Dayo Okeniyi

Dayo Okeniyi, born as Oladayo A. Okeniyi on June 14, 1988, is a renowned Nigerian-American actor. His recognition shot up for his outstanding portrayal of Thresh in the hit movie The Hunger Games and for playing Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys. Okeniyi was born in Jos, then moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where he grew up amongst his four siblings. His father, a retired customs officer, hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria, and his mother is a passionate literature teacher from Kenya. In 2003, Okeniyi relocated with his family to Indiana, United States, venturing further from his homeland, Nigeria. Afterward, they moved to California.

Before his fame in The Hunger Games, Okeniyi was deeply involved in local theatre and film shorts, expanding his acting skills. In 2009, he graduated from Anderson University in Indiana, obtaining a bachelor's degree in visual communications. His flair in acting brought him roles not only in blockbusters but also in drama films such as Endless Love in 2014. In 2015, he secured the role of Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys. Furthermore, he has starred in the NBC series Shades of Blue and appeared in the film Fresh, which was screened at the prestigious 2022 Sundance Film Festival. His incredible performance has led him to win the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best International Actor and a nomination in the 2021 52nd NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture.