Hill Harper

Award-Winning Actor, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur & Advocate for Financial Empowerment, Education and Social Justice

Hill Harper

Award-Winning Actor, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur & Advocate for Financial Empowerment, Education and Social Justice

Add to List Availability & Fees

Biography

Hill Harper is an award-winning actor, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and advocate for social and economic justice. With a career spanning more than three decades, he is best known for his starring roles in CBS's CSI: NY and ABC's The Good Doctor, along with acclaimed films including He Got Game, Lackawanna Blues, and Concussion. A Harvard-trained attorney and former candidate for the U.S. Senate, Harper has built a career that extends well beyond Hollywood, using his platform to champion financial empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for underserved communities.

A versatile performer with nearly 100 acting credits, Harper became a household name portraying Dr. Sheldon Hawkes on CBS's CSI: NY for nine seasons before starring as Dr. Marcus Andrews on ABC's The Good Doctor. His extensive television career also includes roles in Covert Affairs, Limitless, Homeland, and Law & Order. On the big screen, Harper has appeared in Spike Lee's He Got Game, Lackawanna Blues, For Colored Girls, Concussion, All Eyez on Me, The Sun Is Also a Star, and the 2024 drama Junction. Continuing his work in entertainment, Harper joined the cast of the upcoming Starz series Power: Origins and appears in the 2026 Netflix film Heartland, starring Jessica Chastain. He has also worked behind the camera as a producer on projects including the documentary Finding Kendrick Johnson, reflecting his commitment to storytelling that addresses important social issues.

Beyond his entertainment career, Harper has spent decades advocating for civil rights, criminal justice reform, mentorship, and economic opportunity. He has served as a national spokesperson for organizations including the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Innocence Project, One Fair Wage, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Cancer Panel, Harper contributed to national conversations on cancer prevention and public health. A cancer survivor himself, he has become a passionate advocate for health equity and expanding access to care. His commitment to public service also led him to seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2024, bringing national attention to his advocacy for economic justice, healthcare access, and greater opportunity for working families.

A celebrated author, Harper has written five books, including four New York Times bestsellers: Letters to a Young Brother, Letters to a Young Sister, The Conversation, The Wealth Cure, and Letters to an Incarcerated Brother. His award-winning Letters to a Young Brother was recognized by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults, while The Wealth Cure draws on his personal experience with cancer to explore the relationship between financial well-being, health, and living a purposeful life. Through his writing, Harper addresses issues ranging from mentorship and personal responsibility to relationships, mass incarceration, and the racial wealth gap. He has received seven NAACP Image Awards for his contributions to acting and literature. As an extension of his work empowering young people, Harper founded the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, which supports underserved youth through mentorship, scholarships, and educational opportunities. He also established the Pierce and Hill Harper Arts Foundation.

Harper's commitment to education is deeply rooted in his own academic achievements. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was named valedictorian of his department. He subsequently earned a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a master's degree in public administration, with honors, from Harvard Kennedy School. He has received numerous honorary doctoral degrees, including those from Howard University and Dillard University, and is a proud life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Drawing on his education and professional experiences, Harper has become a respected voice on leadership, personal development, and the importance of creating pathways to success for future generations.

An accomplished entrepreneur and investor, Harper has made economic empowerment and financial literacy central to his business ventures. His investments include Detroit's Roasting Plant coffee business, the award-winning International House hotel in New Orleans, and residential and commercial real estate. He has also been involved in consumer brands and initiatives focused on health, wellness, and expanding access to capital. As a board member of the National Black Bank Fund and an honorary national co-chair of the redevelopment of Black Wall Street initiative, Harper has championed community investment and Black entrepreneurship. His advocacy extends to partnerships designed to improve financial education, strengthen credit awareness, and help individuals and families build generational wealth.

Among his most meaningful roles is being a father to his son, Pierce, whom he adopted as a single parent. In a 2025 Yahoo Life feature, Harper reflected on how fatherhood has reshaped his priorities and strengthened his commitment to mentorship, family, and creating a better future for the next generation. His personal experiences, from navigating Hollywood to surviving cancer and pursuing public service, have informed his belief that success is ultimately measured by the positive impact one has on others.

Hill Harper's commitment to individual empowerment, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and social justice has made him a highly sought-after keynote speaker on the global stage. Blending powerful personal stories with insights from his experiences in entertainment, business, education, and public service, Harper challenges audiences to rethink their potential and recognize their ability to create meaningful change. Whether addressing corporate leaders, college students, educators, or community organizations, he brings an engaging perspective on resilience, purpose-driven leadership, economic opportunity, and the power of mentorship. His passion for uplifting others continues to place him at the forefront of conversations about building stronger communities and a more equitable future.

Hill Harper works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.

Speaker Videos

How to Reshape Bias Against Black Men in America | BET

WSJ Talks: Discrimination in Hollywood

Hollywood’s Diversity Problem

Who is Hill Harper?

The Effect of Popular Media on Society

On Barack Obama

Hollywood 411

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

Build From Within: Creating a Life of Purpose, Growth & Impact

A strong life is built long before the results become visible. Hill Harper draws on his journey as an award-winning actor, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and humanitarian to explore how education, self-worth, financial empowerment, mentorship, and personal responsibility shape long-term success. Drawing from the lessons in books including Letters to a Young Brother, Letters to a Young Sister, and The Wealth Cure, Hill challenges audiences to think more intentionally about the values, relationships, and choices that form the foundation of the lives they want to create. He encourages people to move beyond limiting expectations, invest in their own growth, and define success by more than status or achievement. Through personal stories and practical insight, Hill offers a powerful reminder that lasting fulfillment begins with taking ownership of who you are becoming and the impact you want to make.

Audiences will learn:

How education, self-worth, and mentorship can strengthen the foundation for future success
Why investing in personal growth and financial empowerment can expand opportunity
How to define success on their own terms and make choices aligned with purpose

Own Your Future: Building Confidence, Purpose & Possibility

Young people begin shaping their futures long before they know exactly where those futures will lead. Hill Harper challenges students to look beyond their circumstances, recognize their strengths, and take an active role in creating the lives they want to build. Drawing from his own journey and the lessons in Letters to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young Sister, Hill explores how education, self-confidence, mentorship, and intentional decision-making can expand what young people believe is possible. With humor and personal storytelling, he addresses the pressures of comparison, self-doubt, and setbacks while encouraging students to develop a strong sense of identity and purpose. Hill’s message empowers young people to see themselves not as passive recipients of their circumstances, but as architects capable of making choices that shape their opportunities and their future.

Audiences will learn:

How to recognize their strengths and take greater ownership of their future
Why education, mentorship, and intentional choices can create new opportunities
How to move through setbacks and self-doubt with greater confidence and purpose

Education as Empowerment: Unlocking Potential & Expanding Opportunity

Education can change the trajectory of a life long before it changes a résumé. Hill Harper draws on his own journey through Brown University and Harvard Law School to explore how learning, mentorship, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity can expand opportunity and help people recognize what they are capable of becoming. Drawing from the lessons in Letters to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young Sister, Hill challenges audiences to see education not simply as preparation for a career, but as a foundation for confidence, economic mobility, and meaningful participation in the world. He also examines the barriers that can limit access to opportunity and the shared role that students, educators, families, and communities play in helping young people succeed. Hill’s message reinforces the idea that learning does not end with a diploma, but remains one of the most powerful tools for shaping a future with purpose and possibility.

Audiences will learn:

How education can expand opportunity, confidence, and long-term potential
Why mentorship, perseverance, and lifelong learning matter beyond the classroom
How individuals and communities can help create stronger pathways to educational success

Building the Beloved Community: Carrying Dr. King’s Vision Forward

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community was not simply about confronting injustice. It was about building a society grounded in dignity, equality, compassion, and shared responsibility. Hill Harper draws on his commitment to civil rights, education, and community empowerment to explore what it means to carry that vision forward in a time of division and uncertainty. Through personal reflection and stories from his work as an advocate for social and economic justice, Hill challenges audiences to move beyond honoring Dr. King’s legacy and consider how service, courageous leadership, economic opportunity, and bridge-building can put those ideals into practice. His message is a powerful reminder that the Beloved Community is not a distant goal, but something each generation helps create through the choices it makes and the people it chooses to uplift.

Audiences will learn:

How Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community can guide action today
Why service, economic opportunity, and bridge-building are essential to lasting change
How individuals can help strengthen communities through everyday leadership and collective responsibility

From Literacy to Opportunity: Building Pathways to Economic Empowerment

Access to knowledge can shape access to opportunity. Hill Harper explores how educational literacy, financial literacy, mentorship, and economic empowerment can help individuals and families build greater independence and long-term mobility. Drawing on his advocacy for economic justice, entrepreneurial experience, and lessons from The Wealth Cure and Letters to a Young Brother, Hill examines the barriers that continue to limit opportunity in underserved communities and the tools that can help people navigate and overcome them. He also highlights the connection between individual empowerment and stronger community institutions, challenging leaders to think more intentionally about where resources, education, and opportunity are being invested. Hill’s message reframes literacy as more than a classroom skill or financial competency, but as a foundation for ownership, generational progress, and lasting community strength.

Audiences will learn:

How educational and financial literacy can expand economic opportunity
Why mentorship, access, and strong community institutions matter for long-term mobility
How individuals and organizations can help create stronger pathways to ownership and generational progress

Testimonials

"Folks are still gushing over Mr. Harper's commencement speech. He was engaging and immediately connected to our graduates as well as members of the audience. in over 40 commencement ceremonies in which they have participated, Mr. Harper's speech ranked in their top five."

- Jackson State University

"It was amazing. Hill did a phenomenal job. The students loved him and were moved by his message."

- Chicago State University

"You are fantastic! You gave me permission to “double my dream.” You are a gentleman and a scholar. Your kindness and courtesy to our “almost” stampeding audience is truly appreciated."

- Burlington Community College

"The Commencement address was engaging and inspiring. As was evident from the audience’s enthusiastic reaction to your wise words, you helped to make the day even more memorable for our students, their families, and all in attendance."

- Office of the President, University of Dayton

"Hill Harper was awesome! People sat at the edge of their seats unable to move. He made each person feel as if he was speaking directly to them. By all feedback, regardless of age, everyone received a golden nugget for their lives or situation. His message was life changing!"

- YMCA Black & Hispanic Achievers

"Hill Harper was amazing!! He got a tremendous response and was very engaging!! The book signing was sold out and we ended up having to hustle him on because his limo was waiting. He was very gracious and generous with his time. We will highly recommend him to other clients and people looking for an excellent speaker."

- New Jersey Education Association