Adrian Holmes

Adrian Holmes was born on March 31, 1974, in Wrexham, North Wales, UK, to Barbadian parents. At the age of five, his family relocated to Vancouver, Canada. Prior to pursuing acting full-time, Holmes studied nursing at Langara College, a decision made to ensure a stable career path alongside his passion for performance. His early education included attending Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary in Surrey, British Columbia.

Holmes began his acting career in 1991, steadily building a diverse filmography across television and film. Early career milestones include appearances in “Neon Rider” (1991), “Highlander: The Series” (1992-1993), and “The Outer Limits” (1996-2000). He gained further recognition for his role as Basqat in “Smallville” (2005-2010), Marcus Mitchell in “True Justice” (2011-2012), and Frank Pike in “Arrow” (2013-2018). His film credits during this period include “Two for the Money” (2005), “Red Riding Hood” (2011), “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011), and “Elysium” (2013). These roles established his presence in both episodic television and major motion pictures.

A significant career turning point came with his portrayal of Nick Barron in the crime drama series “19-2” (2014-2017), a role for which he earned a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role in 2017. More recently, Holmes has been widely acclaimed for his role as Philip Banks in Peacock’s “Bel-Air” (2022-2025), which notably earned him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2023. He also made history as the first live-action Robert April in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (2022-present). Outside of acting, Holmes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and enjoys playing golf. He also served as a producer for the 2016 documentary film “Barrow: Freedom Fighter.”