Devin Lee Harjes, a television and film actor known for his roles in popular series including “Boardwalk Empire,” “Daredevil,” and “Gotham,” died Tuesday, May 27, at Mount Sinai West hospital in New York City. He was 41.
Harjes died from an illness after being diagnosed with cancer in February, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor had been battling the disease for several months before his death.
Born July 29, 1983, in Lubbock, Texas, Harjes developed a love for acting after initially growing up around horses and animals. He moved to New York City to pursue his professional acting career, beginning with work on student films, off-Broadway shows and independent films.
Harjes gained recognition for his television work, portraying boxer Jack Dempsey in HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.” In the comic book television universe, he played Oscar, a nurse who worked at Rikers Island, in Marvel’s “Daredevil,” and Clyde, a guard at a bank, in DC’s “Gotham.”
His most recent work included appearing as Pete Baylor in episodes of NBC’s “Manifest” seasons two and three. The actor’s extensive television credits also included roles in “Orange Is the New Black,” “Blue Bloods,” “FBI,” and “Elementary.”
In film, Harjes appeared in “Rebel in the Rye,” “Boyz of Summer,” “The Forest Is Red,” “When the Shadow Falls,” and “Surprise Surprise, Mr. Conovy.” He received an Honorable Mention for Best Supporting Actor at the Long Island International Film Expo for his work in 2012’s “Boyz of Summer.”
Antonio DiFonzo, director and writer of “Boyz of Summer,” paid tribute to the actor on social media. “Terribly sad news as we lost Devin Harjes, an amazing actor and friend,” DiFonzo wrote on Facebook. He described Harjes as someone who was constantly striving to be better and put his heart and soul into everything he did.
According to his website obituary, Harjes began life with a connection to horses and the open plains. The obituary noted that just three days after he was born, his father carried him and his sister on horseback. Outside of acting, Harjes was described as a dedicated student of martial arts and a regular at the gym. The obituary mentioned he often joked it was safer than getting kicked in the face by a horse.
Harjes launched his career in the Dallas-Fort Worth theatre scene before making the move to New York City. He worked his way up through off-Broadway productions and student films before landing television roles that would define his career.
The actor is survived by his parents, Randy and Rosanne Harjes; his sister and her husband, Trish Harjes and Justin Kelley; his nephews, Tristin and Sawyer Kelley; his nieces, Rory and Charly Kelley; his ex-wife and “Gotham” actress, Shiva Shobitha Kalaiselvan; and his cat, Maude.
Family and friends have shared personal photos on Harjes’ website and, in lieu of flowers, have requested donations be made to TKC Blessings in the actor’s name. All proceeds will support scholarships for children pursuing the arts.
The entertainment industry has lost a versatile performer who worked across multiple television genres, from period dramas to superhero series to procedural shows. Harjes’ career spanned over a decade, during which he built a reputation as a reliable character actor who brought depth to supporting roles.
His work in both Marvel and DC television properties demonstrated his ability to adapt to different storytelling styles and character types. From his portrayal of the historical figure Jack Dempsey to his roles as various working-class characters in contemporary settings, Harjes showed range throughout his career.