Dembe Zuma will not be leaving Raymond Reddington’s side anytime soon. Hisham Tawfiq, who has been recurring on The Blacklist, playing Red’s bodyguard and protector, has been promoted to a series regular for NBC drama’s recently picked up third season. Introduced in the first episode after the pilot, Tawfiq’s Dembe has appeared in virtually every episode since. His backstory revealed that he shares a special bond with Red who years before had saved him from the world of human trafficking.

Tawfiq, repped by Lillian LaSalle at Sweet 180, Clear Talent Group and Peikoff Mahan, got his break on The Blacklist, which hails from Sony Pictures TV.