Michael Ealy Biography

Fast Facts

• Won an African-American Film Critics Association Award for best supporting actor for "For Colored Girls" in 2010
• Is an advocate for the charities Urban Arts Partnership and Harlem's Children's Zone
• Graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in English
• Became interested in pursuing acting after witnessing Denzel Washington's performance in "Mo' Better Blues․"
• Made his screen acting debut in the TV movie "Metropolis" in 2000
• Struggling as an actor in New York, he waited tables for five years before getting his big break when he was cast in the off-off-Broadway play "Whoa-Jack!"
• Quote: "[on acting] "I love to act because it's the only aspect of my life beside God and family that I am truly passionate about on a daily basis․""
• Quote: "If I can't be proud of it, I won't do it․․․[but] you have to be aware that this is the beginning of your career in film and there are dues you're going to have to pay in order to get the roles that you really want․"
• Best known for his role in the Showtime drama "Sleeper Cell․"
• Produced and starred in the short film "The Signal" in 2013
• Has appeared in music videos for Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and John Legend