Born on August 26, 1976, in Columbia, South Carolina, he grew up in a small town and later graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in theater. He further honed his skills with an MFA from Rutgers University. His breakthrough role came as Lemond Bishop in "The Good Wife" and gained widespread fame as the titular character in Marvel's "Luke Cage." Known for his commanding presence and depth, he has also appeared in series like "Jessica Jones" and films such as "Girls Trip."