TV and Film
Lennix's first film role was in The Package (1989), which was a Chicago production.
Lennix starred in the film Titus (1999), based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, as Aaron the Moor, the secret lover of the Queen of the Goths; in the Showtime Networks television film Keep the Faith, Baby (2002) as reverend and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.; and in the ABC television series Commander in Chief. For ten seasons, Lennix co-starred in the role of Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist (2013–2023).
In film, Lennix has had supporting roles such as The Five Heartbeats (1991), Comfortably Numb (1995), Get on the Bus (1996) in which he plays the lover of a gay ex-Marine played by Isaiah Washington, Love & Basketball (2000), The Matrix series (1999–2004), Ray (2004), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), Stomp the Yard (2007), and State of Play (2009).
In television, he had a recurring role in Diagnosis: Murder as Agent Ron Wagner as well as a guest voice role as Mar Londo in the Legion of Super Heroes episode "Timber Wolf". He also had a recurring role in the sixth season of 24 as Muslim civil rights activist Walid Al-Rezani. He appeared on the series House M.D. as a paralyzed legendary jazz trumpet player, and in six episodes of ER as Dr. Greg Fischer. He also appeared in the episode "The Blame Game" of the first season of Ally McBeal. He played the parts of Boyd Langton in Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse and U.S. president Barack Obama in the comedy sketch show Little Britain USA.
In 2007, he was an official festival judge at the first annual Noor Iranian Film Festival.
In 2010, Lennix had planned to star in an African-diasporic film version of Macbeth, with director Aleta Chappelle and tentatively also starring Terence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Blair Underwood, and Danny Glover.
Also in 2012, Lennix produced and starred in the lead role in several film productions (see Producer-Actor Projects below) including H4, a modernized Shakespeare film adaptation of Henry IV, Mr. Sophistication which is about a stand-up comedian, and the biblical story Revival!.
In 2015, Lennix appeared in Chi-Raq, directed by Spike Lee. Lennix called the film "brave and bold", as it addresses "the violence that’s happening right now in Chicago". Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 featured Lennix reprising the role of Calvin Swanwick from 2013's Man of Steel, both directed by Zack Snyder. Lennix made an additional appearance as Swanwick in Snyder's version of Justice League, released in 2021.
In July 2014, Lennix formed his own production company Exponent Media Group (EMG) along with long time business partner Steve Harris. EMG had a distribution deal with NEHST studios for three of the company's titles: Mr. Sophistication (2012) (see below); H4 in (2012); and Revival! (2018).
In Mr. Sophistication (2012), Lennix plays a self-destructive stand-up comedian trying to make a comeback while also having trouble with his interracial marriage. The part was written for Lennix by the director, Danny Green, after Green had observed Lennix dressing someone down. Ebony said that the role resembles the late life of Richard Pryor. Lennix said that the "jerky" personality is based on director Green. As preparation, Lennix studied Lenny Bruce, Dick Gregory, Bernie Mac (who Lennix had seen repeatedly previously in appearances at Milt Trenier's Lounge, a noted cabaret in Chicago), Alonzo Bodden, but mostly Pryor. Lennix had previously done some live improv including with Del Close (of Second City, The Committee, and Saturday Night Live) in the past, but never stand-up comedy.
H4 (2012) is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, modernized to a Los Angeles setting while keeping much of the original language. Lennix plays King Henry IV. Keith David and Heavy D also appear.
Revival! (2018) is a gospel concert movie that Lennix has described as Jesus Christ Superstar meets The Wiz. Lennix plays Pontius Pilate. Jesus is played by Mali Music. The cast also includes Chaka Khan as Herodia, the wife of Herod, and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. Elaine Hegwood Bowen at The Chicago Crusader wrote, "It is magnificent in its vivid, rousing storytelling and vibrant costumes throughout." A review by Jonita Davis at The Black Cape Magazine said the film is "like an Easter reunion for those of us who grew up in the Black pop culture and Black Church" and that it could "finally" replace Charlton Heston’s The Ten Commandments (1956) as the film to watch in the weeks before Easter. Lauren Turner in a review at BRWC wrote, "A constant beat and thump of live music keeps the story moving between more serious scenes, punctuated by musical numbers and dance scenes. We’re not in Nazareth anymore," and said the singing is sometimes "cringe" though the original compositions are good."
