Babs Olusanmokun

Babs Olusanmokun is a Nigerian-American actor widely recognized for his prominent roles in major film and television productions, including Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epics Dune and Dune: Part Two, and the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Olusanmokun spent his youth living in multiple countries around the world due to his family's diplomatic background before establishing his professional acting career in the United States. Over two decades in performance, he has built a reputation for compelling character portrayals across action, drama, and science fiction genres.

About and Early Life

Olusanmokun was born on September 18, 1984, in Lagos, Nigeria. As the son of a diplomat, he grew up internationally, living in France and Brazil before relocating to New York City after completing high school. His global background allowed him to become fluent in several languages, including English, French, Yoruba, and Portuguese. In addition to his creative career, Olusanmokun is a highly accomplished martial artist who holds a third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has won competitive titles in the sport.

Career and Breakthrough Roles

Olusanmokun made his screen acting debut in the 2004 drama Indocumentados and spent his early career guest-starring on prominent television procedural series such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Veronica Mars. He gained broader industry recognition with recurring and guest roles in acclaimed television projects, including Clayton in the "Black Museum" episode of Netflix's Black Mirror, Sowande in Marvel's The Defenders, and persistent roles in Too Old to Die Young and The Widow. His work in voice and motion capture includes portraying Serrano in the video game Max Payne 3 and Baptiste in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Recent Projects and Profile

Olusanmokun achieved widespread international acclaim when he was cast as Jamis in Dune (2021) and its blockbuster follow-up Dune: Part Two (2024). He gained further fanbase prominence starring as Dr. Joseph M'Benga, the Enterprise's compassionate chief medical officer with a complex combat history, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. His filmography also highlights roles in Guy Ritchie's action comedy The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and the historical drama The Book of Clarence, solidifying his standing as a versatile screen actor based in New York City.