The “Where Do I Know You From?” Files, Part 6: David Ramsey

Before Arrow premieres, I thought it would be fun to get to know the cast and their past roles, so stay tuned for weekly posts. Today’s entry in the “Where Do I Know You From?” files is David Ramsey.

Based on his array of past television appearances, I am interested to see just what angle Oliver Queen’s bodyguard takes. David Ramsey has portrayed charming, energetic, relaxed, and stoic characters. Here is a (spoiler-filled) overview of some notable roles you may have seen him in before we get to know him as John Diggle on Arrow. 

GHOST WHISPERER (CBS, 2005-2008)
Season 1, Episodes 3, 22; Season 2, Episode 2; Season 3, Episode 12
Character: Will Bennett

Will Bennett is an EMT/Firefighter and one of Jim Clancy’s friends. We first meet Will as he is watching Melinda Gordon chat with a ghost in the town square. When she drops by the Firehouse to visit Jim, they set him up on a date with Melinda’s friend and business partner, Andrea. Will shows up to their double date late and slightly frazzled, having been unsure which shirt to wear. Throughout dinner, he keeps bringing up his ex-girlfriend, whom he has not completely severed ties with, much to Andrea’s chagrin. When a plane crashes in Grandview, he works the site, saving a young girl who was trapped under debris. Later on, he works a building fire. Jim finds one man alive, trapped under a fallen beam, while Will finds a different man alive and trapped. After Will gets word that the building is unstable and will soon collapse, they only have time to save one man.

Although Will is dedicated to a serious profession, he releases a great personality when outside of work. He is bubbly and charming, and it does not hurt that he is committed to saving lives. Because he is friends with Jim, one of the most righteous characters on Ghost Whisperer, Will must be trustworthy and honorable. When he and Jim are in the burning building, he looks out for Jim’s safety, but also agrees with Jim that they need to act a little risky to save the trapped man.

Even with this minor character, David Ramsey made an impact. I wish they had done more with him because his chemistry with Andrea (Aisha Tyler) just clicked. In the first episode that he appears, it looks as if they are going to set him up to be a more prevalent character than he turns out to be. But regardless, he gave an unforgettable vibrancy to Will.

WILDFIRE (ABC Family, 2008)
Season 4, Episodes 1-6, 9, 10
Character: Dr. Noah Gleason

Dr. Noah Gleason, a skilled veterinarian, runs through the Danielle Davis Equine Center with a bleeding hand, having been bitten by a horse. As Dani bandages him, he hands her his resume, knowing that she is hiring. Dani initially turns him down, saying that she wants someone with more experience, but after Noah successfully performs a risky procedure on a prized horse, she hires him. While working at the Equine Center, he trains Kris, a jockey and Dani’s good friend, to be his assistant and he starts up a “no strings attached” relationship with Dani. Noah later tells Dani that he turned down an offer at the best vet clinic around because he wants to be near her. As Dani makes decisions without him and grows closer to her father, Noah warns her to back off, reminding her that her relationship with her father almost ruined her life before. Dani ignores his request and he tells her that they are over.

Noah jokes and charms his way around, and although he may not be the most professional in the workplace, he is good enough at his job that he gets everything done well. He exudes a confidence that verges on haughty, even if he does have reason to be. Despite how lax this makes him sound, Noah is a good and trustworthy man. It becomes slightly heartbreaking how much he wants to be with Dani when she makes the excuse that no one in her family has had a successful relationship. If she were not so much of a coward, Noah would be the one to take that chance on.

The greatest thing about David Ramsey in this role is how enjoyable he is to watch. Sometimes you chuckle at how exuberant he acts when he gets dramatic without falling into over-dramatic. His acting is seamless and effortless, and it is difficult not to be a little bit smitten by him.

DEXTER (Showtime, 2008-2009)
Season 3, Episodes 1-12; Season 4, Episodes 1-5
Character: Anton Briggs

Anton Briggs is a musician who becomes a confidential informant to Detective Joey Quinn of the Miami Metro Police Department to aid in the search for a drug dealer named Freebo. Quinn introduces Officer Debora Morgan to him and they later speak in a club. After he lights up a joint in front of her in the restroom, she arrests him. Deb finds out that Anton was never officially registered as a CI because Quinn was keeping him out of jail in return for his cooperation. Deb tells Anton that he has no obligation to put himself in danger, especially since he is being used as bait for The Skinner, a killer with ties to Freebo. The Skinner kidnaps and tortures Anton. Deb and Quinn rescue him. Having been engaging in a relationship with Anton, Deb wonders if her career is worth it. But, in a few months, they are living together, although Anton if often away on music gigs. Anton soon takes a stable job close by, which strains the relationship and they eventually break up. Afterwards, Anton disappears.

Anton can be described as a free spirit. He does not seem to strictly care about the law and pushes the boundaries. But, that does not mean I would classify him as a “bad boy”; he is too subtle for that. Anton does not possess a strong drive for much; he rather just exists in life, content with playing his guitar and smoking his pot.

This was such a different character for David Ramsey than the other ones mentioned here. It was fascinating to see him play a much lower key character, not in the sense that he was less important, but rather the amount of energy the character gave off. And he was just as convincing here as before.

BLUE BLOODS (CBS, 2011-2012)
Season 2, Episodes 1, 6, 8, 14, 18, 20, 22
Character: Mayor Carter Poole

Carter Poole, the mayor of New York City, strikes up a partnership with Police Commissioner Frank Reagan when Poole asks Frank to prevent a scandal involving a murdered mayoral supporter. Even though Frank intends to resign, Poole returns his letter of resignation and tells him that he was the first white cop that he saw as a good guy. When Poole was a kid, Frank would let him into a locked basketball court to play on the weekends. More of Poole’s past is brought up when Frank receives a case involving student protestors who assaulted a police officer. When Poole was at Yale, he protested apartheid, and could not have later entered public service if he had been arrested then. Poole urges Frank to drop the charges because one young woman involved wants to become a lawyer; Frank reduces the charges. When the time comes for Poole to appoint a new deputy mayor, he has Frank’s daughter, Erin, in mind. Both Frank and Erin question if this appointment is genuine or part of a ploy to gain favor with the NYPD.

There is a high level of respect between Poole and Frank even though they constantly disagree on what kind of action to take. They fully trust one another, knowing that the intentions are in the right place and recognizing that there is good in the other. The only reason Poole ends up in disputes with Frank is because they are both looking at the situation through the lens of their differing jobs. The audience sees that Poole has a kind heart when he goes to the center where the young woman, the future lawyer, is working on her community service, introduces himself, and helps her out. Poole, due to his upbringing by a single mother, has developed a sense of strength and determination without loosing his humility.

David Ramsey’s take on a politician is refreshing, considering there are so many scheming, morally challenged politicians on television. He never has that smirk like he is going to get away with something, nor does he appear pompous and self-righteous. Although most of his scenes are work-related conversations with Frank (Tom Selleck), they never seem repetitive.

Other Filmography:

Good News (UPN, 1997-1998), Season 1, Episodes 1-22; NCIS (CBS, 2003), Season 1, Episode 5; Crossing Jordan (NBC, 2004), Season 3, Episode 4; Charmed (The WB, 2004), Season 6, Episode 21; Huff (Showtime, 2005), Season 1, Episodes 10-12; All of Us (UPN, 2005), Season 2, Episodes 15-18, 20, 22; Hollywood Residential (Starz, 2008), Season 1, Episodes 1-8; Castle (ABC, 2009), Season 2, Episode 4; Outlaw (NBC, 2010), Season 1, Episodes 1-8 

See David Ramsey next in Arrow – Wednesday, October 10 on The CW!

If you missed last week’s file on Susanna Thompson, check it out here.