# Nyambi Nyambi
**Nyambi Nyambi** (born 1979) is an American stage and screen actor best known for playing the waiter Samuel on the CBS sitcom *Mike & Molly*, the investigator Jay Dipersia on *The Good Fight*, and court clerk Wyatt Shaw on NBC's *Night Court* reboot[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nyambi-nyambi). He is also a stage actor with credits at the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park and on Broadway, and a voice actor who has played [Martian Manhunter](https://www.edgepedia.org/martian-manhunter) in DC's animated films[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) • [3](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 in Norman, Oklahoma, to Nigerian parents; a first-generation Nigerian-American[3](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/) • [2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) |
| Education | B.A. in Business Administration, Bucknell University (2001); MFA, NYU Graduate Acting Program[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2148665/bio/) • [2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) |
| Breakthrough role | Samuel, a Senegalese waiter on *Mike & Molly* (CBS, 2010–2016), 119 episodes across all six seasons[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/41615/nyambi-nyambi) |
| *The Good Fight* | Jay Dipersia, a law firm investigator; recurring in 2017, promoted to series regular for season 2[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nyambi-nyambi/) |
| *Night Court* | Wyatt Shaw, court clerk on the NBC reboot; joined in season 2 after guest appearances[7](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/) |
| Voice work | Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) in *The Death of Superman* (2018), *Reign of the Supermen* (2019), and *Justice League Dark: Apokolips War* (2020)[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nyambi-nyambi) |
| Off-screen work | Board member of Almasi Collaborative Arts; published poet and comics writer[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) |
## Early life and education
Nyambi was born in Norman, Oklahoma, where his parents were associated with the [University of Oklahoma](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-oklahoma); his own bio says he was born on the university's campus[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2). Both of his parents attended OU, and the family moved often during his childhood, from Oklahoma to Houston, Dallas, Virginia, and Washington, DC[7](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/). He has described himself as a lifelong [Oklahoma Sooners](https://www.edgepedia.org/oklahoma-sooners) fan[8](https://www.405magazine.com/in-the-spotlight-2/).
He attended [Bucknell University](https://www.edgepedia.org/bucknell-university) on a basketball scholarship, playing four years of Division I basketball as a guard and graduating in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2148665/bio/). His name earned him a place on ESPN commentator [Dick Vitale](https://www.edgepedia.org/dick-vitale)'s "All-Name Team" for college basketball[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2). Acting entered late: in his senior year, a speech he gave at a [Martin Luther King Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-luther-king-jr) gala at Bucknell became what he later called "catching the acting bug," after Professor Glyne Griffiths told him, "Nyambi! You're an actor!"[9](https://geeksofcolor.co/watch/nyambi-nyambi-the-good-fight-interview). He then earned an MFA from NYU's Graduate Acting Program and is an alumnus of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2148665/bio/).
## Stage career
Nyambi's screen fame rests on sitcoms and drama, but his training is in theater, and he has described the stage as the most demanding medium he works in: "Theater? There's no safety net"[7](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/).
His stage credits include the New York Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions of *The Merchant of Venice* and *The Winter's Tale*, in casts that included [Al Pacino](https://www.edgepedia.org/al-pacino) and [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruben-santiago-hudson)[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2). He played Caliban in *The Tempest* for the Classic Stage Company opposite [Mandy Patinkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/mandy-patinkin), in a 2008 production[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) • [10](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/nyambi-nyambi.html). He also appeared in the first Broadway revival of August Wilson's *Joe Turner's Come and Gone*, and in productions for the Classical Theatre of Harlem and the Williamstown Theatre Festival; he is a member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company in New York[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2).
## Television
**Mike & Molly.** After graduate school, Nyambi's first screen work included a small role on *Law & Order*, followed by the role that made his name: Samuel, a Senegalese waiter at the restaurant frequented by Mike and Carl on the CBS sitcom *Mike & Molly*, starring [Billy Gardell](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-gardell) and [Melissa McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-mccarthy)[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nyambi-nyambi/) • [3](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/). He appeared in 119 episodes over the show's entire six-season run, from 2010 to 2016[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/41615/nyambi-nyambi). To prepare for Samuel's Senegalese accent, he traveled to Senegal to study the people's mannerisms and humor[8](https://www.405magazine.com/in-the-spotlight-2/).
**The Good Fight.** In 2017 he joined *The Good Fight*, the CBS All Access spin-off of *The Good Wife* starring [Christine Baranski](https://www.edgepedia.org/christine-baranski), as Jay Dipersia, an investigator at the law firm Reddick Boseman Lockhart who came to the firm from investigative reporting[3](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/). He was promoted from recurring guest to series regular for the second season and stayed with the show through its conclusion in 2022[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nyambi-nyambi/) • [11](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mike-molly-then-now-catch-140610396.html).
**Night Court.** In 2024 Nyambi joined the second season of NBC's *Night Court* reboot, a revival of the 1984 legal comedy, as Wyatt Shaw, the court's new clerk, replacing the character Neil[7](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/). He had grown up watching the original series and was a fan of Marsha Warfield, who played Roz; before joining, he rewatched all nine seasons[7](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/) • [12](https://www.avclub.com/nyambi-nyambi-interview-night-court-season-2-peacock-1851395969). He described the role as "a dream come true" and credited [John Larroquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-larroquette), who stars in both series, with teaching him "permission to be a fool" in comedy[12](https://www.avclub.com/nyambi-nyambi-interview-night-court-season-2-peacock-1851395969). NBC canceled the show after three seasons in May 2025[13](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/nbc-cancelled-night-court-what-john-larroquette-told-us-season-3-cast).
His other television credits include recurring roles as Caleb on the PBS Civil War drama *Mercy Street* and as Mr. Wonderful on *American Koko*, a digital series from ABC Digital and [Viola Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/viola-davis)'s JuVee Productions, plus guest roles on *Blindspot* and the US version of *Would I Lie to You?*[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/41615/nyambi-nyambi).
## Film and voice work
Nyambi appeared as Yorkie in the acclaimed 2018 dramedy *Blindspotting*, and as Dwayne St. John in [Billy Crystal](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-crystal)'s 2021 film *Here Today*, alongside Tiffany Haddish[3](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/) • [11](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mike-molly-then-now-catch-140610396.html). On television he played Dominic Mndawe, also known as Freedom Beast, on DC's *Titans* from 2022 to 2023[14](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/nyambi-nyambi/).
As a longtime fan of DC's animated films, he voiced Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) in *The Death of Superman* (2018), *Reign of the Supermen* (2019), and *Justice League Dark: Apokolips War* (2020), following voice actor Carl Lumbly in the role[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nyambi-nyambi) • [9](https://geeksofcolor.co/watch/nyambi-nyambi-the-good-fight-interview). He has said he dreams of playing the character in live action[9](https://geeksofcolor.co/watch/nyambi-nyambi-the-good-fight-interview).
## Writing and other work
Nyambi writes and draws in his spare time and has two published works as an author. He contributed a poem to the Eisner Award-winning benefit graphic novel *Love Is Love*, whose proceeds go to charities honoring the victims of the 2016 Orlando Pulse shooting, and Image Comics published a comic he wrote in collaboration with his sisters for the series *Bitch Planet*[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2).
He serves on the board of Almasi Collaborative Arts, an organization founded by Danai Gurira, the star of *The Walking Dead* and *Black Panther*, dedicated to developing emerging African artists[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2). He has also worked as a coach, leading basketball teams at teen camps for several years after college[2](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2).
## Recognition
The Television Academy's database lists no Emmy nominations for Nyambi, though he was submitted for Emmy consideration in 2024 in the supporting actor category for playing Wyatt Shaw on *Night Court*[15](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/nyambi-nyambi) • [16](https://emmys.com/sites/default/files/ballots/performer-2024-v1.pdf). In 2013 he appeared with his *Mike & Molly* castmates at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences event "An Evening Honoring James Burrows"[15](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/nyambi-nyambi).
## References
1. [Nyambi Nyambi – Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/nyambi-nyambi)
2. [Bio – Nyambi Nyambi, official site](https://www.nyambi.com/bio-2)
3. [NOC Exclusive: Interview Nyambi Nyambi of 'The Good Fight', The Nerds of Color (2019)](https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2019/08/07/noc-exclusive-interview-with-actor-nyambi-nyambi-of-cbs-the-good-fight/)
4. [Nyambi Nyambi – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2148665/bio/)
5. [Nyambi Nyambi, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/41615/nyambi-nyambi)
6. [Nyambi Nyambi – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nyambi-nyambi/)
7. [EXCLUSIVE: Night Court's Nyambi Nyambi on acting, Sooners, and surprising Big Bang Theory connection, ClutchPoints (2024)](https://clutchpoints.com/exclusive-night-courts-nyambi-nyambi-on-acting-sooners-and-surprising-big-bang-theory-connection/)
8. [In The Spotlight, 405 Magazine (2012)](https://www.405magazine.com/in-the-spotlight-2/)
9. [Interview: Nyambi Nyambi Talks Working With The Extraordinary Al Pacino, 'The Good Fight' & Voicing Martian Manhunter, Geeks of Color](https://geeksofcolor.co/watch/nyambi-nyambi-the-good-fight-interview)
10. [Nyambi Nyambi – Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/nyambi-nyambi.html)
11. ['Mike & Molly': Then and Now, Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mike-molly-then-now-catch-140610396.html)
12. [Nyambi Nyambi was a childhood fan of Night Court before joining season 2 of the reboot, The A.V. Club (2024)](https://www.avclub.com/nyambi-nyambi-interview-night-court-season-2-peacock-1851395969)
13. [After NBC Cancelled Night Court... , CinemaBlend (2025)](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/nbc-cancelled-night-court-what-john-larroquette-told-us-season-3-cast)
14. [Nyambi Nyambi, FormulaTV](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/nyambi-nyambi/)
15. [Nyambi Nyambi – Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/nyambi-nyambi)
16. [2024 Primetime Emmy performer ballot, Television Academy](https://emmys.com/sites/default/files/ballots/performer-2024-v1.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Ni to O*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license