Printable Biography of Hill Harper

Scholar… Mentor… Author… Entrepreneur… Actor on Stage, Screen and Television… Activist and   Volunteer…

Despite his many accolades and awards, or maybe because of them, Hill Harper made a commitment to work in service of our youth.  To pass along the lessons he learned and provide a foundation for young brothers and sisters to use as a launching pad to success.

Hill knew early on that education is the key to unlock potential and open doors.  He pursued his education with a passion and determination that resulted in him graduating Magna Cum Laude from Brown University.  But not satisfied with that success, he went on to earn graduate degrees in Law and Public Administration from Harvard University.

After achieving his goals in higher education, Hill began to pursue his career in acting with the same dedication and discipline he exhibited in the classroom.  His hard work paid off… as he is now seen in the hit CBS drama, CSI: NY.  His appearance on the show has earned him two NAACP Image Awards.

Prior to his current series Hill appeared in the CBS series’ City of Angels and The Handler  and he made numerous guest starring appearances in top shows such as Soul Food, The Sopranos, ER, NYPD Blue, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Of course, Hill is also an accomplished and acclaimed film actor… he recently starred in the HBO movie, Lackawanna Blues and received critical acclaim for his performance in the independent film, The Visit.  Again, Hill’s film credits are numerous and include appearances in In Too Deep, Beloved, He Got Game, Get On The Bus, Zooman, and One Red Rose [which he co-wrote for Showtime.]

In addition to all of the attention Hill receives on screen he was also recognized off-screen as one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive.

But Hill Harper always knew that personal achievement was only part of success; to be truly successful meant he had to help others accomplish their goals.  That is why Hill has been a volunteer and now is the spokesman for Big Brothers, Big Sisters… it’s why he takes time to speak at public schools and why he is here today.  He knows how hard it is to stay on the straight path; he knows our youth don’t always have the tools to do the right thing – even when they want to – so he became a bestselling author. 

In 2006, Hill wrote the New York Times bestselling book, Letters to a Young Brother, to provide encouragement and guidance to young Black men who are still trying to find their way.  He didn’t preach or scold; he spoke to brothers, through his book, in a language they could relate to with advice they could put into practice.  The book provides examples of perseverance in the face of struggle and hope for a better future.  After the success of the first book it was only natural for Hill to put together the companion book, Letters to a Young Sister, also a New York Times bestselling project where he has engaged some of the strongest female voices of this generation to help him convey a message of hope, education and commitment for young sisters. He has been awarded an additional three NAACP Image awards for his literary accomplishments: Outstanding Literary Work: Youth/Teens (2007, 2008) and Outstanding Literary Work: Debut Author (2007). Most recently, Hill has authored his first book for adults: The Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships.