Here’s a guide to the career of Lucifer actor D.B. Woodside, who’s amassed an impressive body of work. D.B. Woodside started his career with a role in legal drama Murder One from NYPD Blue creator Steven Bochco. Woodside joined during the show’s second season and following its cancellation, he made guest appearances on shows like The Practice and The Division. He also made his movie debut with 1998 thriller Scar City and later co-starred with Jet Li and Aaliyah in 2001 action film Romeo Must Die.
Inbetween guest stints on both CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami, D.B. Woodside landed one of his first big roles on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Woodside played Robin Wood on the series, the principal of Sunnydale High who turns out to be a vampire hunter with a very personal grudge against Spike. Woodside joined the show in its final season and managed the impressive feat of surviving to the very end.
D.B. Woodside’s next big role was on 24 as Wayne Palmer, brother of President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). Wayne served as David’s Chief of Staff in season 3 and was the more morally flexible of the two, leading to some ethical clashes. Wayne returned in a key supporting role in season 5 helping Jack uncover a major conspiracy involving new President Charles Logan. By season 6 he became President himself, but despite Woodside putting in a good performance, the sixth season is considered one of the show’s weakest due to illogical plotting and recycled storylines. Wayne ended his time on 24 in a coma, though his true fate following this was never resolved, and Woodside has expressed disappointment with how his final season played out.
Following his 24 exit, D.B. Woodside appeared on a selection of hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Monk and Castle; he also starred in notorious TV flop Viva Laughlin. He then had recurring roles in shows like Single Ladies and Parenthood in the years that followed. He also had occasional film parts during this period, including Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. His next major TV role came when he appeared on Suits as Jeff Malone, the boyfriend of Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres). Woodside would later join Gina Torres on Pearson, a spinoff of Suits that lasted for one season.
His most recent role is as Amendadiel on Lucifer. Amenadiel is an angel sent to persuade Lucifer, his brother, to return to Hell. After he resorts to dubious tactics to achieve his goal he’s stripped of his divine powers and becomes human. Outside of the show, D.B. Woodside also made an appearance on the rebooted S.W.A.T. series in 2018.
