André Holland

André Holland

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 (/wiki/42(film)). 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.

Early life and education

André Holland

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 (/wiki/42(film)). 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

Holland at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

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

Holland in 2019

Holland (left) and Zazie Beetz (right) promoting The Dutchman at South by Southwest 2025

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

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2008</td><td>Sugar</td><td>Brad Johnson</td><td>Nominated – Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Miracle at St. Anna</td><td>Private Needles</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Last Call</td><td>Pete</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Bride Wars</td><td>DJ Jazzles</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Us: A Love Story</td><td>Carjack Victim</td><td>Short film</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Small, Beautifully Moving Parts</td><td>Leon</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Nobody's Nobody's</td><td>Jason</td><td>Short film</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>42</td><td>Wendell Smith</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Black or White</td><td>Reggie Davis</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Selma</td><td>Andrew Young</td><td>Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Kevin Jones</td><td>Boston Online Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Ensemble Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award New York Film Critics Online Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated – Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Nominated – Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Runner-up – Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>A Wrinkle in Time</td><td>Principal James Jenkins</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>High Flying Bird</td><td>Ray Burke</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Battle at Big Rock</td><td>Dennis</td><td>Short film</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Passing</td><td>Brian Redfield</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Bones and All</td><td>Frank Yearly</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Exhibiting Forgiveness</td><td>Tarrell</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Shirley</td><td>Walter Fauntroy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Love, Brooklyn</td><td>Roger</td><td>Also producer</td></tr><tr><td>The Dutchman</td><td>Clay</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Actor</td><td>Paul Cole</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>TBA</td><td>The Revisionist</td><td></td><td>Post-production</td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td><td>Law & Order</td><td>David Sachs</td><td>Episode: "Public Service Homicide"</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>The Black Donnellys</td><td>Frank Thomas</td><td>Episode: "Wasn't That Enough?"</td></tr><tr><td>The News</td><td>DeShawn Burkett</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Lost & Found</td><td>Gayle Dixon</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>The Rockford Files</td><td>Angel Martin</td><td>Television film</td></tr><tr><td>Damages</td><td>Bank Manager</td><td>Episode: "You Haven't Replaced Me"</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Friends with Benefits</td><td>Julian "Fitz" Fitzgerald</td><td>13 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>Burn Notice</td><td>Dion Carver</td><td>Episode: "Breaking Point"</td></tr><tr><td>2012–2013</td><td>1600 Penn</td><td>Marshall Malloy</td><td>13 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2014–2015</td><td>The Knick</td><td>Dr. Algernon Edwards</td><td>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</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>American Horror Story: Roanoke</td><td>Matt Miller</td><td>9 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Castle Rock</td><td>Henry Deaver</td><td>10 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>The Eddy</td><td>Elliot Udo</td><td>8 episodes</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>The Big Cigar</td><td>Huey P. Newton</td><td>Miniseries</td></tr><tr><td>Terminator Zero</td><td>Malcolm Lee</td><td>Voice</td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards and nominations

André Holland

<table><thead><tr><th>Awards</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Black Reel Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Outstanding Breakthrough Performance</td><td>Selma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Outstanding Supporting Actor</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series</td><td>The Eddy</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Outstanding Lead Performance</td><td>Exhibiting Forgiveness</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series</td><td>The Big Cigar</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Outstanding Lead Performance</td><td>Love, Brooklyn</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best Acting Ensemble</td><td>Selma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Television Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series</td><td>The Knick</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Film Critics Society</td><td>2016</td><td>Best Ensemble</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Florida Film Critics Circle</td><td>2016</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Georgia Film Critics Association</td><td>2017</td><td>Best Ensemble</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gotham Independent Film Award</td><td>2009</td><td>Best Ensemble Performance</td><td>Sugar</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Special Jury Award – Ensemble Performance</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>High Flying Bird</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Independent Spirit Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Robert Altman Award</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>NAACP Image Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture</td><td>Selma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture</td><td>Exhibiting Forgiveness</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Love, Brooklyn</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>New York Film Critics Online</td><td>2016</td><td>Best Ensemble Cast</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>San Diego Film Critics Society</td><td>2014</td><td>Best Ensemble</td><td>Selma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Satellite Awards</td><td>2015</td><td>Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film</td><td>The Knick</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Ensemble</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Screen Actors Guild Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Film Critics Society</td><td>2017</td><td>Best Ensemble Cast</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association</td><td>2014</td><td>Best Ensemble</td><td>Selma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Moonlight</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>