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Daniel Sunjata

Daniel Sunjata

Actor · Born December 30, 1971 (54) · Evanston, Illinois, USA

Daniel Sunjata, born Daniel Sunjata Condon on December 30, 1971, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American actor acclaimed for his work in television, film, and theater. Adopted by white parents of Irish and Italian-German descent, Sunjata's name honors the Mandinka king Sundiata Keita, meaning "hungry lion." He grew up in the Chicago area, excelling in football at Mount Carmel High School before pursuing higher education at Florida A&M University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and ultimately earning a Master of Fine Arts from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His breakthrough came with a Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play Take Me Out where he portrayed a gay Major League Baseball player. Sunjata is widely recognized for his role as firefighter Franco Rivera in the FX series Rescue Me, as well as appearances in films like The Devil Wears Prada and The Dark Knight Rises. His television work includes roles on Grey's Anatomy, Graceland, and the ABC/Hulu series High Potential.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 30, 1971 (54)
From
Evanston, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 44 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 15% in 30 days

What are Daniel Sunjata's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
34%
Morality
27%
Bonds
23%
Survival
8%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Society
1%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 5

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Threshold guardian
1 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
8
Joyful
4
Bittersweet
5
Romantic
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Daniel Sunjata's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Daniel Sunjata's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

44 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • High Potential(2024)

    Show 32 episodes · as Adam Karadec

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Company You Keep(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Renway

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Echoes(2022)

    Show 7 episodes · as Charlie Davenport

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • The Crew Has It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Christmas Again(2021)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Stand(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Cobb

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Power Book II: Ghost(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mecca

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Prodigal Son(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Quentin Vosler

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The Twilight Zone(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Manifest(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Danny

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Small Town Crime(2017)

    as Detective Whitman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Notorious(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Jake Gregorian

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Lullaby(2014)

    as Officer Ramirez

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Graceland(2013)

    Show 38 episodes · as Paul Briggs

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Dark Knight Rises(2012)

    as Captain Jones

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Generation Um...(2012)

    as Charles

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Gone(2012)

    as Det. Powers

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Smash(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Peter Gilman

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • One for the Money(2012)

    as Ranger

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Weakness(2010)

    as Alejandro

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Front(2010)

    as Win Garano

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • At Risk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Win Garano

  • Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup(2009)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ghosts of Girlfriends Past(2009)

    as Brad

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Cyrano de Bergerac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Christian de Neuvillette

  • Cyrano de Bergerac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Christian

  • The Bronx Is Burning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 8 episodes · as Reggie Jackson

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Devil Wears Prada(2006)

    as James Holt

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Love Monkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Diego

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 8 episodes · as Eli Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Melinda and Melinda(2004)

    as Billy · as Billy Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Noel(2004)

    as Marco

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rescue Me(2004)

    Show 93 episodes · as Franco Rivera

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Brother to Brother(2004)

    as Langston

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Bad Company(2002)

    as Officer Carew

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Feast of All Saints(2001)

    as Christophe Mercier

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Martin

  • D.C. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · as Lewis Freeman

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 15 episodes · as Bomb Squad Officer · as Burt Trevor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Twelfth Night, or What You Will(1998)

    as Valentine

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Sex and the City(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Louis Leroy, USN

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenny Tremont

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 44 titles from 1990 to 2024; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

$327M worldwide

Highest rated

Rescue Me (2004)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

High Potential (2024)

Film career

19902024

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 44: 44 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68th

By decade

1990s4 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s15 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 8% of 13 roles
0212

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Daniel Sunjata's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Twelfth Night, or What You Will (1998)

85th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Daniel Sunjata's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles12–72 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles25–60 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles32–63 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles24–81 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles12–69 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Daniel Sunjata work with?

People who share at least 2 of Daniel Sunjata's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Forster shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers