LaKeith Stanfield Bio
LaKeith Lee Stanfield (born August 12, 1991) is an American actor and musician. He made his feature film debut in Short Term 12 (2013), for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He received further recognition for his roles in the films Get Out (2017), Sorry to Bother You (2018), Uncut Gems (2019), Knives Out (2019), and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), the lattermost of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. LaKeith Stanfield has also appeared in the films Selma (2014), Dope (2015), Straight Outta Compton (2015), Crown Heights (2017), The Photograph (2020), The Harder They Fall (2021), Haunted Mansion (2023), and The Book of Clarence (2023). On television, he starred in the series Atlanta (2016–2022), for which he won a Black Reel Award for Television, and in the horror series The Changeling (2023).
Early Life and Background
LaKeith Lee Stanfield was born in San Bernardino, California, on August 12, 1991, and grew up in Riverside and Victorville. His mother’s name is Karen. He has stated that he grew up very poor in a fractured family that was dysfunctional on both sides. Stanfield decided to become an actor when he was 14 after joining his high school’s drama club. He attended the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in Los Angeles, where he was signed by an agency and began auditioning for commercials.
Path to Hollywood
Stanfield’s first acting role was in the short film Short Term 12, Destin Daniel Cretton’s thesis project at San Diego State University, which won the Jury Award for U.S. Short Filmmaking at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. A year later, he appeared in the short film Gimme Grace (2010). While pursuing his acting dreams, he worked various jobs, including roofing, gardening, and positions at AT&T and a legal marijuana dispensary. He was contacted by Cretton to reappear in a feature-length adaptation of Short Term 12, marking his first feature film role. During production, Stanfield practiced method acting, distancing himself from the other cast members like his character. He was the only actor to appear in both the short and feature versions. The film won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the 2013 South by Southwest film festival, and Stanfield was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.
LaKeith Stanfield Career
Early Career (2008–2016)
In 2014, Stanfield co-starred in The Purge: Anarchy and Selma, in which he played civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson. In 2015, he appeared in the films Memoria and Miles Ahead. He also starred in the fantasy horror thriller film King Ripple by filmmaker Luke Jaden and appeared in the music video for the Run the Jewels song “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck).” In 2015, he portrayed rapper Snoop Dogg in the biopic Straight Outta Compton. In 2017, he played L in Adam Wingard’s adaptation of the popular Japanese fantasy-thriller manga series Death Note for Netflix. That same year, he starred in the music video for the song “Cold Little Heart” by English singer Michael Kiwanuka and appeared in the critically acclaimed horror film Get Out.
Breakthrough (2017–2021)
In 2018, Stanfield starred as Cassius “Cash” Green in the critically acclaimed dark comedy film Sorry to Bother You. In 2019, he starred as Nate Davis in the Netflix romantic comedy film Someone Great. He also played Lieutenant Elliot in the mystery film Knives Out. Stanfield had starring roles in the films The Photograph (2020) and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). His portrayal of FBI informant William O’Neal in the latter was critically acclaimed and garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Notable Works and Milestones
LaKeith Stanfield’s signature works include Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, and Judas and the Black Messiah. His performance in Judas and the Black Messiah earned him an Academy Award nomination, marking a significant milestone in his career.
LaKeith Stanfield Award Nominations
LaKeith Stanfield has received several nominations throughout his career, including a notable nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Judas and the Black Messiah.
LaKeith Stanfield Awards Won
Stanfield has won various awards, including a Black Reel Award for Television for his role in Atlanta.
LaKeith Stanfield Family
LaKeith Stanfield lives in Los Angeles. He has a daughter born in 2017 with actress Xosha Roquemore and a second daughter born in 2022 with artist Tylor Hurd. In December 2022, Stanfield and model Kasmere Trice announced their engagement, and by July 2023, they had privately married and welcomed their first child together.
Personal Life
LaKeith Stanfield’s personal life includes his marriage to Kasmere Trice and his role as a father to his daughters. He maintains a relatively private life outside of his professional career.
