Melvin Gregg

{{Infobox person

| name = Melvin Gregg

| image =

| birth_name =

| birth_place = Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor}}

| years_active = 2011–present

| spouse = Bobbie Leigh Nelson{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C9C6MvGprCW/?img_index=1 | title=Bobbie Leigh Nelson on Instagram }}

| children = 2

}}

Melvin Gregg is an American actor known for his roles as DeMarcus Tillman in Netflix's mockumentary series American Vandal, Erick Scott in Steven Soderbergh's sports drama film High Flying Bird, Drew 'Manboy' Miller on FX's crime drama Snowfall, and Ben Chandler in the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers.

Life and career

Gregg was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to parents Constance Gregg and Melvin Vaughan. He has six sisters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/entertainment/arts/vp-db-melvin-gregg-way-back-20200228-axizlrrtobglvb2fbt3hzsegou-story.html|title=He took his first acting class at ODU. On Friday, his first major movie, starring Ben Affleck, hits theaters.|first=Amy|last=Poulter|website=pilotonline.com|date=28 February 2020 }} After graduating from I.C. Norcom High School, he studied marketing at Old Dominion University for 2 years before changing his career path and moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to pursue acting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/entertainment/columns/article_9b10b927-4777-5a19-9d7f-b39c9f9355e3.html|title=Portsmouth native turning Internet hits into an acting career|first=Larry|last=Bonko|website=pilotonline.com|date=24 April 2017 }}{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Sydney|date=April 15, 2019|title=Melvin Gregg Talks Turning 3 Million Instagram Followers Into A Hollywood Success Story|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/pretty-dope/melvin-gregg-is-a-different-kind-of-star/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Essence|language=en-US}}

Gregg came to prominence by creating and sharing comedic content in which he starred, wrote, and produced on Vine. He amassed more than 7 million followers in the course of 3 years, becoming one of the top 100 personalities on the platform.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 April 2020|title=Melvin Gregg of "The Way Back" on Being the Star of Digital Entertainment|url=https://daman.co.id/melvin-gregg-of-netflixs-high-flying-bird-on-being-the-star-of-digital-entertainment/|access-date=|website=Da Man}}{{Cite web|title=Vine may be all dried up, but its black Viners keep going|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/6-black-vine-creators-we-will-remember-n674201|access-date=2021-01-07|website=NBC News|date=November 2016 |language=en}}

His first credited role was in the web series Whatever, The Series. In 2011 where he earned union eligibility. Following Vine's decline in 2015, Gregg transitioned into film and TV roles. In 2018, he earned roles in the Netflix mockumentary series American Vandal and in the film High Flying Bird.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2018-03-15|title='American Vandal': Travis Tope & Melvin Gregg To Topline Season 2 Of Netflix Comedy Series|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/american-vandal-travis-tope-melvin-gregg-star-season-2-of-netflix-series-1202321221/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2018-04-02|title=Russell Hornsby Joins 'Creed II'; Melvin Gregg Cast In 'High Flying Bird'|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/russell-hornsby-creed-2-melvin-gregg-high-flying-bird-1202356880/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Spencer|first=Samuel|date=2018-09-21|title=American Vandal season 2 cast: Who is in the cast of American Vandal?|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1020972/American-vandal-season-2-cast-netflix-who-is-in-cast-series|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Express.co.uk|language=en}} Gregg's performance as DeMarcus Tillman garnered him praise from outlets such as Film School Rejects and a comparison from Live Mint to actor Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Raja|date=2018-09-20|title=Opinion {{!}} A+ for 'American Vandal'|url=https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/R5JWHZEEOfteM5JbC797gI/A-for-American-Vandal.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-09-17|title='American Vandal' Season 2 Is a Warm, Uproariously Funny Defense of Youth|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/american-vandal-season-2-review/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Film School Rejects|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=How To Defend Season 2 Of 'American Vandal' Against Its Naysayers|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/09/22/649496872/how-to-defend-season-2-of-american-vandal-against-its-naysayers|access-date=2021-01-07|website=NPR.org|date=22 September 2018|language=en|last1=Weldon|first1=Glen}}{{Cite web|date=2018-09-13|title=American Vandal Season 2 Review (Spoiler Free)|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/american-vandal-season-2-review-spoiler-free/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Den of Geek|language=en-US}} Entertainment Weekly and Vulture have described the role as a breakout one for Gregg.{{Cite web|title='American Vandal' season 2 has a big flaw, and a great twist (SPOILER DISCUSSION)|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/09/15/american-vandal-season-2-ending/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=EW.com|language=EN}}{{Cite web|last=Bramesco|first=Charles|date=2020-12-11|title=Every Netflix Original Movie, Ranked|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-netflix-original-movies.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}

Gregg joined the cast in the third (2019) season of the FX television series Snowfall in the main role of Drew 'Manboy' Miller, and portrayed the character of Marcus Parrish in the sports drama The Way Back in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-11|title=Melvin Gregg Movies & TV Shows: Where You Know The Way Back Star|url=https://screenrant.com/melvin-gregg-movies-tv-shows/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-03-05|title=Review: Ben Affleck triumphs in 'The Way Back' with a role that hits close to home|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-03-05/the-way-back-review-ben-affleck|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} He also filmed a video examining BET's support of Black culture during the early 2000s alongside Sam Jay.{{Cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|date=2020-07-01|title=Melvin Gregg Joins 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Hulu Limited Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/melvin-gregg-nine-perfect-strangers-hulu-limited-series-1202975173/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=BET Awards: Culture Can't Be Cancelled 2000-2004|url=https://www.bet.com/bet-awards/video-clips/6qxreg/bet-awards-2020-culture-can-t-be-cancelled-2000-2004|access-date=2021-01-07|website=BET.com| date=28 June 2020 }} During 2020 Gregg also announced that he would be creating a movie for the newly launched interactive fiction app Whatifi, entitled This Call Will Be Recorded. Viewers would be able to select choices that would enable them to view one of sixteen different endings.{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2020-09-09|title='American Vandal' Actor Melvin Gregg Partners With Interactive Storytelling App Whatifi (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/american-vandal-actor-melvin-gregg-partners-with-interactive-storytelling-app-whatifi-exclusive-1234760268/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}} In 2021, he played Joe Guy in The United States vs. Billie Holiday,{{Cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2019-10-02|title='The United States Vs. Billie Holiday' Adds 'American Vandal' & 'Snowfall' Actor Melvin Gregg & Miss Lawrence|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday-melvin-gregg-miss-lawrence-1202750512/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=OPINION: 10 Emmy-Worthy TV Moments From 2019|url=https://www.bet.com/article/ol8pjf/10-emmy-worthy-tv-moments-from-2019|access-date=2021-01-07|website=BET.com}} and had a series regular role in the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers.

=Personal life=

Gregg and wife Bobbie Leigh Nelson have one son, Marley Amel Gregg, born on May 15, 2020. {{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CAbpXbGg-2h/ | title=Melvin Gregg on Instagram: "No Words • Marley Amel Gregg" }}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan="2"\| 2012 \| The Fallen Prodigy \| Thug 1 \|
Pushing Eternity \| Nate \| Short
rowspan="5"\| 2013 \| Coldwater \| Inmate \|
Cleaver Family Reunion \| William Cleaver \|
Can \| Crazy Lou \|
Loss of Life \| Derrick \|
Benny Picasso \| Benny \| Short
rowspan="5"\| 2014 \| The System \| Hoodie Teen \|
Alpha House \| Kyle \| Video
The Land of Misfits \| Patty Cake \| Short
Asteroid vs Earth \| Sonar Lead Petty Officer \| TV movie
SuperZero \| Leon Deleon \| Short
rowspan="5"\| 2015 \| Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! \| Chad \| TV movie
West of the 405 \| Ty \| TV movie
A House Is Not a Home \| Alex Williams \|
Eddie and the Aviator \| Teen #3 \| Short
Class \| Jolley \| TV movie
rowspan="3"\| 2016 \| The Land \| Brent \|
Famous \| Trae \| Short
Hogwarts High School \| Ron \| Short
rowspan="2"\| 2017 \| Immortals \| Peck \| Short
The Fix \| Young Thug #2 \|
rowspan="2"\| 2019 \| High Flying Bird \| Erick Scott \| {{cite web \|last1=Holmes \|first1=Linda \|title=The Business Of Sport Takes Center Stage In Soderbergh's 'High Flying Bird' \|website=NPR \|date=8 February 2019 \|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/08/691314350/the-business-of-sport-takes-center-stage-in-soderberghs-high-flying-bird \|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web \|title=Up-and-Comer of the Month: 'High Flying Bird' Star Melvin Gregg \|date=22 February 2019 \|url=https://collider.com/melvin-gregg-high-flying-bird-interview/ \|publisher=Collider \|access-date=7 January 2021}}
Same Difference \| Sebastian \|
2020 \| The Way Back \| Marcus Parrish \|
rowspan="2"\| 2021 \| The United States vs. Billie Holiday \| Joe Guy \|
Boxing Day \| Ian Gorgeous \|
2022 \| The Blackening \| King \|
rowspan="3" \|2023 \|House Party \|Larry \|
Story Ave \|Skemes \|
Share? \|00000014 \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan="2"| 2012

| The Fallen Prodigy

| Thug 1

Pushing Eternity

| Nate

| Short

rowspan="5"| 2013

| Coldwater

| Inmate

Cleaver Family Reunion

| William Cleaver

Can

| Crazy Lou

Loss of Life

| Derrick

Benny Picasso

| Benny

| Short

rowspan="5"| 2014

| The System

| Hoodie Teen

Alpha House

| Kyle

| Video

The Land of Misfits

| Patty Cake

| Short

Asteroid vs Earth

| Sonar Lead Petty Officer

| TV movie

SuperZero

| Leon Deleon

| Short

rowspan="5"| 2015

| Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

| Chad

| TV movie

West of the 405

| Ty

| TV movie

A House Is Not a Home

| Alex Williams

Eddie and the Aviator

| Teen #3

| Short

Class

| Jolley

| TV movie

rowspan="3"| 2016

| The Land

| Brent

Famous

| Trae

| Short

Hogwarts High School

| Ron

| Short

rowspan="2"| 2017

| Immortals

| Peck

| Short

The Fix

| Young Thug #2

rowspan="2"| 2019

| High Flying Bird

| Erick Scott

| {{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Linda |title=The Business Of Sport Takes Center Stage In Soderbergh's 'High Flying Bird' |website=NPR |date=8 February 2019 |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/08/691314350/the-business-of-sport-takes-center-stage-in-soderberghs-high-flying-bird |access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web |title=Up-and-Comer of the Month: 'High Flying Bird' Star Melvin Gregg |date=22 February 2019 |url=https://collider.com/melvin-gregg-high-flying-bird-interview/ |publisher=Collider |access-date=7 January 2021}}

Same Difference

| Sebastian

2020

| The Way Back

| Marcus Parrish

rowspan="2"| 2021

| The United States vs. Billie Holiday

| Joe Guy

Boxing Day

| Ian Gorgeous

2022

| The Blackening

| King

rowspan="3" |2023

|House Party

|Larry

Story Ave

|Skemes

Share?

|00000014

= Television =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2011–2012 \| Whatever, the Series \| Derek \| Recurring cast
2012 \| The Beauty Inside \| Alex #30 \| TV mini series
2013 \| Jimmy Kimmel Live! \| Basketball Player \| Episode: "Game Night 1"
2014–2018 \| King Bachelor's Pad \| Astronaut \| Recurring cast
rowspan="3"\| 2015 \| Sexless \| Jamal \| Recurring cast: season 1
Class \| Jolley \| Main cast
1 Minute Horror \| Reshawn \| Episode: "The VISITors"
2015–2016 \| Sadie and Emmie \| Coach/Alex \| Episode: "Slapshot/Haunting in a Store" & "Strangers"
2016–2017 \| Freakish \| LaShawn Devereux \| Main cast {{cite web \|title=WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT HULU'S NEW HORROR SERIES FREAKISH AT NYCC \|date=9 October 2016 \|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/what-we-learned-about-hulus-new-horror-series-freakish-nycc \|publisher=SyFy Channel \|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web \|title=Freakish creator teases 'new level of tension' as the teens 'struggle to survive' in season 2 \|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/11/freakish-season-2-preview-trailer/ \|publisher=Entertainment Weekly \|access-date=7 January 2021}}
2017 \| Caught the Series \| Latin Gang Member \| Recurring cast
rowspan="3"\| 2018 \| Love Daily \| Colby Biskin \| Episode: "Still Life"
UnREAL \| Zach Taylor \| Recurring cast: season 3
American Vandal \| DeMarcus Tillman \| Recurring cast: season 2 {{cite news \|title=How an Egotistic Basketball Star Grounds 'American Vandal' Season 2 \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/arts/television/american-vandal-season-2-demarcus-tillman.html \|work=New York Times \|date=14 September 2018 \|access-date=7 January 2021\|last1=Harris \|first1=Aisha }}{{cite web \|title='American Vandal': How LeBron James, YouTube, and Literal Experts Led to Season 2's Powerful Ending \|date=17 September 2018 \|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/09/american-vandal-season-2-ending-spoilers-1202004238/ \|publisher=Indiewire \|access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web \|last1=Sepinwall \|first1=Alan \|title='American Vandal' Season 2 Review: Sweeter, Sadder and Full of Crap \|date=10 September 2018 \|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/american-vandal-season-2-review-718584/?sub_action=logged_in \|publisher=Rolling Stone \|access-date=7 January 2021}}
2019–2021 \| Snowfall \| Drew 'Manboy' Miller \| Recurring cast: seasons 3–4
2020 \| #BlackAF \| Cousin Harold \| Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"{{cite web \|last1=BROCKINGTON \|first1=ARIANA \|title=Netflix's blackAF Might Hold The Record For Celebrity Cameos In A Single Season \|date=2 October 2019 \|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9685376/blackaf-netflix-series-cast-celebrity-cameos \|publisher=Refinery29 \|access-date=7 January 2021}}
2020 \| Dave \| Raheem \| Episode: "Jail"
2021 \| Nine Perfect Strangers \| Ben Chandler \| Main cast
2022 \| Zaya \| Detective Tucker \| Episode: "Trust No One"
2024 \| Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist \| Andre \| Miniseries
{{TableTBA}} \|The Paper \|{{TableTBA}} \|Upcoming TV series

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2011–2012

| Whatever, the Series

| Derek

| Recurring cast

2012

| The Beauty Inside

| Alex #30

| TV mini series

2013

| Jimmy Kimmel Live!

| Basketball Player

| Episode: "Game Night 1"

2014–2018

| King Bachelor's Pad

| Astronaut

| Recurring cast

rowspan="3"| 2015

| Sexless

| Jamal

| Recurring cast: season 1

Class

| Jolley

| Main cast

1 Minute Horror

| Reshawn

| Episode: "The VISITors"

2015–2016

| Sadie and Emmie

| Coach/Alex

| Episode: "Slapshot/Haunting in a Store" & "Strangers"

2016–2017

| Freakish

| LaShawn Devereux

| Main cast {{cite web |title=WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT HULU'S NEW HORROR SERIES FREAKISH AT NYCC |date=9 October 2016 |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/what-we-learned-about-hulus-new-horror-series-freakish-nycc |publisher=SyFy Channel |access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web |title=Freakish creator teases 'new level of tension' as the teens 'struggle to survive' in season 2 |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/11/freakish-season-2-preview-trailer/ |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=7 January 2021}}

2017

| Caught the Series

| Latin Gang Member

| Recurring cast

rowspan="3"| 2018

| Love Daily

| Colby Biskin

| Episode: "Still Life"

UnREAL

| Zach Taylor

| Recurring cast: season 3

American Vandal

| DeMarcus Tillman

| Recurring cast: season 2 {{cite news |title=How an Egotistic Basketball Star Grounds 'American Vandal' Season 2 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/arts/television/american-vandal-season-2-demarcus-tillman.html |work=New York Times |date=14 September 2018 |access-date=7 January 2021|last1=Harris |first1=Aisha }}{{cite web |title='American Vandal': How LeBron James, YouTube, and Literal Experts Led to Season 2's Powerful Ending |date=17 September 2018 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/09/american-vandal-season-2-ending-spoilers-1202004238/ |publisher=Indiewire |access-date=7 January 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Sepinwall |first1=Alan |title='American Vandal' Season 2 Review: Sweeter, Sadder and Full of Crap |date=10 September 2018 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-reviews/american-vandal-season-2-review-718584/?sub_action=logged_in |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=7 January 2021}}

2019–2021

| Snowfall

| Drew 'Manboy' Miller

| Recurring cast: seasons 3–4

2020

| #BlackAF

| Cousin Harold

| Episode: "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"{{cite web |last1=BROCKINGTON |first1=ARIANA |title=Netflix's blackAF Might Hold The Record For Celebrity Cameos In A Single Season |date=2 October 2019 |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9685376/blackaf-netflix-series-cast-celebrity-cameos |publisher=Refinery29 |access-date=7 January 2021}}

2020

| Dave

| Raheem

| Episode: "Jail"

2021

| Nine Perfect Strangers

| Ben Chandler

| Main cast

2022

| Zaya

| Detective Tucker

| Episode: "Trust No One"

2024

| Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist

| Andre

| Miniseries

|The Paper

|{{TableTBA}}

|Upcoming TV series

Awards

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award Show ! Category ! Result ! {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
2018 \|Streamy Awards \|Performance, Acting in a Comedy: God's Son \|{{nom}} \|{{cite web\|title=8th Annual Winners & Nominees\|url=https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/8th-annual-nominees/\| website=streamys.org\|publisher=Streamys\|access-date=January 7, 2021}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award Show

! Category

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

2018

|Streamy Awards

|Performance, Acting in a Comedy: God's Son

|{{nom}}

|{{cite web|title=8th Annual Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/8th-annual-nominees/| website=streamys.org|publisher=Streamys|access-date=January 7, 2021}}