Dennis Haysbert was born on June 2, 1954 in San Mateo, California. Haysbert is well known for his role as David Palmer from the television show 24. Haysbert has been acting in film and television since 1979. His television guest starring roles include Laverne & Shirley, The A-Team, Magnum, P.I., and Duckman.

On film, Haysbert has appeared in Absolute Power, Random Hearts, Far From Heaven, Major League, Navy Seals, Mr. Baseball, Love Field, Suture, Major League II, Heat, Waiting to Exhale, Insomnia, Amanda, Standoff, How to Make the Cruelest Month, Far from Heaven, Jarhead, and Breach.

Other series regular roles include Now and Again and The Unit. In 2004, Haysbert began appearing in Allstate commercials.

In addition to television and film acting, Haysbert has also done voice work for various video games, most notably Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow and Call of Duty: Finest Hour.