1. Overview
LaMonica Garrett (born May 23, 1975) is an American actor and former professional Slamball player. He is widely recognized for his significant roles in television, film, and video games. His notable television appearances include Deputy Sheriff Cane in the FX series Sons of Anarchy, Secret Service agent Mike Ritter in the ABC/Netflix series Designated Survivor, and his dual portrayal of Mar Novu / Monitor and Anti-Monitor in the Arrowverse crossover events. He also had prominent roles as Thomas in the Paramount+ series 1883 and Tucker in Lioness. In film, he has appeared in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Primal, and Clemency, and lent his voice to video games such as Fight Night Champion and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
2. Early Life and Sports Career
LaMonica Garrett's formative years were shaped by his family's influence and his dedication to sports, particularly football, before he transitioned into the entertainment industry.
2.1. Childhood and Education
LaMonica Garrett was born on May 23, 1975, in San Francisco, California. He was named after the former Oakland Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica, as his parents were fans of the football player. During his high school years, Garrett was an active football player. When his family relocated to Los Angeles, he and a friend transferred to Burbank High School. Garrett has publicly shared that despite his friend making the varsity team, he was initially held back on the junior varsity team due to what he described as his own ego and attitude. He later referred to this setback as a "wake-up call," which instilled in him valuable lessons in humility and accountability, and motivated him to intensify his training in the gym.
2.2. Sports Career
Following his high school experience, Garrett committed to more intensive workouts, which allowed him to excel on offense in football. He continued his football career at a Los Angeles junior college, where he played as a linebacker. His collegiate journey led him to transfer to Central State University in Ohio, where he continued to play football and, at one point, led the team in tackles. Garrett harbored aspirations of joining the NFL. Despite having what he described as a "great Pro Day" and participating in workouts with teams like the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams, he was ultimately not drafted into the league.
After his football aspirations, Garrett moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment, having always held an interest in acting. To support himself while attending acting classes, he worked as a FedEx driver. During this period, Garrett also began playing Slamball, a dynamic sport that combines elements of basketball and football, played on trampolines. He achieved significant success in the league, becoming its leading scorer and earning a spot as one of four players selected for the All Slamball Team.
3. Acting Career
Garrett's acting career began while he was still a professional Slamball player, leading to a gradual but steady progression through television, film, and video game roles, where he gained recognition for his versatility and impactful performances.
3.1. Early Career and Transition
LaMonica Garrett's initial foray into acting occurred when he secured a role in an episode of One Tree Hill, which featured a storyline related to Slamball. This opportunity marked his first television appearance. Following this role, he signed with an agent, which helped him secure a series of minor roles in various television shows, including Hawthorne, CSI: Miami, and NCIS. He also began appearing in films, such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon, during this early phase of his career.
3.2. Television Appearances
Garrett's television career saw him take on increasingly significant roles, establishing him as a prominent figure in several popular series. In 2011, he began a recurring role as Deputy Sheriff Cane on the FX series Sons of Anarchy, appearing in 17 episodes until 2014.
In 2016, Garrett landed two key roles. The first was as Lieutenant TAO Cameron Burk on TNT's The Last Ship, a role he played in 15 episodes. The second, and perhaps most impactful at the time, was as Secret Service agent Mike Ritter on ABC's Designated Survivor. David Guggenheim, the creator and executive producer of Designated Survivor, noted that they needed an actor who could physically handle throwing President Tom Kirkman into a car, but also possess an "emotional core goodness." Mike Ritter quickly became a fan favorite, and Garrett remained with the show for its first two seasons. After the series was picked up by Netflix following its initial cancellation, Garrett confirmed via Twitter that he would not return for the third season due to budget constraints, despite lengthy negotiations.
In late 2018, Garrett was cast as Mar Novu / The Monitor in "Elseworlds", a major Arrowverse crossover event on The CW that connected storylines from The Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl. He reprised this role throughout the spring 2019 episodes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. His role was later upgraded to a series regular for these shows, as well as Batwoman, to ensure his availability for all appearances leading up to and during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. In July 2019, it was announced that Garrett would also portray the Anti-Monitor in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, showcasing his versatility in playing both heroic and antagonistic cosmic entities.
In 2021, Garrett was cast as Thomas in 1883, a prequel spin-off of the Paramount Network show Yellowstone. He also appeared as Tucker in the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness in 2023.
His other television credits include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Dog Eat Dog | Himself | Contestant |
| 2008 | One Tree Hill | Jerome | Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil" |
| 2011-2014 | Sons of Anarchy | Deputy Sheriff Cane | 17 episodes |
| 2012 | Suits | Roberto Solis | Episode: "Asterisk" |
| 2012-2013 | Mike & Molly | James | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Political Animals | Agent Clark | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Modern Family | Bouncer | Episode: "Haley's 21st Birthday" |
| 2016-2018 | Designated Survivor | Mike Ritter | 38 episodes |
| The Last Ship | Lt. TAO Cameron Burk | 15 episodes | |
| 2018-2019 | Supergirl | Mar Novu / Monitor | Guest star (season 4), Main (season 5); 5 episodes |
| 2018-2020 | Arrow | Guest star (season 7), Main (season 8); 8 episodes | |
| 2018-2019 | The Flash | Guest star (season 5), Main (season 6); 6 episodes | |
| 2019-2020 | Legends of Tomorrow | Guest star (season 4), Main (season 5); 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Batwoman | Main (season 1); 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Officer Harris | Episode: "Insufficient Praise" |
| 2021 | Delilah | Casey Landon | |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | FBI Agent Feingold | "The Set Up" | |
| 2021-2022 | 1883 | Thomas | Main role |
| 2022 | The Terminal List | Commander Bill Cox | Recurring Role; 5 episodes |
| 2023-present | Special Ops: Lioness | Tucker | Main role |
3.3. Film Appearances
Garrett has contributed to several films, taking on diverse roles.
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Morshower's Aide | Michael Bay | |
| 2019 | Primal | John Ringer | Nick Powell | |
| Clemency | Logan Cartwright | Chinonye Chukwu | ||
| 2020 | DC/Marvel: Crisis on Infinite Earths | Mar Novu/Monitor | AListProductions | Short fan film |
| TBA | Takeover | Sheriff 'Herc' Hitchens | Greg Jonkajtys | |
| TBA | Osiris | To be announced | William Kaufman |
3.4. Video Game Appearances
Garrett has also lent his voice and likeness to characters in the video game industry.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fight Night Champion | Andre Bishop | |
| Need for Speed: The Run | Rival Racer 2 / Highway Patrolman | ||
| 2019 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | Sergeant Griggs |