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.
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 and grew up there. He graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham. His first stage performance was in a production of Oliver! at the Birmingham Summerfest Theatre, at the age of eleven.
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.
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.
In 2008, he played Eric in the play Wig Out! and took his first film role in the sports drama Sugar. The following year, he portrayed Elegba and Marcus in The Brother/Sister Plays. In 2010, he was cast in the Matthew Lopez play The Whipping Man, for which he won the Vivian Robinson/Audelco Award for Best Supporting Actor.
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. 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.
2016: Moonlight
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. The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, at the 89th annual ceremony.
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. 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. He also received nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the Florida Film Critics Circle and Outstanding Supporting Actor at the Black Reel Awards.
2017–present
Following the success of Moonlight, in 2017, Holland portrayed Youngblood in August Wilson's play Jitney on Broadway. He next appeared in DuVernay's fantasy adventure film A Wrinkle in Time, released in March 2018. The film received mixed reviews from critics. 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."
Since July 2018, he has starred in a production of Othello at Shakespeare's Globe, costarring with Mark Rylance. In 2018, he also made his Off Off Broadway directing debut with a production of Greg Keller's Dutch Masters.
Holland starred as the lead role in Duke Johnson's 2025 film The Actor, based on the novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2008 Sugar Brad Johnson Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance Miracle at St. Anna Private Needles Last Call Pete 2009 Bride Wars DJ Jazzles Us: A Love Story Carjack Victim Short film 2011 Small, Beautifully Moving Parts Leon 2012 Nobody's Nobody's Jason Short film 2013 42 Wendell Smith 2014 Black or White Reggie Davis Selma Andrew Young Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastNominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best CastNominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble 2016 Moonlight Kevin Jones Boston Online Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best EnsembleCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting EnsembleGotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble PerformanceIndependent Spirit Robert Altman AwardNew York Film Critics Online Award for Best Ensemble CastNominated – Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated – Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best EnsembleNominated – Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActorRunner-up – Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best CastNominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble ActingNominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an EnsembleNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Principal James Jenkins 2019 High Flying BirdRay Burke Battle at Big Rock Dennis Short film 2021 Passing Brian Redfield 2022 Bones and All Frank Yearly2024 Exhibiting Forgiveness Tarrell Shirley Walter Fauntroy 2025 Love, Brooklyn Roger Also producer The Dutchman Clay The Actor Paul Cole 2026 The Revisionist They Fight Walt Manigan TBA In production
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 episodesSatellite Award for Best Cast – Television SeriesNominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesNominated – 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 episodes2024 The Big Cigar Huey P. Newton Miniseries Terminator Zero Malcolm Lee Voice
Awards and nominations Awards Year Category Work Result Black Reel Awards 2015 Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Selma 2017 Outstanding Supporting Actor Moonlight 2020Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series The Eddy 2025 Outstanding Lead Performance Exhibiting Forgiveness Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series The Big Cigar 2026 Outstanding Lead Performance Love, Brooklyn Critics' Choice Awards 2015Best Acting EnsembleSelma 2016Moonlight Critics' Choice Television Awards 2015Best Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesThe Knick Drama League Award2026Distinguished PerformanceThe Brothers Size Detroit Film Critics Society 2016 Best Ensemble Moonlight Florida Film Critics Circle 2016 Best Supporting Actor Moonlight Georgia Film Critics Association 2017 Best Ensemble Moonlight Gotham Independent Film Award 2009 Best Ensemble Performance Sugar2016Special Jury Award – Ensemble PerformanceMoonlight2019 Best ActorHigh Flying Bird Independent Spirit Awards 2017 Robert Altman Award Moonlight NAACP Image Awards 2015 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Selma 2026Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Exhibiting Forgiveness 2026 Love, Brooklyn New York Film Critics Online 2016 Best Ensemble Cast Moonlight Outer Critics Circle Awards2026Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway PlayThe Brother's SizeSan Diego Film Critics Society2014Best EnsembleSelma2016 Moonlight Satellite Awards2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film The Knick Best Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Awards 2017 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Moonlight Screen Actors Guild Awards 2017:List of winners – CBS News Seattle Film Critics Society 2017 Best Ensemble Cast Moonlight Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2014Best Ensemble Selma 2016 Moonlight
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