Harold Perrineau made his screen debut opposite Harvey Keitel, Forest Whitaker and William Hurt in the critically-acclaimed feature "Smoke." Perrineau played the wayward teenager Rashid, winning the role after director Wayne Wang launched an extensive search to find the perfect actor for the part.
Born in Brooklyn, Perrineau attended the Shenandoah Conservatory to study music and theater, but he began his career as a dancer. Perrineau trained with the renowned Alvin Ailey company for one and a half years following his education at the Conservatory. He eventually decided to forego dance for acting and turned to the theater. He toured with such shows as "Dreamgirls," the off-Broadway revival of "Godspell" and the critically-hailed "Avenue X." He also appeared on such television series as "I'll Fly Away," "Law & Order," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" and "The Cosby Show."
An accomplished martial artist, Perrineau has studied Kung Fu Wu-Su for five years.