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Ashton Sanders
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Ashton Durrand Sanders (born October 24, 1995)[2] is an American actor best known for his portrayal of teenage Chiron in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight (2016). He has since acted in films such as The Equalizer 2 (2018), All Day and a Night (2020), and Judas and the Black Messiah (2020). He portrayed Bigger Thomas in Native Son (2019) and Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022).
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Sanders was born in Carson, California. He attended Grand Arts High School in Downtown Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 2014.[3] He was studying towards a BFA at The Theatre School at DePaul University, before leaving after three years in 2016 to focus on his acting career.[4][5]
Career
[edit]Sanders made his film debut in The Retrieval, directed by Chris Eska.[6] The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2013.[7] It was released in a limited release on April 2, 2014, by Variance Films.[8][9]
In 2015, Sanders had a small role in Straight Outta Compton.[10] In 2016, he appeared in an episode of Refinery29's web series The Skinny.[11]
The same year, Sanders appeared in the drama film Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins.[12] The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016, and began a limited release on October 21, 2016, by A24.[13][14] Moonlight received massive critical acclaim as well dozens of accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture – Drama.[15] The film also won three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali.[16] Sanders' role in the film was praised by critics;[17] Benjamin Lee of The Guardian called his performance "powerful".[18]
Sanders co-starred in The Equalizer 2, a sequel to the hit action film The Equalizer, opposite Denzel Washington.[19] In 2019, Sanders starred in Rupert Wyatt's science fiction thriller film Captive State, opposite John Goodman and Vera Farmiga.[20] He also played the lead in HBO's adaptation of the novel Native Son. Sanders was cast as Bobby "RZA" Diggs on the Hulu biographical drama series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. The series ran for three seasons from September 4, 2019, to April 5, 2023. In November 2020, he was set to star in The Things They Carried, a Vietnam War movie with an ensemble cast.[21]
In September 2021, Sanders was cast as Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, a biopic feature on Whitney Houston.[22]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Skinny | Tyler | Episode: "Squad" |
| 2019 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Bobby/The RZA | Series regular |
| 2022 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | College Kareem (voice) | Episode: "When You Wish Upon a Roker" |
| 2025 | Invasion | Joel | Recurring (season 3) |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ashton Durrand Sanders (@ashtondsanders) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com.
- ^ Robehmed, Natalie (January 6, 2017). "Meet Ashton Sanders, Star Of 'Moonlight' And 30 Under 30 Honoree". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- ^ Duncan, Fiona. "ASHTON SANDERS". Wonderland Magazine. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ Cuby, Michael. ""Moonlight"'s Ashton Sanders Opens Up About Being Bullied". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ Mishra, Himani. "Ashton Sanders Biography: Wiki, Early Life, Age, Career, Awards, Physical Appearance, Affair/Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Movies". Latest In South. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Harris, Brandon (April 3, 2014). "Battle Cry: Chris Eska on The Retrieval". Filmmaker Magazine. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "The Retrieval". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ McNary, Dave (February 13, 2014). "SXSW Winner 'The Retrieval' Gets US Distribution". Variety. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "The Retrieval". Apple Trailers. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Phillips, Michael (September 15, 2016). "'Moonlight' reveals struggles of a young African-American man". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "The Skinny". Refinery29. Archived from the original on October 15, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ McNary, Dave (October 21, 2015). "Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Mahershala Ali to Star in 'Moonlight'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2016). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup: 'Sully', 'La La Land', 'Arrival', 'Bleed For This' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 28, 2016). "A24 Sets Dates For 'Moonlight' & Cannes Jury Prize Winner 'American Honey'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ Berman, Eliza (January 9, 2017). "'Moonlight' Wins Golden Globe for Best Picture, Drama". Time. Archived from the original on April 8, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
- ^ Opam, Kwame (January 24, 2017). "Oscar nominations 2017: Moonlight and La La Land will go head-to-head at the Academy Awards". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "Meet 'Moonlight' Star Ashton Sanders". EW.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (April 22, 2017). "Moonlight's Ashton Sanders: 'America isn't made for the black man'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 24, 2017). "'Moonlight's Ashton Sanders Lands A Lead In 'Equalizer 2'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ "'Moonlight' Breakout Ashton Sanders Joins John Goodman in 'Captive State' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ "'The Things They Carried': Tye Sheridan, Tom Hardy, Stephan James, Bill Skarsgard, Pete Davidson & Ashton Sanders Lead All-Star Vietnam War Movie — AFM Hot Pic". Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ /ashton-sanders-bobby-brown-whitney-houston-biopic-black-label-media-1234840966/ "Ashton Sanders To Play Bobby Brown In Whitney Houston Biopic As Black Label Media Joins As Co-Financier". Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ Shand, Rohan, Making Possibilities, Mandy Aceves-Lopez, Karina Maddox, Ashton Sanders, retrieved October 24, 2017
External links
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Ashton Sanders
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Ashton Sanders was born on October 24, 1995, in Inglewood, California.[9] He was raised in nearby Carson, a predominantly Black neighborhood in south Los Angeles.[9] His father, a fashion designer and artist, encouraged Sanders' creative pursuits from a young age.[9] As a child, Sanders described himself as a "little weirdo" with a vivid imagination, often feeling isolated and like a "black sheep" in his community for prioritizing artistic interests over sports.[9] He endured bullying for being dark-skinned and slim, and his family faced struggles with addiction during this period.[4] Around age 12, Sanders discovered his passion for performing arts through the Amazing Grace Conservatory, an all-Black program in Central Los Angeles that provided training in acting, singing, and dance.[9] He has credited the conservatory with empowering his "odd quirks" and serving as a transformative release, stating, "It changed my life... that made me into who I am."[4] This early exposure ignited his initial interest in acting, which he viewed as a way to express his inner world.[9]Education
Sanders attended Grand Arts High School in Downtown Los Angeles, California, graduating in 2014. The school's performing arts curriculum allowed him to immerse himself in theater, where he participated in various productions that honed his stage presence and dramatic skills. Notably, during his ninth-grade year, he performed in a school play that caught the attention of a talent agency, marking an early step in his professional trajectory.[10][11] Following high school, Sanders enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, a renowned institution for its intensive acting training. Over the next two years, he engaged in rigorous coursework that included scene study, voice and movement training, and ensemble-based performances, building a strong foundation in classical and contemporary theater techniques.[6][9][12] In 2016, after completing his sophomore year and amid rising professional opportunities, Sanders chose to depart DePaul without finishing his degree to focus exclusively on his acting career. This decision reflected his commitment to transitioning from academic training to on-screen and stage work in the industry.[9][12]Filmography
Feature films
Television series
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Network/Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Skinny | Tyler | Refinery29 (web series) | Live-action; 1 episode[13][14] |
| 2019–2023 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Bobby Diggs / RZA | Hulu | Live-action; 30 episodes (recurring/main role)[15] |
| 2022 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | College Kareem (voice) | Disney+ | Voice work; 1 episode: "When You Wish Upon a Roker"[3] |
| 2025 | Invasion | Joel | Apple TV+ | Live-action; 6 episodes (recurring)[3][8] |
Awards and nominations
Ashton Sanders has received various awards and nominations for his acting work. The following is a selection of his major accolades:| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Gotham Independent Film Awards | Breakout Ensemble Award | Moonlight | Won | [16] |
| 2017 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male | Moonlight | Nominated | [17] |
| 2017 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture | Moonlight | Nominated | [17] |
| 2017 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Kiss (shared with Jharrel Jerome) | Moonlight | Won | [18] |
| 2017 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (ensemble) | Moonlight | Nominated | [19] |
| 2019 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series | Native Son | Nominated | [17] |
| 2020 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Nominated | [17] |
| 2020 | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble of the Decade (ensemble) | Judas and the Black Messiah | Nominated | [20] |