honeydripper | Dex | |
| 2008 | A Raisin in the Sun | George Murchison | Television film |
| 2008 | The Burrowers | Walnut Callaghan | |
| 2012 | Murder on the 13th Floor | Jordan Braxton | Television film |
| 2012 | The Selection | Sylvan Santos | Television film |
| 2013 | Finding Neighbors | Paul | |
| 2014 | Deep in the Darkness | Dr. Michael Cayle | |
| 2015 | The Murder Pact | Detective Dakoulas | Television film |
| 2016 | Barbershop: The Next Cut | Jimmy James | |
| 2016 | My B.F.F. | Dr. LeBlanc | |
| 2016 | Merry Ex-Mas | Mitchell | Television film |
| 2017 | Vixen | Professor Adam Macalester | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2018 | Rent-an-Elf | Liam | Television film |
| 2018 | Union | Justin | Short |
| 2019 | The Curse of La Llorona | Detective Cooper | |
| 2019 | Lying and Stealing | Trey Walker | |
| 2019 | Christmas Hotel | Connor | Television film |
| 2020 | Influence | Jeffrey Bowen | |
| 2021 | The Tragedy of Macbeth | Monteith | |
| 2021 | Horror Noire | Mr. Clay | |
| 2022 | Trophy Wife | Marc Carter | |
| 2022 | Till | Gene Mobley | |
| 2024 | Kemba | Gus Smith | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | One Life to Live | Tico | Episode: "Episode #1.6955" |
| 1996 | New York Undercover | Russell | Episode: "The Enforcers" |
| 1998 | Push | - | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2000–04 | The District | Officer/Detective Temple Page | Main cast |
| 2002 | The Agency | Det. Temple Page | Episode: "Doublecrossover" |
| 2003 | Static Shock | Marcus Reed, Dante | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Reaper | Alan Townsend | Recurring role (season 2) |
| 2009 | Lie to Me | Karl Dupree | Recurring role (season 1) |
| 2010 | Army Wives | Staff Sgt. Tyrell Sallers | Episode: "Change of Station" |
| 2011 | Reed Between the Lines | Kenneth | Episode: "Let's Talk About Ms. Helen's Son, Part 1 & 2" |
| 2012 | Ringer | Solomon Vessida | Recurring cast |
| 2012 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Terry | Episode: "Dark Cousin" |
| 2015 | Bones | Dr. John Cruz | Episode: "The Resurrection in the Remains" |
| 2015–16 | Vixen | Professor Macalester | Main cast |
| 2016 | NCIS: New Orleans | Lieutenant Commander Mark Jacoby | Episode: "No Man's Land" |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Agent Terry Richardson | Episode: "Killer App" |
| 2017 | Kevin (Probably) Saves the World | Rick Thomas | Episode: "Brutal Acts of Kindness" |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | President Claude Galbert | Episode: "The Courage to Continue" |
| 2019 | NCIS | Ian Rackham | Episode: "Crossing the Line" |
| 2019 | The Good Fight | Geoffrey Payton | Recurring role (season 3) |
| 2019 | Middle School Moguls | Mr. Pierre | Voice, recurring role |
| 2020 | Ghost Tape | Luke Dixon | Recurring role |
| 2020 | S.W.A.T. | Bishop Miller | Episode: "Hopeless Sinner" |
| 2021 | Invincible | Guard #2 | Voice, episode: "It's About Time" |
| 2021 | Insecure | Taurean's Brother | Episode: "Everything Gonna Be, Okay?!" |
| 2022–2024 | For All Mankind | Corey Johnson | Recurring role (seasons 3–4) |
| 2022 | The Boys Presents: Diabolical | Reporter #1, Male Hostage | Voice, episode: "One Plus One Equals Two" |
| 2022 | Reasonable Doubt | Brayden Miller | Main cast |
| 2023 | Gen V | Polarity | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Cruel Intentions | Professor Chadwick | |
| 2025 | High Potential | Dexter Price | Episode: "The RAMs" |