Hill Harper

Biography

Frank Eugene "Hill" Harper is an accomplished American actor and aspiring political figure, widely recognized for his performances as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in *CSI: NY*, Agent Spelman Boyle in *Limitless*, and Dr. Marcus Andrews in *The Good Doctor*. Born into a family of medical professionals—his father, Harry D. Harper, is a psychiatrist, while his mother, Marilyn Harper (née Hill), was among the first black practicing anesthesiologists in the U.S. and co-authored the book *Wearing Purple*—Hill adopted his name as a nod to his familial heritage.

Harper graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1988, earning a BA in economics and sociology, and was the valedictorian of his department. He later received his JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1992 and earned an MPA with honors from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. While at Harvard, he was actively involved in Boston's Black Folks Theater Company, a renowned black theater troupe.

During his time at Harvard, Harper developed a friendship with Barack Obama, with whom he enjoyed playing basketball. In 2012, he was appointed to The President's Cancer Panel, collaborating with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advise on cancer policy. Afterward, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, during which he has been honored with eight honorary degrees, including ones from Westfield State College and Howard University.