7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony Wood Harris on The Wire, Above the Rim & Feeling Pressure Acting With Denzel Washington
13 snips
Feb 23, 2026 Wood Harris, veteran actor known for roles in Above the Rim, The Wire and Paid in Full, reflects on a 30-year career shaped by basketball and grit. He recounts how hooping won him roles, filming The Wire in authentic Baltimore, pressure acting with Denzel Washington, Tupac’s influence on Above the Rim, and a life-changing turning point after being kicked out of school.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How Hooping Won Wood His First Role
- Wood Harris landed his first film Above the Rim after a basketball callback where he actually performed the game actions seen on screen.
- He clowned other actors in the gym, tip-dunked in the callback, and Jeff Pollack hired him on the spot because he could hoop for real.
Longevity Trumps Trophy Hunting
- Wood values a long consistent career over trophies, saying longevity and body of work matter more than awards.
- He notes peers with trophies but no careers, and prefers being recognized for decades of meaningful roles.
Meeting Denzel Felt Like Guarding A Basketball Idol
- Wood recalls being nervous on day one with Denzel Washington on Remember the Titans but turned that into competitiveness rather than intimidation.
- He explains his competitive nature would push him to 'try to beat' an idol, yet acting requires collaboration not head-to-head wins.