Sterling K. Brown, one of the most well-known and successful performers in the entertainment business, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. The actor, who has won a Golden Globe and three Primetime Emmy Awards, is perhaps best known to fans for his work on the critically acclaimed family drama This Is Us. He was also listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine in 2018. Brown, who received his BA from Stanford University and his MFA from NYU, is currently one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors due to his versatility, which has led to his casting in a number of popular live-action and animated dramas, comedies, and thrillers.
In 2002, Brown made his on-screen acting debut in supporting roles in both film and television, including Rick Famuyiwa’s romantic comedy Brown Sugar and NBC’s Third Watch. Brown has continued to be scheduled and active since his debut, frequently acting in at least two feature projects per year while also concurrently filming many episodes for other shows. Brown is keeping busy and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon with the premiere of this year’s Biosphere and three films set for potential 2024 dates. This article will review some of Brown’s best performances and list them in order of popularity and influence.
Black Panther
One of the MCU’s most popular films to date is Black Panther. Black Panther not only became the second highest-grossing film of that year after Disney’s Avengers: Infinity War with over a billion dollars in revenue, but it also contributed to the character’s standing as one of Marvel’s greatest heroes. Black Panther’s accomplishments included stunning costumes, intriguing characters, and a career-defining performance by the late, great Chadwick Boseman.
In the movie’s cold opening, Brown, who plays King T’Chaka’s sibling N’Jobu, is shown working secretly in 1992 Oakland, California. Even though Brown just makes a fleeting appearance, his passionate monologue about Wakanda and the fate of Black Americans may be a touch too personal for the movie’s Black and African audiences.
Frozen II
Disney’s Frozen was released in 2013 to positive reviews and strong box office performance; its cast, songs, and lavish animations contributed to its popularity worldwide. For many of the same reasons, 2019’s Frozen II would outshine its predecessor, and rumours that Disney will make a third film make us think this pattern will continue.
The character played by Brown is Lieutenant Destin Mattias, an Arendelle soldier whose valour allows him to advance through the ranks until he finally becomes a General. Lieutenant Mattias is a brave man, but he is also kind to his comrades, and he is a master of the sword and shield. The character is significant in Brown’s filmography because Lieutenant Mattias’ outstanding qualities serve as a good role model for the kids watching the films, especially for Black girls and boys who would otherwise struggle to find appropriately depicted characters in animation.
Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.
Squeal for Jesus. Brown and Regina Hall play the pastor and first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch that is striving to reopen following a controversy in Adamma Ebo’s mockumentary comedy Save Your Soul. Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. analyses and parodies the megachurch culture while also providing its viewers with an engaging narrative about honesty and loyalty, even though it may not have been 2022’s most well-liked film to visit theatres.
Since Hall is likely most known for her role as Brenda Meeks in the Scary Movie series, her fans were eager to see her return to humour after appearing in critically acclaimed dramas. Brown, on the other hand, is usually recognised for his performances in critically lauded dramas, but his performance as an out-there Baptist preacher who is a closeted gay was a much-loved part in the actor’s career.
Hotel Artemis
Sterling K. Brown plays Sherman Waikiki in the Hotel Artemis movie by Lionsgate.Lionsgate
Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Sophia Boutella, and Chris Brown are all featured in the future Los Angeles-set Hotel Artemis from Lionsgate. The movie is about a hospital that treats dangerous offenders. Although Hotel Artemis had an intriguing premise and an impressive ensemble cast, the film garnered negative reviews from reviewers and only made $13 million on a $15 million budget, virtually destroying any prospect for a sequel.
Nevertheless, Brown gives a strong performance as Sherman/Waikiki, the brother of Henry’s Lev/Honolulu and a career criminal who specialises in bank robberies. Because Brown gives his character in Hotel Artemis a great lot of humanity and relatability despite his character’s dubious nature and immoral career path, his performance is significant. Without him, the character could have easily been “generic movie assassin guy #100.”
Solar Opposites
James Roiland, the controversial co-creator of Rick and Morty, created Hulu’s Solar Opposites, which has received positive reviews from critics and viewers all around the world. Solar Opposites follows a family of aliens that crash land on Earth and become accustomed to their new surroundings. The show features a large voice cast and gorgeous animation that helped make Rick and Morty the pop-culture darling it is today. The narratives of the show frequently address issues of xenophobia, family, and police brutality with the trademark humorous flair that made Roiland and Dan Harmon household names.
Halk, a beloved hero who frequently puts the needs of others above himself and who by the time of his introduction is debating whether he still wants to be a hero, is voiced by Brown. With each appearance, Brown is successful in conveying Halk’s vulnerabilities and insecurities while also effectively capturing the essence of a hero with his deep, booming, and commanding voice. Brown is no stranger to voiceover work, and his performance in Solar Opposites is so excellent that viewers are hoping the writers will find a way to bring back their favourite character in upcoming seasons despite the character’s apparent death.
Supernatural
Supernatural was a critically acclaimed dark fantasy drama television programme that aired in 2005. Supernatural followed Dean and Sam Winchester as they hunted down numerous demons, monsters, and other creatures based on American mythology. Dean and Sam Winchester are played by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, respectively. The fifteen season drama’s narrative, performances by Ackles and Padalecki, and contemporary revisions of traditional monster legend were some of the factors that contributed to its success.
In the second season of the show, Brown briefly joined the cast as vampire hunter Gordon Walker, a steadfast and expert hunter who was obsessed with eliminating all vampires because one attacked his sister when they were little. The Winchester family and Gordon get along at first, but after Gordon makes it plain to the brothers that when Sam is momentarily transformed into a vampire, he will stop at nothing to kill him, he signs his death certificate. Despite only appearing in four episodes, Brown’s performance was notable because viewers could clearly see that Brown may pose a threat to one of the most fearsome demon-hunting teams on television.
The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Christopher Darden is portrayed by Sterling K. Brown in The People v. O. J. Simpson on FX. Story of American CrimeThe People v. O.J.: American Crime Story, the first episode of the anthology series on FX FX, received positive reviews, with particular attention being paid to the ensemble cast. The ten-episode series The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story describes the notorious 1994 O. J. Simpson murder case, the controversy surrounding it, and the events that followed the verdict. Brown gives a quiet yet immensely potent performance as prosecutor Christopher Darden, a friend and colleague of lawyer Marcia Clark.
Along with his extensive preparation for the part, Brown astounded critics and audiences alike with how strikingly like he looked to Darden. In Brown’s opinion, it helped him solidify himself as one of the hardest-working actors in the business because he received his first Primetime Emmy for his performance. The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story had an influence because it allowed a new generation of viewers to establish their own ideas on the case and its racial ramifications, despite how divisive it was.
The Predator
The Predator, a 2018 sci-fi action film written and directed by Shane Black, was the writer-director’s attempt at a soft reboot for Hollywood’s favourite “ugly motherf*cker.” With Black writing and directing the film and a charismatic cast gracing the silver screen, The Predator should have been a huge success.
Sadly, Black’s 2018 film garnered generally unfavourable reviews, with many of the complaints focusing on the script and awkward handling of the violence in the film. Brown gave one of his best performances as one of The Predator’s antagonists, Agent Will Traeger, a government agent entrusted with capturing the Predator, despite the film’s underwhelming critical and box office reception.
Brown excels at being absolutely unlikeable, but he also stands out as a genuinely driven individual who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. The cherry on top is Traeger’s demise, who blows his head off while attempting to combat the Predator after battling tooth and nail to obtain one of the Predator’s weapons. The sequence, which appears at an unexpected juncture in the film and demonstrates to viewers that Brown doesn’t take himself too seriously despite his professional accomplishments, is both gory and humorous.
This Is Us
With the skills of Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown among many others, NBC’s American family drama This Is Us was off to a tremendous start from the casting alone. The programme is one of the most cherished dramas to emerge in recent memory. The show, which won four Primetime Emmy awards, had its premiere in 2016 and ran for six seasons and 106 episodes before its conclusion in 2022. Many people were moved by Dan Fogelman’s show, which was about endurance, forgiveness, acceptance, and family. The Pearson family, a diverse group of people who are all connected by the number 36, are the focus of the show, which follows them as they deal with all of life’s difficulties.
Brown portrays Randall Pearson, an upper middle class politician and former businessman who, by the time we first encounter him, seeks to heal fences with his father. Though not biologically related, Randall and his adopted siblings Kevin and Kate show that blood is thicker than water by supporting one another in achieving their objectives. Given that it is his longest-running role to date and that it respectfully and tactfully portrays the father-son connection between Black males, this part may be Brown’s best.
Waves
In Waves by A24, Sterling K. Brown plays Ronald Williams.Trey Edward Shults’ 2019 drama film A24 Waves, which is about the turbulent conditions of two families, was written and directed by Shults. Waves wasn’t necessarily developed with broad appeal in mind, as is typical of most of A24’s projects; as a result, the movie only made $2.6 million on a six million dollar budget. However, the film’s cinematography, musical score, and standout performances by its leading cast, including Brown, won plaudits from critics.
The actor portrays Ronald Williams, a husband and father who, in spite of his domineering demeanour, only wants the best for his family. Because Brown achieves the ideal mix between being a devoted family man and also hitting the nasty and abusive features one would anticipate from a helicopter parent, his portrayal in this movie shines out. Brown’s acting stands out in a movie that examines toxic masculinity and the repercussions it can have on young men, especially young Black males.