Damien Leake is an American actor and world record-holding masters track athlete born August 12, 1952. He’s appeared in over 70 films including Apocalypse Now and The Great Debaters, while holding multiple world records in sprint events for men over 70.
You might recognize his face from Apocalypse Now or The Great Debaters. You’ve seen him in countless TV shows from NCIS to Scandal. But Damien Leake has achieved something few entertainers can claim: he’s the fastest man over 70 who has ever lived.
Born in The Bronx on August 12, 1952, this graduate of New York’s High School of Performing Arts has spent five decades mastering two seemingly different crafts. His story reveals how passion, discipline, and commitment can fuel excellence well into your 70s.
This article explores his journey from Broadway stages to Olympic-caliber tracks, his decades-long silent protest, and why he believes coaching young athletes matters more than his own records.
From Shakespeare to Serpico
Damien Leake’s entertainment career began in 1973 with a role in Serpico, and he hasn’t stopped working since. His path started with a Shakespeare recitation at his High School of Performing Arts audition, where he performed Mark Antony’s speech.
His early film work established a pattern. Through the 1980s, he was typecast as sensitive, half-crazed characters in gritty films like Death Wish and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. These roles showcased his ability to bring intensity to supporting characters.
The typecasting didn’t limit his range for long. Leake has appeared in some 70 motion pictures, plus numerous television and stage acting roles. His filmography includes Sea of Love, Born on the 4th of July, and The Cotton Club.
Television and Stage Work
His television credits span decades and genres. You’ve seen him in:
- NCIS
- S.W.A.T.
- Scandal
- The West Wing
- How to Get Away with Murder
- Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living
- Ghost Whisperer
On Broadway, Leake performed in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, Whose Life is it Anyway?, and August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. His stage work extends to classical roles including Othello and Prospero in The Tempest.
Beyond Acting
Leake has worked as a singer, dancer, director, musician, composer, musical director, vocal arranger, playwright, stage fight choreographer and ventriloquist. His first musical, Child of the Sun, won the Richard Rodgers Production Award.
Breaking Records After 60
Most people slow down in their 60s. Damien Leake started setting world records.
His introduction to masters track came by chance. At an all-comers meet, someone timing said he was only half a second off the world record. His response? Time to train seriously.
The Records
On June 16, 2018, he set the world M65 record in the 100 meters, running 12.31 seconds. That was just the beginning.
In 2023, at age 70, he rewrote the record book again. He set a world record in the M70-74 age group, running 12.59 seconds in the 100 meters at the LA Grand Prix. Two months earlier, he had set another world record in the 60-meter indoor dash.
| Event | Record Time | Age Group | Year Set | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m | 12.31 sec | M65 | 2018 | Grass Valley, CA |
| 60m Indoor | 7.89 sec | M70 | 2023 | Louisville, KY |
| 100m | 12.59 sec | M70-74 | 2023 | UCLA, Los Angeles |
Leake has set age-group world records in the 50, 60, 100 and 200 meter dashes. His times have established him as the benchmark for septuagenarian sprinters worldwide.
Training Philosophy
His training centers on hill sprints. He runs 10 repetitions between markers at California State University, Northridge as a benchmark for peak condition. He views completing 5-6 reps as solid form, but 10 without exhaustion signals elite readiness.
The mental game matters as much as physical preparation. At the LA Grand Prix, he lined up thinking “don’t embarrass yourself” despite being a world record holder. The nerves never completely disappear, even for professionals.
A Silent Protest That Spans Decades
Civil rights activism shaped Leake from childhood. On August 28, 1963, just days after his eleventh birthday, he attended the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Five years later, everything changed. When King was assassinated, Leake began a form of silent protest by remaining seated during the U.S. national anthem. He’s maintained this protest for over five decades.
The decision nearly cost him. The protest almost caused him to be tried in court-martial when he was in the Army, stationed at Fort Dix. He persisted anyway.
His activism connected with his athletic passion at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He cheered as Tommie Smith and John Carlos took gold and bronze medals in the 200 meters and ignited controversy with their black power salute.
Years later, he met Tommie Smith in person. He told Smith he couldn’t explain what that moment meant, and Smith responded, “I’m still out here doing what I can do”. That became Leake’s guiding principle: do what you can do.
Coaching: His Greatest Achievement
Ask Damien Leake about his proudest accomplishment, and he won’t mention Apocalypse Now or world records. He’ll talk about his youth long jump program, Leake’s Leapers.
His team teaches kids as much about success in life as in long jumping. He assists at Chaminade, a private Catholic prep school with two Los Angeles area campuses.
The joy comes from transformation moments. Seeing a 10-year-old get that look of accomplishment and smile completely melts him. He says coaching has changed him totally.
His priorities reflect this passion. Despite planning to compete at national championships, he says “the main thing for me is: What are my kids doing? If I get kids going to Junior Olympics, that takes precedent”.
The Masters Track Community
Leake urges adults over 50 to join masters athletics for the community of support it brings. He emphasizes camaraderie and belonging as the main benefits.
His philosophy about aging challenges common assumptions. He dislikes when people stop competing and retire, believing they should continue until their body tells them they can’t.
The mental barriers matter more than physical ones. He notes that lack of zeal to push past pain thresholds makes older athletes drop out. Their bodies have more capacity than they think.
Recent Performances and Future Plans
At 72, Leake continues competing at the highest level. In 2023, he won gold in the 200 meters at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, beating world gold medal winner Michael Kish. He also took silver in the long jump despite a heavily taped hamstring.
His 2023 season included an unusual circumstance. He was at the USATF Masters Outdoors National Championships because actors joined writers in a strike. The work stoppage freed his schedule for competition.
Injuries are an ongoing challenge. He pulled a hamstring during the 100 meters at nationals. Managing these setbacks becomes part of competing in your 70s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies has Damien Leake been in?
His notable films include Apocalypse Now, Serpico, Death Wish, Sea of Love, The Great Debaters, and The Cotton Club among 70+ total productions.
How fast can Damien Leake run?
At age 70, he ran 12.59 seconds in the 100 meters, setting the M70-74 world record and establishing himself as history’s fastest septuagenarian.
Why does Damien Leake sit during the national anthem?
He began this silent protest in 1968 after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination and has continued for over 50 years.
What is Leake’s Leapers?
It’s his youth long jump coaching program where he teaches young athletes technical skills and life lessons about success and perseverance.
Is Damien Leake still acting?
Yes, his recent TV credits include Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living, 1923, and The Baxters, maintaining an active entertainment career alongside athletics.
Lessons From a Renaissance Man
Damien Leake’s life offers clear takeaways for anyone pursuing multiple passions.
First, excellence demands consistent work. His training regimen, rehearsal schedules, and coaching commitments require daily discipline. There are no shortcuts to world records or 50-year acting careers.
Second, age creates opportunities rather than limitations. He didn’t set his first world record until 65. Many of his best performances came in his 60s and 70s.
Third, giving back matters more than personal glory. Despite his records and resume, he finds the most fulfillment in coaching young athletes. The smile of a 10-year-old achieving a personal best outweighs any trophy.
His activism demonstrates quiet conviction. In 2016, when Colin Kaepernick’s protest caught mass media attention, Leake had already been sitting for 48 years. Principle doesn’t require an audience.
Finally, community fuels longevity. The masters track community provides belonging and motivation. The entertainment industry offers creative collaboration. Both communities keep him engaged and growing.
Damien Leake proves that you don’t have to choose between pursuits. You can act and run. Create and compete. Speak through silence and performance. At 72, he’s still doing what he can do, and the results speak for themselves.
