Image via Wikimedia Commons (Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0)
The father of The Greatest
Today, Omari Hardwick shows up on Prime Video as Cassius Clay Sr. He plays the father of Muhammad Ali in The Greatest, the new series about the young Clay. It is a fitting role for an actor who has spent years playing men with two lives.
Most viewers know him as Ghost. James "Ghost" St. Patrick, the nightclub owner with a secret second job, carried the Starz drama Power for six seasons. Hardwick made that split life feel real. He has been doing the same balancing act in his own career for years, between acting and poetry.
A poet who played football first
Hardwick was born on January 9, 1974, in Savannah, Georgia, and grew up in Decatur, Georgia. His father, Clifford Hardwick III, was an attorney. His mother is Joyce Hardwick.
He went to the University of Georgia on a football scholarship. Poetry was already part of his life by then, and he has written thousands of poems since. Acting came after sport. He moved to New York, took the hard years that most young actors know well, and worked his way up through small TV parts.
His early credits included Saved and Dark Blue. Film work followed, with roles in The A-Team, Kick-Ass and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls, all in 2010. None of those parts made him a star on their own. They built the range he would need later.
Ghost changed everything
In 2013, Hardwick was cast as the lead of Power. The show ran from 2014 to 2020, and Ghost became one of the most talked-about characters on cable TV. He was a businessman by day and a drug kingpin by night, trying to go straight and failing in style.
He played Andre Daniels in BET's Being Mary Jane alongside that run, from 2013 to 2019. After Power ended, he came back for guest spots in its spin-off, Power Book II: Ghost. He also played Vanderohe in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead in 2021, a very different kind of role, all muscle and warmth.
| Years | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Saved | Series regular |
| 2009–2010 | Dark Blue | Ty Curtis |
| 2013–2019 | Being Mary Jane | Andre Daniels |
| 2014–2020 | Power | James "Ghost" St. Patrick |
| 2020–2021 | Power Book II: Ghost | Guest spots as Ghost |
| 2026 | The Greatest | Cassius Clay Sr. |
Quick facts, in one place
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Omari Latif Hardwick |
| Born | January 9, 1974, Savannah, Georgia |
| Age | 52 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Profession | Actor, poet, producer |
| Years active | 2001 to now |
| Education | University of Georgia |
| Parents | Joyce and Clifford Hardwick III |
| Wife | Jennifer "Jae" Pfautch (married June 2012) |
| Children | Two, daughter Nova and son Brave |
| Net worth | Estimated $5 million |
On the big screen
Hardwick's film career runs in parallel with his TV work. He was Chop in The A-Team remake, Marcus Williams in Kick-Ass, and Carl in For Colored Girls. In 2021 he played Vanderohe in Army of the Dead, a safecracker with a soft side. In 2025 he joined the Star Trek universe as Alok Sahar in Star Trek: Section 31.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Miracle at St. Anna | Supporting role |
| 2010 | The A-Team | Chop |
| 2010 | Kick-Ass | Marcus Williams |
| 2010 | For Colored Girls | Carl |
| 2021 | Army of the Dead | Vanderohe |
| 2025 | Star Trek: Section 31 | Alok Sahar |
Poetry has never left him. In 2025 he earned a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, for Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series. It was a rare moment where the two halves of his career met in public.
Family life
Hardwick married Jennifer "Jae" Pfautch in June 2012. The couple have two children, a daughter named Nova and a son named Brave. He has spoken in the past about the hard years before fame, and about keeping his family life out of the spotlight as much as he can.
What is Omari Hardwick's net worth?
His net worth is estimated at $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That is an estimate, not a confirmed figure. Some other outlets put it higher, at $7 million or $8 million. Most of it comes from his long TV career, with Power as the biggest earner. Reports have put his Power pay at around $150,000 per episode in the later seasons.
FAQs
How old is Omari Hardwick?
He is 52. He was born on January 9, 1974.
Who is Omari Hardwick's wife?
Jennifer "Jae" Pfautch. They married in June 2012 and have two children.
What is Omari Hardwick best known for?
Playing James "Ghost" St. Patrick in Power (2014–2020).
Who does Omari Hardwick play in The Greatest?
Cassius Clay Sr., the father of Muhammad Ali. The series premiered on Prime Video on November 4, 2026.
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