Daniel Lasker (actor)
Daniel Lasker | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1999 Zimbabwe |
| Occupations | Actor, filmmaker |
| Years active | 2016–present |
Daniel McGregor Lasker (born 1998 or 1999) is a Zimbabwean filmmaker and actor. He is best known to international audiences for his roles in the HBO series Raised by Wolves (2020–2022) and the second season of the Netflix series One Piece (2026).
Early life and education
Lasker was born in 1998 or 1999[1] and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.[2][3] He attended Whitestone Primary School and then Petra High School.[4]
His photography and filmmaking skills are self-taught.[1]
Career
At age 17 in 2016, Lasker directed his first short film The Way It Is, working alongside indie filmmaker Nigel Ndlovu.[1] He garnered local attention for his impression of The Joker, which he uploaded to YouTube.[5]
Lasker played the recurring character of Furfur in both seasons of the HBO science fiction series Raised by Wolves, which was filmed in South Africa, appearing in ten episodes of the series from 2020 to 2022.[6][7] Also in 2020, he appeared in episodes of the BBC One military drama Our Girl and the Syfy series Vagrant Queen as a teen version of Paul du Toit's character Commander Lazaro.[4]
In 2022, Lasker premiered his science fiction short film The Signal at the Zimbabwe Academy of Music, starring Natasha Dlamini, Tawanda Denga, and Dumie Manyathela. After initially planning for the project to be in English, Lasker decided while Oscar K. Reyes was writing the script that it would work better in Ndebele.[8] The Signal is considered to be the first Zimbabwean film and first Ndebele-language film of its genre.[9][10] It received accolades at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival, 9th FilmQuest in Utah, and Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival. Lasker also portrayed Robert Lincoln in the History Channel miniseries Abraham Lincoln and played Merrick Aldrich in the second season of the BBC One series Noughts + Crosses.[11]
Lasker then directed his debut feature film Hidden Within,[12] filmed in Bulawayo, appearing in the thriller as Cullen Landon alongside Eddie Sandifolo, Anja Taljaard, Lionel Strasky and Arthur Falko.[13] The film premiered in October 2023.[14] In 2025, he appeared in the film London Calling and starred as the sprite Ariel in a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre in Cape Town.[15] Lasker was cast as Mr 9 in the second season of the Netflix live-action adaptation of the anime One Piece.[16][17][18]
Influences
Lasker has cited the likes of Peter Jackson, Martin Scorsese, and Bong Joon-ho as his filmmaking inspirations.[6]
Recognition
Lasker was part of the Zimbabwe team at the 2017 World Championships of Performing Arts.[19]
Filmography
Filmmaking
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Cinematographer | Editor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Way It Is | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2017 | The Walk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2018 | Red Maraiah | Yes | Short film | ||||
| 2019 | The Man | Yes | Short film | ||||
| 2022 | The Signal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film; Ndebele language | |
| 2023 | Hidden Within | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Feature |
Acting
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Red Maraiah | Axel | Short film |
| Boy on Dreams | Walter | Short film | |
| 2019 | The Unexpectables | Dan | Short film |
| 2021 | G.O.A.T | Travis | Short film |
| 2023 | Hidden Within | Cullen Landon | |
| 2025 | London Calling | Barnabus | |
| TBA | The Telling Room | Magician |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | What Lies Beneath | Little Josh | Episode: "Blood Creek" |
| 2019 | American Monster | Madison Holton | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Our Girl | US Soldier | 1 episode |
| Vagrant Queen | Teen Lazaro | 2 episodes | |
| 2020–2022 | Raised by Wolves | Furfur | 10 episodes |
| 2021 | Around the World in 80 Days | Steward | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Abraham Lincoln | Robert Lincoln | Episode: "Saving the Union"[20] |
| Noughts + Crosses | Merrick Aldrich | Series 2 | |
| 2026 | One Piece | Mr 9 |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Tempest | Ariel | Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, Cape Town |
Audio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Girl Who Chased Otters | Nathan | Novel by Sally Partridge[21] |
References
- ^ a b c Ncube, Nkosilesisa (13 November 2016). "Local short film reaches 2,000 views overnight". The Sunday News. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
said the 17-year-old who worked alongside indie filmmaker Nigel Ndlovu to put the film together.
- ^ Mpangi, Kudzai (21 January 2018). "Zim filmmaker on the rise: Daniel Lasker". The Sunday News. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Chidamba, Kirkpatrick (10 January 2018). "Daniel Lasker Is Ushering A New Age in Zimbabwean Film". Enthuse. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ a b Moyo, Grant (12 September 2021). "Zim actor touching stardom". The Standard. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Ncube, Nkosilesisa (11 September 2016). "Video: Byo's own Joker". The Sunday News. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ a b "GQ Exclusive with Raised by Wolves star Daniel Lasker". GQ South Africa. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Godwin, Mungwadzi (10 February 2022). "Daniel Lasker Is Back In Season 2 Of HBO's 'Raised By Wolves'". Greedy South. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "All set for Ndebele sci-fi, The Signal's premiere". Bulawayo24. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Lockdowns, power cuts, and science fiction in isiNdebele...cast & crew of The Signal speak on the movie". The Sunday News. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "The Signal". Film Freeway. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (13 June 2025). "Daniel Lasker Signs With Innovative Artists (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ Sorrento, Matthew (5 October 2024). "Skeletons in the Basement: Daniel Lasker's Hidden Within (2023)". Film International. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Magogo, Zvikomborero (10 October 2023). "Top filmmakers join hands in thriller". The Standard. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Mpofu, Mbulelo (11 September 2023). "Lasker, Sandifolo to premiere thriller". The Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Bain, Keith (13 February 2025). "Shakespeare's enchantment shines as The Tempest captivates Cape Town audiences under the stars". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (25 June 2024). "Netflix's 'One Piece' Season 2 Casts Baroque Works Villains Mr. 9, Mr. 5, Miss Valentine and Mr. 3 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Mpofu, Mbulelo (27 June 2024). "Lasker lands role in Netflix series". Chronicle. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Flook, Ray (19 November 2025). "One Piece: Into the Grand Line Introduces Daniel Lasker's Mr. 9". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ Antonio, Winston (12 July 2017). "Zim team shines in Hollywood". Newsday. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Madzika, Tafadzwa (24 February 2022). "Zimbabwean Actor Daniel Lasker Plays Abraham Lincoln's Son In Latest HISTORY Channel Docuseries". Greedy South. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "The Girl Who Chased Otters audiobook featuring Daniel Lasker". Sally Partridge. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.