Elijah Kelley Biography

Fast Facts

• Has been playing the drums since he was 3 years old and performed with his church's choir
• Started out doing local theater in his hometown of LaGrange, Georgia before moving to California after his high school graduation with his parents "on a leap of faith․"
• Quote: "(On rehearsing for "Hairspray"): "To sit there and have a bunch of creative energy whether it's acting, singing or dancing, that was just something․ A lot of times, it didn't feel like work․ It was just so much fun․""
• Best known for his role as Seaweed in the 2007 film "Hairspray" and as Samuel "Joker" George in "Red Tails․"
• Sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game in 2011
• Got to visit the White House and meet President Barack Obama as part of the promotional tour for "Red Tails․"
• He is also a musician and describes his style of music as pop-soul