Evan Parke

Evan Dexter O'Neal Parke (born January 2, 1968) is a Jamaican-born American actor, writer, producer, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Best known for his role as First Mate Hayes in Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005), Parke has appeared in more than a dozen feature films, numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, and hundreds of television episodes.^[1][2] Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Parke was raised in Brooklyn, New York, and Long Island. He attended Uniondale High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Cornell University in 1990, where he played football for the Cornell Big Red and was initiated into the Iota Phi chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in 1989.^[3][4] He later obtained a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Divinity from Yale University.^[1] Parke is also an ordained minister.^[5] He began his acting career in the late 1990s with guest appearances on television shows like All My Children and transitioned to film roles in projects such as The Replacements (2000) and Planet of the Apes (2001).^[6] In addition to his on-screen work, Parke has provided voice acting, notably as Luther in the video game Detroit: Become Human (2018),^[7] and recent television credits including a guest role as Captain Sean Pierce in the 2025 episode "Fail Safe" of Law & Order: Organized Crime.^[8] As a producer and entrepreneur, he founded and serves as CEO of Arimathea Media Capital Inc., a faith-based company dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices in media.^[1][9]

Early life and education

Early life

Evan Dexter O'Neal Parke was born on January 2, 1968, in Kingston, Jamaica.^[10][11] He spent the initial years of his childhood in Kingston before his family relocated to the United States, where he was raised first in Brooklyn, New York.^[12][13] The family later moved to Long Island, providing Parke with experiences in varied urban and suburban settings during his formative years. He attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York.^[13][3][4] As a Jamaican-American, Parke's bicultural heritage blended Caribbean roots with American influences, immersing him in a diverse array of cultural elements from Jamaican traditions to the multicultural fabric of New York communities.^[10][11]

Education

Evan Parke attended Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1990. While at Cornell, he played football for the Cornell Big Red and was initiated into the Iota Phi chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in 1989. During his senior year, he enrolled in classes on black theater and dramatic literature, experiences that sparked his passion for acting and prompted a shift in his career aspirations.^{[3][10][4][13][14]} Following graduation, Parke worked in corporate positions, including roles at FedEx and in pharmaceutical sales, for three years before committing to the performing arts. He then pursued advanced studies at Yale University, earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1997, which offered intensive training in acting, directing, and theatrical production to equip students for professional theater and film careers. He also obtained a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, reflecting his interests in theology and ethics.^[3][10][15] To further hone his skills, Parke participated in acting workshops at the Negro Ensemble Company and the American Theatre of Harlem, gaining practical experience in ensemble performance and dramatic technique. These educational pursuits, combining economic analysis with artistic and theological depth, laid the foundation for his multifaceted career in entertainment.^[10]

Career

Beginnings in acting

After completing his master's degree at the Yale School of Drama, Evan Parke relocated to New York City to pursue acting professionally, initially focusing on theater to hone his craft. He built his early resume through stage performances, including roles in the off-Broadway productions Colored People's Time and The Old Settler, as well as appearing on Broadway in The Lion King. These theater credits, performed in the mid-1990s, provided foundational training and exposure in ensemble-driven narratives exploring African American experiences and historical themes.^[3] Parke's transition to screen acting began with television, where he secured recurring roles in daytime soaps that served as entry points into the industry. He portrayed Rafe on All My Children from 1997 to 1998, followed by a guest appearance as Judge Blanchard on As the World Turns in 1999. These episodic roles on established ABC and CBS series helped him gain visibility among casting directors, leveraging his dramatic training to deliver nuanced supporting performances in serialized storytelling.^[11][3] His film debut came in 1999 as Jack, a migrant apple picker, in The Cider House Rules, directed by Lasse Hallström and adapted from John Irving's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about orphanage life and moral dilemmas. The Miramax production, which earned Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Michael Caine, featured Parke in a brief but authentic ensemble role amid the film's focus on Tobey Maguire's lead character. Critics praised the overall cast's chemistry for grounding the film's emotional depth, with Parke's contribution noted for adding realism to the laborer dynamics during the apple harvest scenes.^[3] In 2000, Parke expanded his film work with the role of Malcolm La Mont, a running back on a ragtag replacement football team, in the sports comedy The Replacements. Directed by Howard Deutch, the Warner Bros. film starred Keanu Reeves as the quarterback and Gene Hackman as the coach, satirizing the 1987 NFL strike through underdog antics and team camaraderie. Parke's character, part of a diverse clique of players, highlighted themes of unity amid chaos, with his performance adding physicality and humor to the gridiron sequences in this lighthearted genre entry.^[3] As a Jamaican-American actor entering Hollywood in the late 1990s, Parke faced challenges including limited opportunities and typecasting in roles defined primarily by race, often as the sole Black character in predominantly white ensembles. He noted in a 2005 interview, "It’s funny but when I get cast, I know what I’m going in for. The role in ‘King Kong’ is defined as a black man," reflecting broader industry patterns that restricted diverse narratives during that era. These hurdles required persistence, with early roles serving as building blocks despite the scarcity of lead parts for actors of his background.^[3]

Breakthrough with major films

Evan Parke's breakthrough in major films came in the early 2000s, beginning with his role as Gunnar, a human captive in Tim Burton's 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. Directed by Burton and featuring an ensemble cast including Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, and Helena Bonham Carter, the film depicted a dystopian world where apes dominate humans, with Parke portraying a resilient figure amid the rebellion. The production grossed over $362 million worldwide against a $100 million budget, marking a commercial success that elevated Parke's visibility in Hollywood blockbusters.^[16] In 2005, Parke delivered a standout performance as First Mate Benjamin Hayes in Peter Jackson's ambitious remake of King Kong, where he embodied a principled and authoritative naval officer mentoring a young stowaway amid the perilous expedition to Skull Island. As the film's only prominent Black character, Hayes served as a moral compass for the crew, highlighting themes of leadership and humanity in Jackson's epic, which earned critical acclaim for its visual effects and emotional depth, including a four-star review from Roger Ebert praising its narrative richness. The movie achieved $550 million in worldwide box office earnings on a $207 million budget, solidifying Parke's reputation for portraying strong, ethical figures in high-stakes adventures.^[3][17][18] That same year, Parke appeared in a supporting capacity as the Dexter Clinic Guard in Shane Black's neo-noir comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, sharing the screen with Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in a script known for its witty dialogue and genre-blending style. Though a smaller role, it showcased his versatility in a cult-favorite film that garnered an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and contributed to his growing ensemble experience. Later in the decade, Parke took on a dramatic turn as Basham in the 2008 family drama All Roads Lead Home, exploring themes of grief and redemption in a more intimate narrative. These 2000s roles collectively boosted Parke's recognition, often typecasting him as commanding, principled characters while opening doors to further opportunities in film and television.^[19][3]

Television roles and expansion

Parke's transition to television gained momentum in the early 2010s, following his supporting role in the film Django Unchained (2012), where he portrayed Baghead, which opened doors to guest appearances in network series.^[20] In 2014, he appeared as Dan Young in an episode of NCIS: New Orleans, marking an entry into procedural crime dramas that highlighted his ability to embody authoritative figures. This role exemplified his shift toward television, building on earlier film successes like King Kong (2005) to secure steady TV work. A significant expansion came with his recurring portrayal of Wolf, a key character in the 1970s New York hip-hop scene, in four episodes of Netflix's The Get Down (2016–2017), showcasing his versatility in musical and period dramas. He further diversified with a guest spot as Detective Norman Singleton in five episodes of The Blacklist (2018), blending investigative tension with his established screen presence. These television engagements paralleled brief film roles, such as SHIELD Agent in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), underscoring his adaptability across media. In the late 2010s and into the 2020s, Parke embraced anthology formats and ongoing series, including five episodes as Ken Morris, a security expert, in season 2 of Tell Me a Story (2019–2020), which allowed exploration of thriller narratives. His role as Andre Espinosa in The Equalizer (2021) continued this procedural focus, while in Good Sam (2022), he played Byron Kingsley, adding depth to family-oriented medical dramas. That year, he also appeared as Secret Service Agent Allen Taylor in The First Lady, contributing to historical-political storytelling. Parke's most sustained television commitment emerged as Captain Sean Pierce in Law & Order: Organized Crime, a recurring role starting in 2021 and extending through season 5 in 2025, where he portrayed a dedicated NYPD leader amid high-stakes investigations. This evolution from guest spots to multi-season arcs in procedurals, anthologies, and ensemble casts has broadened his portfolio beyond film, emphasizing genres like crime, thriller, and drama while maintaining his reputation for nuanced supporting performances.^[21]

Producing and entrepreneurship

Evan Parke has established himself as a multifaceted media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in writing, producing, and business leadership within the entertainment industry. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Cornell University, Parke initially applied his academic background to corporate roles, including positions at FedEx and in pharmaceutical sales, before transitioning to creative ventures that blend economic acumen with storytelling. This foundation has informed his entrepreneurial pursuits, enabling him to navigate the financial and operational aspects of media production while amplifying underrepresented narratives.^[1][15][3] In 2018, Parke founded Arimathea Media Capital Inc., where he serves as CEO, with a mission to produce content that highlights the voices and perspectives of marginalized communities, including people of color and those guided by faith-based principles. The company focuses on developing powerful stories aimed at advancing human rights and influencing public policy through entertainment. As a producer, Parke co-created and executive produced The Other Side, a podcast series for the Yale Podcast Network distributed on iTunes, which explores themes of faith, identity, and social justice. His production work emphasizes collaborative projects that integrate diverse viewpoints, drawing on his economics training to secure funding and manage operations for initiatives targeting global audiences.^[1][15][9] Parke's writing contributions further underscore his entrepreneurial impact, particularly in post-2020 projects that address cultural representation in genre fiction. He contributed a story to Shook! A Black Horror Anthology, a 2023 Dark Horse Comics collection featuring 12 tales by Black creators, which won the 2025 Glyph Comics Award for Story of the Year for its innovative blend of horror and social commentary. This anthology, partnering with Second Sight Publishing, exemplifies Parke's commitment to platforms that elevate Black voices in comics and media. Beyond Arimathea, Parke founded The Sexy Nerd LLC around 2020, a mission-driven media and lifestyle brand that builds online communities for legacy-minded learners, innovators, and leaders through podcasts, content, and events focused on personal growth, faith, and entrepreneurship. These ventures complement his broader career by fostering sustainable media ecosystems that extend his influence in storytelling and business innovation as of 2025.^{[22][23][24][25][26][27]}

Acting credits

Films

Evan Parke has appeared in the following feature films, listed chronologically by release year:

• The Cider House Rules (1999) as Jack, a drama that won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.^[28]
• The Replacements (2000) as Malcolm La Mont.^[29]
• Planet of the Apes (2001) as Gunnar.^[30]
• Nightstalker (2002) as Doak.^[31]
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) as Dexter Clinic Guard.^[32]
• King Kong (2005) as Hayes.^[33]
• The Air I Breathe (2007) as Danny.^[34]
• All Roads Lead Home (2008) as Basham.^[35]
• Insanitarium (2008) as Charles.^[36]
• Django Unchained (2012) as Baghead.
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) as SHIELD Agent.
• Set It Up (2018) as District Club Doorman.

Television

Parke's television career spans over two decades, encompassing hundreds of episodic guest appearances in procedural dramas, soap operas, and anthology series, alongside several recurring roles in notable primetime shows.^[15] His early work primarily consisted of guest spots in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including roles in daytime soaps and network procedurals. The following table catalogs his major television credits chronologically, highlighting key series, roles, and episode details where applicable. This list focuses on verified appearances and does not exhaustively enumerate every minor guest role amid his extensive episodic portfolio. Throughout his career, Parke has accumulated appearances in over 150 television episodes, often portraying authoritative figures such as detectives, military personnel, and family patriarchs in genres ranging from crime procedurals to historical dramas.^[15] His television work expanded following initial film successes, allowing for sustained recurring presence in network and streaming series into the mid-2020s.^[6]

Video games

Evan Parke's involvement in video games has been limited to voice and performance roles in two notable titles, showcasing his ability to adapt his acting skills to interactive media. His earliest credit came in 2005 with Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie, developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, where he reprised his film role as Benjamin "Ben" Hayes, providing the English voice for the character—a tough, loyal crew member on the expedition to Skull Island.^[46][47] Parke's most prominent video game role is as Luther in Detroit: Become Human (2018), developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Set in a dystopian 2038 Detroit where highly advanced androids serve humans but begin to develop sentience, the game's branching narrative follows three protagonists navigating moral dilemmas, revolutions, and personal freedoms, with player choices leading to over 200 possible endings.^[48] Luther is a WR400 android model who serves as an enforcer for the deviant android hunter Zlatko before breaking his programming; he joins protagonist Kara and her charge Alice on their perilous journey to the Canadian border, acting as a protective father figure with a gentle yet resolute demeanor that emphasizes themes of sacrifice and humanity.^[49] Parke provided both the voice acting and full performance capture for Luther, while actor Bentley Kalu supplied the facial likeness model.^[50][51] The production of Detroit: Become Human heavily relied on motion-capture techniques, a departure from traditional acting where performers deliver lines on a physical set captured by conventional cameras. Instead, actors like Parke wore specialized suits embedded with reflective markers and sensors, performing entire scenes in a controlled studio environment equipped with multiple high-speed infrared cameras; this data was then processed using software to animate fully digital characters, allowing for precise replication of body movements, facial expressions, and emotional nuances in real-time interactive scenarios.^[52] Quantic Dream's implementation involved over 200 hours of performance capture per lead actor and 300 performers in total, contributing to the game's critical acclaim for its lifelike portrayals and immersive storytelling.^[53][54] Reviews praised the motion-capture work for capturing subtle details, such as micro-expressions, which enhanced the emotional depth of characters like Luther and elevated the overall narrative impact.^[53] This role highlighted Parke's versatility, building on his television experience in delivering nuanced performances under technical constraints.^[55]