Biography

He played Simon Haley, the father of Alex Haley, in Roots: The Next Generations (1979) between the ages of 24 (in 1914) and 77 (in 1967).

In 1974 he appeared opposite Bette Davis in a stage musical version of "The Corn is Green," with the locale switched to the American South from Wales in the original. Although bound for Broadway the show closed in Philadelphia when Davis had to drop out, reportedly due to back problems. Harewood has credited Davis with encouraging him to pursue a career in acting.

According to Eric Monte, (writer of "Cooley High"), Dorian was cast as Cochise on ABC's TV version of "Cooley High." After a total retool of the series, it became "What's Happening" and Dorian was out.

Although he played Damon Evans and James Earl Jones's father in Roots: The Next Generations (1979), he is more than ten months and nineteen years their junior respectively.

He made his Broadway debut with the legendary actress Arlene Francis, in what was to be her final stage appearance: "Don't Call Back." Unfortunately, it closed on its first performance after previews.