David Ramsey

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 17, 1971, to Nathaniel and Jeraldine Ramsey, David Ramsey developed an early interest in acting through church plays. He pursued formal training at Wayne State University before relocating to Hollywood. His career began with early roles in projects such as the low-budget supernatural thriller “Scared Stiff” (1987) and features like “The Nutty Professor” (1996) and “Con Air” (1997). Ramsey secured his first starring role as Pastor David Randolph in the UPN sitcom “Good News” (1997–1998). Although the series ran for only one season, it served to increase his professional visibility, leading to more substantial roles.

Ramsey continued to build his acting portfolio with diverse projects. In 2000, he portrayed Muhammad Ali in the Fox television movie “Ali: An American Hero” and appeared in the film “Pay It Forward.” The following year, he featured in the South African comedy “Mr. Bones.” Throughout the early 2000s, Ramsey maintained a consistent presence in episodic television, with guest and recurring roles in series including “The West Wing” (1999-2006), “Ghost Whisperer” (2005-2010), “Huff” (2004-2006), “All of Us” (2003-2007) and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” A turning point in his career came with his casting as Anton Briggs in Showtime’s “Dexter” (2008–2009), a role that earned him a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. This led to further television work, including main roles in “Outlaw” (2010) and “The Defenders” (2010-2011), and a recurring role as Mayor Carter Poole on CBS’s “Blue Bloods” (2011–2017).

From 2012 to 2020, Ramsey gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of John Diggle / Spartan in The CW’s “Arrow.” This foundational role in the Arrowverse expanded to appearances on “The Flash” (2014–2023), “Legends of Tomorrow” (2016–2017, 2020), “Supergirl” (2018, 2021), and “Batwoman” (2021–2022), as well as a recurring role in “Superman & Lois” (2021-2022). Beyond acting, Ramsey has also established himself as a director, making his directorial debut with the “Arrow” episode “Past Sins” in 2019. He has since directed multiple episodes across the Arrowverse, including “Superman & Lois,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” “Supergirl,” “Batwoman,” and “All American: Homecoming.” He is also an accomplished martial artist, holding a black belt in Jeet Kune Do and training in boxing, taekwondo, and kickboxing.