James St. Patrick was never just a character. He was a ghost. Literally. For six seasons, Omari Hardwick didn't just play a drug kingpin; he built a cultural titan that basically carried the Starz network on its back. People didn't just watch Power—they obsessed over it. They argued about it at barber shops. They dissected every custom-tailored suit and every cold-blooded decision Ghost made.
But honestly? The story behind the scenes was just as gritty as the one on the screen.
When we talk about Omari Hardwick in Power, we aren’t just talking about a hit show. We’re talking about a guy who was living in his car before he got the call. A guy who, even while starring in the biggest show on cable, had to borrow money from 50 Cent just to keep his family afloat. It’s wild to think about. You see this suave, powerful man on TV, but the reality was a lot more complicated.
The Ghost that Almost Wasn't
Hardwick wasn't exactly hunting for a drug dealer role. In fact, he was hesitant. He’s a poet. He’s a guy who thinks deeply about the "call" on his life. He actually said in an interview with the Christian Post that it took some serious prayer to convince him to take on James St. Patrick. He was worried about being pigeonholed. He didn't want to just be another "street guy" on TV.
Then he read the script.
The duality of James St. Patrick—the legitimate businessman trying to wash the blood off his hands vs. "Ghost," the ruthless phantom of the drug world—was too good to pass up. He saw the Shakespearean tragedy in it. He took the job. And for the next six years, he transformed into a man who lived in the gray area between hero and villain.
🔗 Read more: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
The Pay Gap Nobody Talks About
You’d assume the lead of a massive hit would be swimming in cash, right?
Not exactly.
Hardwick recently got very real on The Pivot podcast about his salary. He revealed he was making about $150,000 per episode. Now, look, to most people, that sounds like a fortune. But in the world of TV leads, especially for a show with 10 million viewers at its peak, it’s low. For comparison, stars on shows with similar or even smaller audiences were often pulling in double or triple that.
He felt undervalued.
It got so tight during the summer breaks between seasons one and two that he had to turn to 50 Cent. The mogul lent him $20,000, then another $23,000 the following year. Hardwick paid it back with interest, but that financial strain stayed with him. He’s been vocal about the fact that he never truly made the money he should have made while the show was actually airing. It’s only now, years later, that the "Ghost money" is finally catching up to the legacy.
💡 You might also like: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
The Ending That Split the Fanbase
Why did Ghost have to die?
That’s the question that still makes fans' blood boil in 2026. If you ask Courtney Kemp, the show’s creator, Ghost’s fate was sealed from the pilot. He either ended up in a grave or a cell. Those were the rules of the game. But Hardwick had a different vision. He actually pitched an ending where Ghost died saving his brother-in-arms, Tommy Egan. He wanted that "my brother’s keeper" moment.
Instead, we got the Tariq ending.
Watching his own son pull the trigger at Truth was a bitter pill for many to swallow. Some fans felt it was "poetic justice"—Ghost killed his mentor, Breeze, to get ahead, so his son killing him was the ultimate full circle. Others? They hated it. They felt Tariq hadn't earned that moment. They felt it was a way to force a spinoff (which, to be fair, it was).
The tension between Hardwick and Kemp over the direction of the character isn't exactly a secret. There’s been plenty of "word on the curb" about creative differences. While they’ve kept it relatively professional, you can tell there’s a sense of "what could have been" regarding the character's final arc.
📖 Related: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
The Ghost Legacy and Power: Origins
Even though James St. Patrick is dead (and yes, he’s actually dead, stop with the "he’s in the ambulance" theories), his shadow is everywhere. The Power Universe has expanded into a multi-headed beast with prequels and sequels, but everything still circles back to Ghost.
In late 2025, Starz announced Power: Origins. We’re finally getting the prequel. Spence Moore II has been cast to play the young James St. Patrick. It’s a huge mantle to take over. Omari Hardwick didn’t just play the role; he owned the movement. He brought a specific kind of vulnerable intensity that’s hard to replicate.
Hardwick’s impact on the series can be summed up in a few key points:
- The Silhouette: He gave the character a physical language—the way he adjusted his cufflinks before a kill or the specific way he looked at Angela Valdes.
- The Performance: He made a "bad guy" the person everyone rooted for, which is a rare feat in television.
- The Culture: He turned a Starz show into a global phenomenon that redefined "Black Hollywood" prestige.
What’s Next for Omari?
Hardwick isn't sitting around waiting for a Ghost flashback. He’s been busy. From Army of the Dead to Pieces of Her, he’s been pushing into different genres. He even snagged a Grammy nomination recently for Spoken Word Poetry. He’s getting back to those poetic roots he was worried about losing back in 2014.
If you’re a fan looking to follow his lead, don't just wait for the next spinoff. Dive into his poetry album Concrete & Whiskey. Watch his performance in Shot Caller to see a different side of his grit.
The lesson from Omari Hardwick in Power is pretty simple: Know your worth. Even when you’re the face of the brand, you have to fight for your value. Ghost might be gone, but the man behind the suits is finally getting the respect—and the check—he earned.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Evolution: Re-watch Season 1 and Season 6 back-to-back. The physical transformation in Hardwick’s performance as Ghost becomes increasingly hardened and "haunted" is a masterclass in acting.
- Explore the Poetry: Check out his "Bourbon 30" series to understand the man behind the character; it provides context to the "soul" he brought to James St. Patrick.
- Prepare for Origins: Keep an eye on the Power: Origins production updates in 2026 to see how the new cast interprets the groundwork Hardwick laid.