Philip Akin

Philip Akin, born on April 18, 1950, in Kingston, Jamaica, is a distinguished Canadian actor with a career spanning over three decades across stage, film, and television. His filmography includes significant roles in notable American productions like *The Sum of All Fears*, *S.W.A.T.*, and *Get Rich or Die Tryin’*. Akin is also recognized for his extensive voice work, particularly as Bishop in the beloved *X-Men* animated series and Tripp Hansen in *Monster Force*.

Akin's family relocated to Oshawa, Ontario, in 1953, and he has called it home ever since. After completing high school, he attended Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto, becoming its first acting graduate in 1975. He quickly made his mark, securing a role in a Shaw Festival production of *Caesar and Cleopatra* shortly after graduating.

In addition to his acting career, Akin is a skilled martial artist, holding a 5th degree black belt in Yoshinkan Aikido, along with training in Jing Mo Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan. He gained early fame in the 1980s with the comedy series *Bizarre* and later played memorable roles such as Norton Drake in *War of the Worlds* and Charlie DeSalvo in *Highlander: The Series*. Akin has also portrayed Kofi Annan in *Shake Hands with the Devil* and participated in the prestigious Stratford Festival of Canada in 2007, taking on key roles in *Othello* and *Of Mice and Men*.

As a founding member and the Artistic Director of the Obsidian Theatre Company, Akin is dedicated to promoting works by and about Black artists. He is divorced and has one child.