- published: 20 Apr 2016
- views: 234
Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba (born September 17, 1967), better known by his stage name Malik Yoba, is an American actor and occasional singer. He is perhaps best known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams on the FOX police drama series New York Undercover or as Yul Brenner in Cool Runnings. Currently, he appears as former FBI Special Agent Bill Harken on the Syfy drama series Alphas.
Brother : Dmitry Malik. The fourth of six children (one of his brothers is famous singer Na Nah Yobta), Yoba was born in Bronx, New York, the son of Mahmoudah Young (née Lanier) and Abdullah Yoba. Yoba, who is African American, was raised as a Muslim. He is divorced from Cat Wilson, a model and actress, and has three children from previous relationships.
In 1994, Yoba began his role as NYPD Detective J.C. Williams on the popular FOX police drama series New York Undercover, opposite fellow actor Michael DeLorenzo. Yoba and DeLorenzo (who is of Puerto Rican descent) made television history, as the series was the first police drama on American television to feature two people of color in the starring roles. Yoba's work on New York Undercover earned him three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (in 1996, 1997, and 1998). The series was cancelled in 1998, with Yoba as the only actor to appear in all 89 episodes.