Damien Leake

Damien Leake (born August 12, 1952 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American actor whose career spans more than five decades and a world‑record‑holding masters track and field athlete. From a young age Leake demonstrated a deep engagement with civil rights, joining his parents at the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom just days after his eleventh birthday, where he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The assassination of King five years later sparked a lifelong silent protest; Leake began sitting during the U.S. national anthem in April 1968, a stance he maintained even during his service at Fort Dix, where it nearly led to a court‑martial. In 1973 he entered the film industry with a role in Serpico, launching a continuous on‑screen presence that includes roughly seventy motion pictures, countless television episodes, and extensive stage work. Throughout the 1980s he was often typecast as a “tender, sensitive … half‑crazed killer,” appearing in notable films such as Death Wish and Apocalypse Now. Beyond acting, Leake claims expertise as a singer, dancer, director, musician, composer, musical director, vocal arranger, playwright, stage‑fight choreographer, and ventriloquist, showcasing a remarkable artistic versatility. His passion for athletics emerged in later life, where he became a top masters sprinter; on June 16 2018 he set the M65 world record in the 100‑meter dash with a time of 12.31 seconds (+1.3 m/s) in Grass Valley, California. Leake’s family connections include being a cousin of NFL defensive tackle Roger Brown, linking his legacy to both sports and entertainment. Today, Damien Leake remains an active figure in both the performing arts and masters athletics, embodying a rare blend of artistic talent, athletic achievement, and principled activism.