Toby Onwumere

Toby Onwumere is a Nigerian‑American actor whose career has blended rigorous theatrical training with high‑profile television and film work, establishing him as a versatile talent in contemporary storytelling. Born on February 1 1990 in Nigeria and raised in Mansfield, Texas, he pursued an undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Evansville in Indiana before earning a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego’s prestigious graduate acting program, where he honed a craft that would later serve him on both stage and screen. His early immersion in Shakespearean performance came through engagements with Santa Cruz Shakespeare, where he embodied Macduff in Macbeth and delivered a comedic turn as Cleton in The Liar, as well as roles in The Taming of the Shrew and Henry V with Shakespeare Santa Cruz, experiences that forged a deep appreciation for classical texts and physical storytelling. Onwumere’s breakout television role arrived when he succeeded Aml Ameen as Capheus in the second season of Netflix’s ambitious series Sense8, debuting in the December 2016 holiday special and quickly gaining acclaim for his nuanced portrayal of a charismatic Nairobi driver navigating love, family, and destiny. His screen résumé expanded with a compelling turn as Kai, a war correspondent and love interest to Jamal Lyon in the fifth season of Empire, showcasing his ability to anchor emotionally charged narratives within mainstream dramas. In 2021, he reunited with visionary director Lana Wachowski for The Matrix Resurrections, contributing to the fourth installment of the iconic sci‑fi franchise and cementing his presence in blockbuster cinema. Across these varied projects, Onwumere demonstrates a commitment to roles that explore cultural identity, resilience, and the human condition, while his continued work in theater and emerging media signals a dynamic and evolving artistic trajectory.