Carl Lumbly

Carl Winston Lumbly (born August 14, 1951) is an acclaimed American actor, notorious for portraying the first black superhero on television in M.A.N.T.I.S. He caught the public eye as NYPD detective Marcus Petrie on the CBS police drama series Cagney & Lacey and continued to secure pivotal roles such as CIA agent Marcus Dixon on the ABC espionage drama Alias. Lumbly's voice work has also been celebrated, notably for his performance as J'onn J'onnz / Martian Manhunter in several animated series in the DC Animated Universe. He later portrayed J'onn J'onnz's father, M'yrnn, on The CW's Arrowverse on Supergirl from 2017 until 2019. More recently, he plays Isaiah Bradley, the first Black super-soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and the forthcoming Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

Born to Jamaican immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lumbly's first career was as a journalist in Minnesota. An unexpected assignment led him to a workshop theatre, which launched his acting career. He later moved to San Francisco and landed a role in South African political plays alongside the then-unknown Danny Glover. His first significant role was in Cagney & Lacey, and he consolidated his reputation with portrayals of well-known personalities like Bobby Seale, Black Panther Party co-founder, and Congressman Ron Dellums. His other iconic roles include performances in M.A.N.T.I.S., Alias, Justice League, and Supergirl. Currently, he continues to contribute to contemporary television series like This Is Us and The Fall of the House of Usher.