Fly Guy – Omari Hardwick

Omari Hardwick has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with passion, dedication, and undeniable, natural talent. Hardwick’s acting credits include Liongate’s Kick-Ass alongside Nicholas Cage, Buena Vista Pictures’ The Guardian opposite Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, MGM’s Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s “Gridiron Gang” opposite Dwayne Johnson and Xzibit. In addition this summer, he can be seen in the highly anticipated, Twentieth Century Fox film The A-Team. Hardwick may best be known for his starring roles in television, including his current project, TNT’s Dark Blue where he co-stars as “Ty Curtis” opposite Dylan McDermott, and his lead role as “John “Sack” Hallon” in the TNT 2006 series Saved. Season 2 of Dark Blue will premiere in August 2010.



Born “Omari Latif Hardwick”, he grew up in Decatur, Georgia. Hardwick’s parents gave him a name to set a precedent, “Omari” meaning “most high” and “Latif” meaning “gentle”. He shares, ” I in no way believe that I am the highest or most high, but I feel like my name gives me something to strive for.” Growing up sports were Hardwick’s world, but early on he knew he had a passion for the arts. By the age of 14, Hardwick was writing poetry on a regular basis, a passion he would carry with him into adulthood. In high school, he excelled at basketball, baseball, and football, and went on to play football at the University of Georgia. Although a star on the field, Hardwick never gave up his passion for acting , and minored in theatre in college. He shares, “I hugely attribute sports to my success in entertainment business. Being on the field taught me dedication and discipline – I already came from a strict household when I was growing up, sports just took that to another level. Whenever I approach a set, I always feel as though the cast, crew, director, are all part of a team. I have always married athletics and art, two huge parts of my life.”


Omari Hardwick photos by emily perez

After graduation, Hardwick relocated to San Diego for a spot on the San Diego Chargers (NFL) however a knee injury cut his football career short. He decided to revisit his original passion for acting, and moved to New York to study his craft for extensively. In New York, Hardwick studied off Broadway until 2000, when he made the move to Los Angeles. As a struggling actor, he worked odd jobs to pay for acting classes, however, the security gigs and substitute teaching at times were not enough to make ends meet, and at one point he lived out of his car. Hardwick shares, “what is so crazy, is that where I presently shoot my series ‘Dark Blue’, is where I lived in my car when I first moved to Los Angeles. It is surreal at times.”

Hardwick’s first big break came in 2003, when he was cast in his first major as a series regular in Spike Lee’s “Sucker Free City.” Two years later, he landed the feature The Guardian and TNT’s Saved – both of which he booked within a three-week span in 2005. He notes, “I felt like I had arrived when I went back to one of my odd jobs that had let me go several years prior, and I looked out over Sunset Boulevard right next to Chateau Marmont, and saw myself plastered on a billboard overlooking the city. I had to break down a little at that point, it was a big moment for me.” Throughout 2007-2009 Hardwick worked on various projects, including guest starring on several television series, and filming several movies including Summit Entertainment’s Next Day Air and Touchstone Picture’s Miracle at St. Anna. In 2008 he landed the role of “Ty Curtis” on the TNT series Dark Blue, season 1 aired throughout 2009.


Omari Hardwick photos by emily perez

In addition to acting, Hardwick is a founding member of Plan B Inc. Theater Group, and a co-founder of Los Angeles Actor’s Lounge. He has big plans for his production company, Bravelife, in 2010 as well, and plans on expanding the company. Hardwick also continues to work on his poetry, and has written over 4,000 poems, some of which can be seen on his official website, www.omarihardwick.com.

Cocoa Cure Magazine, completely enamored with Omari’s accomplishments, and let’s face it, his gorgeousness, reached out to the actor to answer some interesting questions.

Cocoa Cure: Congratulations on being named Cocoa Cure Magazine’s Fly Guy of the week!

Omari Hardwick: Thank you, quite the flattering gesture, particularly since I feel “fly” maybe once every three years!

CC: How important do you think having sex appeal is to having a successful career in entertainment?

Omari: About as important as the microphone was to Whitney Houston. If she never had it…we would have still listened, but the microphone sure as hell made it easier for us to listen.

CC: What do you think are your best qualities?

Omari: I am a very persistent and passionate man, and maybe my wisdom.

CC: Ok, Fly Guy, are you single?

Omari: Did I mention my wisdom. Haha….

CC: What is the one thing about men that you wish more women would understand?

Omari: That many times we need to learn from falling in the very hole a woman has warned us about falling in.

CC: What is most challenging about maintaining a relationship in Hollywood?

Omari: Communication gets jeopardized and the time needed together is a constant challenge, which could lead to wandering hearts.

CC: Who is your favorite actress?

Omari: Wow, well there are a few. I love the obvious, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Sophie Okonedo, Cate Blanchett, and I am also a huge fan of Claire Danes, Aisha Hinds, and Tessa Thompson.

CC: Congratulations also on your movie Kick-Ass opening # 1. Ready for superstardom?

Omari: Thank you – I don’t think I will ever be “ready” for any kind of stardom, but, I am certainly ready for super opportunities.

CC: I read that your other great passion is sports, so it seems that as much as women love you, guys admire you. In choosing your projects, do you have a particular fan base in mind?

Omari: Not any particular fan base, no. I tend to choose projects that are challenging, yet speak to my truth. As long as I find the truth in my performance, I think the truthful fans follow suit, male and female.

CC: The Super Bowl is on, but your woman wants you to take her out instead. What do you do?

Omari: My woman would want to watch the Super Bowl more than me!

CC: For readers unfamiliar with your series, in your own words, explain Dark Blue and the character you portray.

Omari: It’s an undercover cop show, where the stakes are very high and we juggle between playing the criminal while chasing the real criminals. My character, Ty, is often the voice of reason for the team, very well trained, first recruit of Carter Shaw played by Dylan McDermott. Ty is juggling being married to both his wife, and his job.

CC: What type of projects are you working on through your production company, Bravelife?

Omari: Everything from comedies, to epics, to documentaries.

CC: Why is it important for you to produce your own projects?

Omari: So that I can sustain some control in a business where the actor alone is often completely out of control, and create a platform for young, passionate, hungry artists to “speak” their stories and their truth.

CC: Our readers will love to learn that you write poetry. What words/philosophy do you live by?

Omari: To whom much is given, even more is expected….. Life is like a box of chocolates… and change is inevitable, growth is optional.