Ashton Sanders
{{short description|American actor (b. 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ashton Sanders
| image = Ashton Sanders.jpg
| caption = Sanders at 2016 TIFF
| birth_name = Ashton Durrand Sanders{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/ashtondsanders/|title=Ashton Durrand Sanders (@ashtondsanders) • Instagram photos and videos|website=www.instagram.com}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|24}}
| birth_place = Carson, California, U.S.
| education = DePaul University
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2012–present
}}
Ashton Durrand Sanders (born October 24, 1995){{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2017/01/06/meet-ashton-sanders-star-of-moonlight-and-30-under-30-honoree/#1fc0ba2f35a0|title=Meet Ashton Sanders, Star Of 'Moonlight' And 30 Under 30 Honoree|website=Forbes|first=Natalie|last=Robehmed|date=January 6, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815132024/https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2017/01/06/meet-ashton-sanders-star-of-moonlight-and-30-under-30-honoree/#1fc0ba2f35a0|url-status=live}} 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).
Early life and education
Sanders was born in Carson, California. He attended Grand Arts High School in Downtown Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2017/03/13/ashton-sanders/|title=ASHTON SANDERS|last=Duncan|first=Fiona|work=Wonderland Magazine|access-date=September 18, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602110602/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2017/03/13/ashton-sanders/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/story/moonlight-ashton-sanders-interview|title="Moonlight"'s Ashton Sanders Opens Up About Being Bullied|last=Cuby|first=Michael|work=Teen Vogue|access-date=2017-03-06|language=en|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182407/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/moonlight-ashton-sanders-interview|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Mishra |first1=Himani |title=Ashton Sanders Biography: Wiki, Early Life, Age, Career, Awards, Physical Appearance, Affair/Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Movies |url=https://latestinsouth.com/ashton-sanders-biography-wiki-early-life-age-career-awards-physical-appearance-affair-girlfriend-family-net-worth-movies/ |website=Latest In South |access-date=20 November 2023}}
Career
Sanders made his film debut in The Retrieval, directed by Chris Eska.{{cite web|url=http://filmmakermagazine.com/85240-battle-cry-chris-eska-on-the-retrieval/|title=Battle Cry: Chris Eska on The Retrieval|website=Filmmaker Magazine|first=Brandon|last=Harris|date=April 3, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003434/https://filmmakermagazine.com/85240-battle-cry-chris-eska-on-the-retrieval/|url-status=live}} The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_FS13757|title=The Retrieval|website=South by Southwest|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723152444/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_FS13757|url-status=live}} It was released in a limited release on April 2, 2014, by Variance Films.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/sxsw-winner-the-retrieval-gets-us-distribution-1201103006/|title=SXSW Winner 'The Retrieval' Gets US Distribution|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403204146/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/sxsw-winner-the-retrieval-gets-us-distribution-1201103006/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theretrieval/|title=The Retrieval|website=Apple Trailers|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723152506/https://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theretrieval/|url-status=live}}
In 2015, Sanders had a small role in Straight Outta Compton.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-moonlight-writers-actor-mov-0916-20160915-column.html|title='Moonlight' reveals struggles of a young African-American man|website=Chicago Tribune|first=Michael|last=Phillips|date=September 15, 2016|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107085500/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-moonlight-writers-actor-mov-0916-20160915-column.html|url-status=live}} In 2016, he appeared in an episode of Refinery29's web series The Skinny.{{cite web|url=http://www.refinery29.com/the-skinny-tv|title=The Skinny|website=Refinery29|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=October 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015174040/http://www.refinery29.com/the-skinny-tv|url-status=live}}
The same year, Sanders appeared in the drama film Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins.{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Mahershala Ali to Star in 'Moonlight'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/naomie-harris-andre-holland-mahershala-ali-moonlight-1201623354/|access-date=October 24, 2016|website=Variety|date=October 21, 2015|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202050108/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/naomie-harris-andre-holland-mahershala-ali-moonlight-1201623354/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/telluride-film-festival-2016-lineup-full-list-1201811906/|title=Telluride Film Festival Lineup: 'Sully', 'La La Land', 'Arrival', 'Bleed For This' & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=September 1, 2016|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101922/https://deadline.com/2016/09/telluride-film-festival-2016-lineup-full-list-1201811906/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/american-honey-moonlight-a24-release-dates-1201780991/|title=A24 Sets Dates For 'Moonlight' & Cannes Jury Prize Winner 'American Honey'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=June 28, 2016|access-date=October 24, 2016|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906012133/https://deadline.com/2016/06/american-honey-moonlight-a24-release-dates-1201780991/|url-status=live}} Moonlight received massive critical acclaim as well dozens of accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture – Drama.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4626237/golden-globes-2017-moonlight-best-picture-drama/|title='Moonlight' Wins Golden Globe for Best Picture, Drama|last=Berman|first=Eliza|magazine=Time|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 9, 2017|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408023028/http://time.com/4626237/golden-globes-2017-moonlight-best-picture-drama/|url-status=live}} The film also won three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/24/14368162/oscar-nominations-2017-la-la-land-moonlight|title=Oscar nominations 2017: Moonlight and La La Land will go head-to-head at the Academy Awards|last=Opam|first=Kwame|date=January 24, 2017|website=The Verge|access-date=February 5, 2017|archive-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029233522/https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/24/14368162/oscar-nominations-2017-la-la-land-moonlight|url-status=live}} Sanders' role in the film was praised by critics;{{Cite news|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/10/27/moonlight-ashton-sanders-interview/|title=Meet 'Moonlight' Star Ashton Sanders|work=EW.com|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en|archive-date=July 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707095748/https://ew.com/article/2016/10/27/moonlight-ashton-sanders-interview/|url-status=live}} Benjamin Lee of The Guardian called his performance "powerful".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/apr/22/moonlight-ashton-sanders-america-isnt-made-for-black-man|title=Moonlight's Ashton Sanders: 'America isn't made for the black man'|last=Lee|first=Benjamin|date=2017-04-22|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602110557/https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/apr/22/moonlight-ashton-sanders-america-isnt-made-for-black-man|url-status=live}}
Sanders co-starred in The Equalizer 2, a sequel to the hit action film The Equalizer, opposite Denzel Washington.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/ashton-sanders-equalizer-2-sequel-casting-moonlight-1202155794/|title='Moonlight's Ashton Sanders Lands A Lead In 'Equalizer 2'|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2017-08-24|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en-US|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602110557/https://deadline.com/2017/08/ashton-sanders-equalizer-2-sequel-casting-moonlight-1202155794/|url-status=live}} In 2019, Sanders starred in Rupert Wyatt's science fiction thriller film Captive State, opposite John Goodman and Vera Farmiga.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/moonlight-breakout-ashton-sanders-boards-rupert-wyatts-captive-state-john-goodman-956371|title='Moonlight' Breakout Ashton Sanders Joins John Goodman in 'Captive State' (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-01-09|language=en|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206124528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/moonlight-breakout-ashton-sanders-boards-rupert-wyatts-captive-state-john-goodman-956371|url-status=live}} He also played the lead in HBO's adaptation of the novel Native Son. In November 2020, he was set to star in The Things They Carried, a Vietnam war movie featuring an ensemble cast.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/tom-hardy-pete-davidson-bill-skarsgard-vietnam-war-movie-things-they-carried-afm-1234606181/|title='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|archive-date=January 19, 2022|access-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119174020/https://deadline.com/2020/11/tom-hardy-pete-davidson-bill-skarsgard-vietnam-war-movie-things-they-carried-afm-1234606181/|url-status=live}}
In September 2021, Sanders was cast as Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, a biopic feature on Whitney Houston.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/ashton-sanders-bobby-brown-whitney-houston-biopic-black-label-media-1234840966/|title=Ashton Sanders To Play Bobby Brown In Whitney Houston Biopic As Black Label Media Joins As Co-Financier|archive-date=September 21, 2021|access-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921042927/https://deadline.com/2021/09/ashton-sanders-bobby-brown-whitney-houston-biopic-black-label-media-1234840966/|url-status=live}}
Filmography
= Film =
= Television =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2016
| Tyler | Episode: "Squad" |
| 2019
| Series regular |
| 2022
| The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | College Kareem (voice) | Episode: "When You Wish Upon a Roker" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5480894}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Ashton}}
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:People from Carson, California
Category:Male actors from Los Angeles County, California
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts alumni