Born in 1962, he is a New Orleans native who originally gained local fame as a baker and owner of the popular Buttermilk Drop Bakery. With no formal acting training, he made a remarkable debut in the critically acclaimed film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (2012), where he played Wink, the father of the protagonist Hushpuppy. His natural talent was widely praised, leading to further roles in films like "12 Years a Slave" (2013) and "The Birth of a Nation" (2016).