David Ajala

David Ajala

David Ajala (born 21 May 1986) is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the CW series Supergirl (2018–2019), the Syfy series Nightflyers (2018), the CBS and Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery (2020–2024), and the NBC series Law & Order (2025–). His films include Starred Up (2013), Brotherhood (2016) and Italian Studies (2021).

Early life

David Ajala

Ajala was born on 21 May 1986 in Hackney, London. He is of Nigerian Yoruba origin. In an interview for Interview Magazine Ajala said: "When I went to secondary school, my maths teacher said I had way too much energy and was too mischievous. He tried to convince me that if I did acting, I'd be popular with the girls". Ajala joined an afterschool programme at the Anna Scher Theatre. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting from the Court Theatre Training Company, awarded by Buckinghamshire New University.

Career

David Ajala

On stage, Ajala has performed in Nation, A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hamlet, and as Jim Brown in the European premiere of One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers.

In film, his first part was in Kidulthood, and he also appears in the sequels, Adulthood and Brotherhood; he has also appeared in The Dark Knight and in major roles in Starred Up and the 2016 Seekers. On television, he has appeared in many series including Doctor Who and in major roles in Black Box, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Nightflyers, and Falling Water.

Sean 'Mac' McAlister, a character from 2017 video game Need for Speed Payback, is voiced by and modeled after him.

Ajala has appeared as Keith in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Burned To Nothing (2011) and Felix in The Price of Oil: Someone's Making A Killing In Nigeria both by Rex Obano.

In 2018 and 2019, Ajala played Manchester Black in seven episodes of the fourth season of the CW series Supergirl.

From 2020 to 2024, Ajala had a main role as Cleveland "Book" Booker in the third through fifth seasons of Star Trek: Discovery. The series was released on CBS All Access and then on Paramount+.

In September 2025, it was announced Ajala had joined the cast of the long-running NBC series Law & Order for its 25th season. He made his debut as Detective Theo Walker in the November 2025 episode "Guardian".

Personal life

David Ajala

Ajala is married to presenter and travel agent Terri Martin. They have two sons.

Filmography

Film

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td><td>Kidulthood</td><td>Desmond</td><td>Uncredited</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Adulthood</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Dark Knight</td><td>Bounty Hunter #2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Hamlet</td><td>Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Winter Sun</td><td>Guy</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>Following Footsteps</td><td>Christopher Knight</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>One Day</td><td>Floor Manager</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Spirit</td><td>Terror</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Payback Season</td><td>Baron</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Illegal Activity</td><td>Edward</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>Offender</td><td>Kelvin</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sentenced Served</td><td>Marvin</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Fast & Furious 6</td><td>Ivory</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Starred Up</td><td>Tyrone</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Breakthrough</td><td>Henry</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Queen of Diamonds</td><td>Bench Guy</td></tr><tr><td>Emulsion</td><td>Jeff</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Jupiter Ascending</td><td>Ibis</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>He Works the Long Nights</td><td></td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>Spirit</td><td>Terror</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Seekers</td><td>Amadu</td></tr><tr><td>Kill Command</td><td>Drifter</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brotherhood</td><td>Detective Desmond 'BUDS' Lynch</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>The Art of Love</td><td>Anthony</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>Support</td><td>Chris</td></tr><tr><td>Without Disguise</td><td>Leo</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Italian Studies</td><td>Ade</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Daylight Rules</td><td>Frank</td><td>Short</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>The Woman in Cabin 10</td><td>Ben</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2007</td><td>Dream Team</td><td>Sean Campbell</td><td>18 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury</td><td>Steve</td><td>Episode: "Technology Bytes"</td></tr><tr><td>The Bill</td><td>Lenny Jones</td><td>Episode: "Beth Undercover"</td></tr><tr><td>Trexx and Flipside</td><td>Flipside</td><td>6 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Hamlet</td><td>Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner</td><td>TV film</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Doctor Who</td><td>Peter</td><td>Episode: "The Beast Below"</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Silent Witness</td><td>Mark Blakefield</td><td>2 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>Coming Up</td><td>Malachi</td><td>Episode: "Micah"</td></tr><tr><td>Misfits</td><td>Private Investigator</td><td>Episode #3.6</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Monroe</td><td>Max Portas</td><td>Episode #2.4</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Death in Paradise</td><td>Louis Nelson</td><td>Episode: "Murder on the Plantation"</td></tr><tr><td>Black Mirror</td><td>Jeff Carter</td><td>Episode: "The Waldo Moment"</td></tr><tr><td>Law & Order: UK</td><td>Gavin Dale</td><td>2 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Black Box</td><td>Will Van Renseller</td><td>13 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands</td><td>Rate</td><td>6 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>Hooten & the Lady</td><td>Dawit</td><td>Episode: "Ethiopia"</td></tr><tr><td>The Break</td><td>Xavier</td><td>Episode: "System Cycle"</td></tr><tr><td>2016–2018</td><td>Falling Water</td><td>Burton</td><td>20 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Nightflyers</td><td>Roy Eris</td><td>10 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2018–2019</td><td>Supergirl</td><td>Manchester Black</td><td>Recurring role</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Urban Myths</td><td>The Burglar</td><td>Episode: "Grace Under Pressure"</td></tr><tr><td>2020–2024</td><td>Star Trek: Discovery</td><td>Cleveland "Book" Booker</td><td>Main role (seasons 3–5)</td></tr><tr><td>The Ready Room</td><td>Himself</td><td>4 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>The Jetty</td><td>Casey</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue</td><td>Zack Ellis</td><td>Main role</td></tr><tr><td>Law & Order</td><td>Detective Theo Walker</td><td>Main role (season 25)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Video games

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2017</td><td>Mass Effect: Andromeda</td><td>Additional voices</td></tr><tr><td>Need for Speed: Payback</td><td>Sean 'Mac' McAlister</td></tr></tbody></table>

Theatre credits

David Ajala

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Venue</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td><td>You Are Right If You Say So</td><td>Lamberto Laudisi</td><td>Courtyard Theatre, London</td></tr><tr><td>How to Steal a Diamond</td><td>YM</td><td>Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>The Swing of Things</td><td>Claude Kabinda</td><td>Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough</td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>A Midsummer Night's Dream</td><td>Lysander (Understudy)</td><td>Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon</td></tr><tr><td>Love's Labour's Lost</td><td>Lord Dumaine (Understudy)</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Death and the King's Horseman</td><td>HRH The Prince</td><td>Royal National Theatre, London</td></tr><tr><td>Nation</td><td>Milo</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Ruined</td><td>Fortune</td><td>Almeida Theatre, London</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>The Witness</td><td>Simon</td><td>Royal Court Theatre, London</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>One Night in Miami</td><td>Jim Brown</td><td>Donmar Warehouse, London</td></tr></tbody></table>