Biography

Bayo Akinfemi is an assistant professor of theatre practice at the USC School of Dramatic Arts.

A two-time Best Actor GEMINI awards nominee for Human Cargo and The Border, Bayo is currently a series regular on Bob Hearts Abishola, a CBS / Warner Bros sitcom going into its fifth season. He’s also the dialect coach and culture consultant for the show. Bayo’s acting credits include Marvel’s Agents of Shield, Criminal Minds, NCIS LA and Survivor’s Remorse. He is also a director. His credits include an episode of Bob Hearts Abishola, a short film titled Rump and Nollywood feature films Busted Life and Paparazzi: Eye in the Dark. 

Bayo was born and raised in Ilesa, Nigeria. He obtained a B.A. in Performing Arts from University of Ilorin before moving to Toronto where he studied Film & Television Production and worked for several years as an actor and a director. He later relocated to Los Angeles and obtained a Master’s degree in Cinema and Media Studies from University of Southern California, where he currently works as an Assistant Professor of Practice: Acting & Directing in the Schools of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts.

Bayo is also an avid theater director with extensive credits. For almost a decade, he served as the resident director for African Theatre Ensemble in Toronto. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of African Theatre Artistes Society (ATARS), Los Angeles, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a platform of artistic expression to artistes of African descent with the goal of bringing authentic African Theatre to audiences in Los Angeles.