Malik Yoba is known for his numerous movie and TV roles, including that of FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood in Designated Survivor. He has appeared in 32 movies and 35 TV shows in a career that spans close to three decades. He is also a part-time singer with a few singles in his discography.
Malik is also a community activist. He has been part of different community organizations in New York City since 1986. He currently serves as the Vice President of CityKids Foundation. It's thus not surprising that most of his roles are of a legal and criminal nature. The following are his best movies and TV shows, according to IMDb.
Movie: Cool Runnings (7.0)
Cool Runnings is based on the story of the Jamaica national bobsleigh team. Despite being underdogs, they gave an amazing performance at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This was the first time Malik Yoba was cast in a major film or TV show. He played a Jamaican athlete named Yui Brenner.
The movie was a huge financial success, grossing $154,856,263 worldwide. Even though the characters in the film were fictional, the events were mostly true. Critics also praised the performances of all the cast members in the film, as well as the story. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of 76%.
TV Show: The Good Wife (8.3)
In The Good Wife, Malik played Eddie Forum, a man who was convicted for the murder of two girls in 1999. Malik was sentenced to death by lethal injection, but it didn't go according to plan.
The medical team performing the injection was struggling to find a vein, so his legal team halted the execution, claiming what was happening to him was a clear violation of the Eighth Amendment. They were able to halt the execution and as he waited for his next date, they tried to clear his name.
Movie: They're Just My Friends (7.6)
In They're Just My Friends, Pat is a cruiserweight boxing champion who becomes to close to a group of Italian-American gangsters after the death of his father Pat Sr. (Malik Yoba). He soon finds himself in danger when he begins dating a white neighborhood girl named Gina.
After a clash with a racist gang that's opposed to his relationship, Pat finds himself in jail. When he finally gets out, Pat vows to be more disciplined. He dedicates more time to his career and also watches those who he is friends with, but things aren't as easy for him as he expected.
TV Show: Person Of Interest (8.4)
Malik portrayed Andre Wilcox in Person Of Interest. Andre was the owner of a comic book store called Noble Comics. He also led a double life as a gang leader responsible for a number of killings.
Andre and his gang had a habit of forcefully collecting protection money from local stores. He was bloodthirsty and never hesitated to kill even his own subordinates if they made a slight error. After conducting hundreds of crimes without punishment, Andre was finally arrested and incarcerated.
Movie: New York Undercover (7.8)
This undoubtedly one of the actor's most popular roles. Malik Yoba reprised his role as the tough-talking and ruthless Det. Julius Clarence "J.C." Williams: J.C. in the TV movie based on the FOX television series of the same name.
J.C. was a detective in the Fourth Precinct who was later transferred to the Special Investigations Division of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Back in 2018, the legendary showrunner revealed his plans to reboot the series and movie. However, ABC opted to not pick up the show.
TV Show: Justice By Any Means (8.4)
Justice By Any Means is a true crime show on TV One that reenacts untold crime stories that occurred years ago using fictional characters. Malik Yoba appears as himself and he is also the narrator of the show.
Part of the show's agenda is also to advocate for justice for crime victims whose offenders went unpunished. A number of episodes have also been narrated by television show judge Faith Jenkins. Faith also guides viewers on what they can do to help the victims who didn't get justice.
Movie: Vote For Me (8.1)
Vote For Me revolves around an elderly Puerto Rican man named Leo Rodriguez (Ricardo Barber). Seeking to change his community and kick out drug dealers, Leo takes a break from his job as a building superintendent and decides to joins politics with no money to run a campaign. The only thing he has is a homemade sign.
People ignore him at first, but he soon becomes a real contender when he gets a guitar and begins singing and dancing to voters. Malik Yoba played a well-educated man simply known as The Professor.
TV Show: Designated Survivor (8.5)
FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood (Malik Yoba) was one of the main characters in the first season of Designated Survivor. Atwood worked together with Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) in her investigation into the Capitol bombing that killed the President and members of the cabinet.
However, he was forced to slow down after his son, Luke, was kidnapped. In order for Luke to be released, Atwood was asked to confess to a murder he didn't commit. As a result of the confession, he was fired and jailed. After his release from custody, he continued aiding Hanna in her investigations.
Movie: Dreaming In Black And White (8.2)
In Dreaming In Black And White, Malik Yoba portrays Chris Jones, a Black man who finds himself lost on a desolate highway. When he spots a diner, he decides to go inside to seek help.
Upon entering, he finds himself surrounded by angry, racist people. He also discovers that the area's authorities have no power over the residents who call all the shots. Jones thus frantically tries to find a way to escape before he ends up dead. Things become even harder when a woman who tries to save him fails.
TV Show: Arrested Development (8.7)
In Arrested Development, Malik played Ice, a bounty hunter, and a professional caterer. He was hired by G.O.B. in the second season to track Michael. Everyone suspected that Michael fled the Bluth Company due to financial woes. When Ice caught him, Michael paid him to hunt down his father instead.
But it seemed everyone wanted a piece of Ice. Lindsay, who was attracted to Ice, tried to get him to be interested in her, but he was only focussed on his job. Frustrated, she began jeopardizing his efforts to find the people he had been tasked with locating.