Born in Mauritania and raised in New Carrollton, Maryland, he developed a passion for acting early on. He honed his craft at the William Esper Studio and earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He gained attention for his role in "The Get Down" and furthered his career with performances in "Patti Cake$", "Unicorn Store," and "The Front Runner." Known for his versatility, he earned critical acclaim for "Sorry for Your Loss" and starred in "Jurassic World Dominion."