André Holland
American actor (born 1979)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
André Holland (born December 28, 1979) is an American actor. He is widely known for his 2016 performance as Kevin in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight.
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New York University (MFA)
André Holland | |
|---|---|
Holland at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival | |
| Born | December 28, 1979 Bessemer, Alabama, U.S. |
| Education | Florida State University (BFA) New York University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Holland has acted in film, television, and theatre productions. He starred as Dr. Algernon Edwards in the Cinemax series The Knick (2014–2015) and as Matt Miller in the FX series American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016). He portrayed politician and activist Andrew Young in the 2014 film Selma and sportswriter Wendell Smith in the 2013 film 42. On stage, he has starred in August Wilson's play Jitney on Broadway in 2017. He plays a lead role on the 2020 Netflix musical drama series The Eddy, directed by Damien Chazelle, and Henry Matthew Deaver in the first season of Castle Rock.
Early life and education
André Holland was born on December 28, 1979 in Bessemer, Alabama[1] and grew up there. He graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham.[2] His first stage performance was in a production of Oliver! at the Birmingham Summerfest Theatre, at the age of eleven.[3]
He attended Florida State University and studied abroad at the FSU London study centre during his time there. He also received a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University in 2006.[3][4]
Career
2006–2015: Early work
Holland's first on-screen performance was in an episode of Law & Order in 2006. Around this time, Holland began to perform more regularly on stage as well. In 2006, he portrayed three characters in the play Blue Door. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times gave his performance a positive review.[4]
In 2008, he played Eric in the play Wig Out! and took his first film role in the sports drama Sugar.[5] The following year, he portrayed Elegba and Marcus in The Brother/Sister Plays.[6] In 2010, he was cast in the Matthew Lopez play The Whipping Man,[7] for which he won the Vivian Robinson/Audelco Award for Best Supporting Actor.[8]
In 2011, he starred as Julian "Fitz" Fitzgerald in several episodes of the NBC sitcom Friends with Benefits. In 2013, he portrayed Wendell Smith in the film 42. In 2014, he portrayed Andrew Young in Ava DuVernay's historical drama film Selma.[9] For his performance, he was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
From 2014 to 2015, he starred in a supporting role opposite Clive Owen in the Cinemax original drama series The Knick.[10]
2016: Moonlight
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In 2016, he achieved widespread notice for his performance as Kevin in Barry Jenkins' drama film Moonlight, for which he received critical acclaim and numerous accolades.[11] The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, at the 89th annual ceremony.[12]
Holland's performance was singled out by some film critics, including those at Rolling Stone and GQ, who dubbed him a "standout" in the film.[13][14] As a member of the film's ensemble cast, he received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards.[15] He also received nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the Florida Film Critics Circle and Outstanding Supporting Actor at the Black Reel Awards.[16][17]
2017–present
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Following the success of Moonlight, in 2017, Holland portrayed Youngblood in August Wilson's play Jitney on Broadway.[18] He next appeared in DuVernay's fantasy adventure film A Wrinkle in Time, released in March 2018.[19] The film received mixed reviews from critics.[20] Later that year, he portrayed the leading character Henry Matthew Deaver on the Hulu series Castle Rock; his turn on the series has earned positive reviews from critics, including Amy Woolsey of Vulture, who praised his performance as "textured."[21]
Since July 2018, he has starred in a production of Othello at Shakespeare's Globe, costarring with Mark Rylance.[22] In 2018, he also made his Off Off Broadway directing debut with a production of Greg Keller's Dutch Masters.[23]
Holland starred as the lead role in Duke Johnson's 2025 film The Actor, based on the novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake.[24][25]
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Law & Order | David Sachs | Episode: "Public Service Homicide" |
| 2007 | The Black Donnellys | Frank Thomas | Episode: "Wasn't That Enough?" |
| The News | DeShawn Burkett | Television film | |
| 2009 | Lost & Found | Gayle Dixon | Television film |
| 2010 | The Rockford Files | Angel Martin | Television film |
| Damages | Bank Manager | Episode: "You Haven't Replaced Me" | |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Julian "Fitz" Fitzgerald | 13 episodes |
| Burn Notice | Dion Carver | Episode: "Breaking Point" | |
| 2012–2013 | 1600 Penn | Marshall Malloy | 13 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | The Knick | Dr. Algernon Edwards | 20 episodes Satellite Award for Best Cast – Television Series Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 2016 | American Horror Story: Roanoke | Matt Miller | 9 episodes |
| 2018 | Castle Rock | Henry Deaver | 10 episodes |
| 2020 | The Eddy | Elliot Udo | 8 episodes |
| 2024 | The Big Cigar | Huey P. Newton | Miniseries |
| Terminator Zero | Malcolm Lee | Voice[26] |
