Bio
Anthony Sherwood is a Canadian actor, producer and director best known for his television roles as Jason Locke in the final season of Airwolf (1987) and as Dillon Beck in Street Legal, from 1989-1994.
His production company specialises in producing documentary films dealing with social justice and human rights issues. He has also produced and directed many documentary films including Knocking on Heaven's Door, Nowhere to Run and Mozambique – A Land of Hope.
Sherwood has produced many projects promoting African-Canadian history. His film, Honour before Glory is the story of Canada's one and only all-black military battalion that was formed during World War I. The film won a Gemini Award and a prize at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles.
His documentary Music – A Family Tradition won a Gemini Award and was nominated for an International Emmy Award. His documentary film, 100 Years of Faith is the story of one of Canada's oldest black churches and was featured at the Caribbean International Film Festival in Barbados.
Sherwood was a member of the consultant committee for the Underground Railroad Exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. He also produced the original stage production Follow the North Star for the Government of Canada.
Follow the North Star was produced in 2008 to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of British Imperial Act of 1833 – The Act to Abolish Slavery in the British Empire. The show was presented in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
In February 2011, Sherwood produced several 30-second television advertisements for Black History Month for the Government of Canada. He also developed educational plays for Black History Month, including William Hall which was presented to schools in Toronto and Halifax and at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
The performing arts are deeply rooted in Anthony Sherwood's family tree. He was born in Halifax as was his mother and grandfather. His grandmother was an accomplished musician and music teacher, his mother was a singer, and his aunt was Portia White, an opera singer.
Sherwood began his acting career on stage and started in musical theatre. He starred in such musicals as Ain't Misbehavin', Cabaret, Razz 'M Jazz, The Music Man and performed in the hit musical Dreamgirls at the Grand Theatre in London.
He has written and directed for the stage as well including original musical productions, Ain't Got No Money, in Vancouver, Once Upon A Stage and Razz 'M Jazz in Montreal, and But I Was Cool in Toronto.
Anthony has directed and produced many successful music concerts including the World AIDS Day Concert in 2005 which was the largest music concert for World AIDS Day in Canada.
For seven years, Sherwood was also the host for the documentary series Forbidden Places on the Discovery Channel. He also wrote and directed several episodes. Forbidden Places was nominated for Best Documentary Series on Canadian television for two years in a row.
Anthony was also the host and writer for the television talk-show, In the Black on OMNI Television. In The Black was the first program on Canadian television that featured exclusive interviews with prominent African-Canadians.
International audiences will remember Anthony as Jason Locke in the popular American television series, Airwolf. For five successful seasons, he portrayed the character of Dillon Beck on the C.B.C. award-winning television drama, Street Legal and received a Gemini Award nomination for his performance.
Sherwood has also been recognized as a social activist. He is the former National Chairman of the March 21 Campaign for the Government of Canada. March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racism.
Sherwood hosted the Stop Racism Concert in Vancouver with special guest Prince Charles and the Royal Family, and the 1999 Canada Day Celebration on Parliament Hill for former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
In 1980, Sherwood formed the first group of black actors to lobby the television industry for greater representation of visible minority performers. He has received international recognition and awards for his efforts in raising awareness to the importance of racial equality.