Mike Colter
{{short description|American actor (born 1976)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mike Colter
| image = Mike Colter by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Colter at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|08|26}}
| birth_place =
| education = Benedict College
University of South Carolina, Columbia {{small|(BA)}}
Rutgers University, New Brunswick {{small|(MFA)}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Iva Colter | 2002}}
| children = 2
| relatives = Viola Davis (second cousin)
| years_active = 2002–present
}}
Mike Colter (born August 26, 1976){{cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/08/famous-birthdays-list-for-august-26-2023-includes-celebrities-chris-pine-macaulay-culkin.html|title=Famous birthdays list for August 26, 2023 includes celebrities Chris Pine, Macaulay Culkin|website=Cleveland.com|access-date=2023-12-14}} is an American actor best known for his role as Luke Cage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Luke Cage (2016–2018), The Defenders (2017), and Jessica Jones (2015; 2019). He has also appeared as Lemond Bishop in the television series The Good Wife (2010–2015) and The Good Fight (2018–2019), Malcolm Ward in Ringer (2011–2012), Agent J's father in Men in Black 3 (2012), Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise (2014–2015), and David Acosta, a former journalist studying to be a Catholic priest in the CBS/Paramount+ series Evil (2019–2024).
Early life
Colter is a graduate of Calhoun County High School. In his senior high school yearbook, his senior superlative as voted by the class was "most ambitious."{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Maurice |date=December 23, 2014 |title=7 Fast Facts About Mike Colter Marvel's Luke Cage |url=http://www.thegeektwins.com/2014/12/7-fast-facts-about-mike-colter-marvels.html#.V4rVadQrLDc |access-date=July 16, 2016 |website=The Geek Twins}} Colter spent a year at Benedict College before transferring to the University of South Carolina, receiving a bachelor's degree in theater in 1999. He obtained an MFA degree in acting from the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.{{cite news|url=http://thetandd.com/news/topnews/following-a-dream-st-matthews-native-navigating-acting-world/article_d0acca20-d2d7-11e1-a9c1-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Following a dream: St. Matthews native navigating acting world|first= Dionne |last=Gleaton |date=July 22, 2012|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|location=Orangeburg, South Carolina}}{{Cite news|last=Myers|first=Marc|date=2020-06-16|title=To Act or Not to Act? For Mike Colter, That Was Never a Question|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-act-or-not-to-act-for-mike-colter-that-was-never-a-question-11592319925|access-date=2021-03-07|issn=0099-9660}}
Career
Colter's first role was in the film Million Dollar Baby as boxer Big Willie Little. He also guest starred on Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, ER, and The Parkers as well as several television films. He starred in the series Ringer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/mike-colter/credits/258829|title=Mike Colter {{!}} TV Guide|website=TVGuide.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}}
In 2012, Colter appeared in Men in Black 3 as Agent J's father.
In 2014, Colter began portraying the role of Agent Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/10/7186135/meet-the-new-face-of-halo|last=Opam|first=Kwame|title=Meet the new face of 'Halo'|website=The Verge|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016}} Colter starred in the series Halo: Nightfall and provided the motion capture for Locke in Halo 5: Guardians, with Ike Amadi voicing the character. He also co-starred as Luke Cage / Carl Lucas in Jessica Jones on Netflix. The first season was released online on November 20, 2015.{{cite web |last1=Truitt |first1=Brian |date=November 20, 2015 |title='Jessica Jones' star Mike Colter a powerhouse as Luke Cage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/11/20/jessica-jones-mike-colter-luke-cage/76099760/ |access-date=November 21, 2015 |website=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Company}} This was followed by a solo series, Luke Cage, with the first season being released on September 30, 2016. The second season release followed on June 22, 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/luke-cage-renewed-for-season-2-on-netflix-1201933342/|title='Luke Cage' Renewed for Season 2 on Netflix|last=Stedman|first=Alex|date=2016-12-04|work=Variety|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en-US}} In between the two seasons, Colter also appeared as Cage in The Defenders. He also starred in the 2018 alien invasion film Extinction.{{Cite web|last=Caron|first=Nathalie|date=2017-04-21|title=Luke Cage's Mike Colter joins alien invasion movie Extinction|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/luke-cage-star-joins-alien-invasion-movie-extinction|access-date=2021-04-08|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en}}
Colter was announced as the male lead in the CBS drama pilot, Evil as David Acosta, a Catholic seminarian who assesses unexplained phenomena for supernatural or scientific explanations.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/luke-cage-star-mike-colter-joins-cbs-drama-pilot-evil/ |title=Luke Cage' Star Mike Colter Cast as Lead on CBS Drama Pilot 'Evil' |last=Baysinger |first=Tim |date=2019-02-19 |website=www.thewrap.com |access-date=2019-03-13}}
In 2020, Colter starred in the Netflix anthology series Social Distance.{{Cite web|last=Warner|first=Sam|date=2020-08-27|title=Luke Cage's Mike Colter returns to Netflix in quarantine-shot series Social Distance|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a33820537/luke-cage-mike-colter-netflix-social-distance/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}
In 2023, Colter and Gerard Butler starred in the film Plane by Lionsgate Play.{{Cite web |title=Gerard Butler and Mike Colter talk new 'Plane' movie |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/gerard-butler-and-mike-colter-talk-new-plane-movie/vi-AA16ggJK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112172252/https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/gerard-butler-and-mike-colter-talk-new-plane-movie/vi-AA16ggJK |archive-date=2023-01-12 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=MSN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Elfadl |first=Murtada |date=2023-01-13 |title=Mike Colter on building trust with Gerard Butler in their film Plane |url=https://www.avclub.com/mike-colter-interview-plane-film-luke-cage-girls-trip-1849977347 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}
Personal life
Colter met his future wife, Iva, at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where they were both graduate students. The couple married in 2002.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-01|title=Fun Facts About 'Evil' Star Mike Colter's Wife, Iva Colter|url=https://www.yourtango.com/2020337529/mike-colter-wife-iva-colter|access-date=2021-03-07|website=YourTango|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sihlangu|first=Junie|date=2020-12-26|title=Mike Colter's Wife Iva Works at Netflix — Glimpse into the Actor's Interracial Marriage|url=https://news.amomama.com/244439-mike-colters-wife-iva-works-netflix-glim.html|access-date=2021-03-07|website=news.amomama.com|language=en}} They have two daughters.{{Cite web |last=Zauzmer |first=Emily |date=October 22, 2018 |title=Mike Colter Welcomes Baby as Luke Cage Is Canceled: 'As One Door Closes, Another Has Opened' |url=https://people.com/parents/mike-colter-second-child-daughter-birth/ |access-date=2021-03-07 |website=People |language=en}} Colter is a second cousin of actress Viola Davis.{{cite web|url=http://www.designntrend.com/articles/65794/20151206/luke-cage-5-cool-things-you-didnt-know-about-marvel-netflix-star-mike-colter.htm|website=Design & Trend|title='Luke Cage': 5 Cool Things You Didn't Know About Marvel/Netflix Star Mike Colter|first=Nemisha|last=Sharma|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727203259/http://www.designntrend.com/articles/65794/20151206/luke-cage-5-cool-things-you-didnt-know-about-marvel-netflix-star-mike-colter.htm|archive-date=July 27, 2016|df=mdy-all}}{{cite interview |subject= Mike Colter |subject2= Luke Cage |interviewer= DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God |title= Mike Colter Interview With The Breakfast Club (9-30-16) |work= The Breakfast Club |type= Radio program |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPcpNxCc-LU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/OPcpNxCc-LU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|location= New York City |date= September 30, 2016 |access-date= October 1, 2016}}{{cbignore}} He resides in Los Angeles.
In 2019, Colter played for the "home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 6, 2019 |title=ESPN and NBA announce celebrity rosters and coaches for 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by Ruffles exclusively on ESPN |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/06/2019-celebrity-game-participants-official-release |access-date=2019-02-11 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2004
| Big Willie Little | |
| 2005
| Jamal | |
| 2007
| Yuppie Paul | |
| 2010
| Salt | CIA Tactical Leader | |
| rowspan=2| 2012
| Col. James Darrell Edwards II | |
| Zero Dark Thirty
| DEVGRU Operative Mike | |
| 2017
| Stewart Pierce | |
| rowspan=2| 2018
| David | |
| Skin
| |
| rowspan=3| 2019
| Charles | |
| Breakthrough
| Tommy Shine | |
| Black and Blue
| Darius Tureau | |
| 2020
| Fatale | Rafe Grimes | |
| 2021
| Whit Price | |
| rowspan=2| 2022
| Charlie Walker | |
| Carter
| Smith | |
| rowspan=2| 2023
| Plane | Louis Gaspare | |
| Murder City{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
| Neil | |
| 2024
| Nick Faraday | |
| 2025
| Alarum | Orlin | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| rowspan=2| 2002
| ER | Watts | Episode: "Hindsight" |
| {{sortname|The|Parkers}}
| Lamar | Episode: "Lights, Camera, Action" |
| rowspan=2| 2005
| Officer Billy Tolbert | Episode: "Blue Wall" |
| Silver Bells
| Bill | Television film |
| 2007
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dave Oldren | Episode: "Albatross" |
| rowspan=3| 2009
| Master Gunnery Sgt. Demetry | Television film |
| Solving Charlie
| Jack Dash | Television film |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Joseph Serumaga | Episode: "Hell" |
| 2010
| Officer Tanner | Episode: "Lovesick" |
| 2010–15
| Lemond Bishop | Recurring cast (season 1-2 & 4-6) |
| 2011
| Cliff Reacher | Episode: "The Blue Templar" |
| 2011–12
| Ringer | Malcolm Ward | Main cast; |
| rowspan=2| 2013
| Colin Bramwell | Episode: "Final Shot" |
| The Surgeon General
| Dr. McCallan | Television film |
| 2013–14
| American Horror Story: Coven | David | Recurring cast; |
| 2013–15
| Nick Donovan | Recurring cast (season 1 & 3); |
| 2014
| Agent Jameson Locke | Main cast; |
| 2015
| Agent X | Miles Lathem | Main cast; |
| 2015–19 |
| 2016
| Himself | Episode: "Mike Colter Wears a Pink Button Up and Black Boots" |
| 2016–18
| Luke Cage / Carl Lucas | Lead role; |
| rowspan=3| 2017
| Himself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Playing Hardwick to Get" |
| Breakthrough
| Himself/Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Addiction: A Psychedelic Cure?" |
| The Defenders
| Luke Cage | Main role, miniseries; |
| rowspan=2| 2018
| Himself | Episode: "Power Man vs. Counter Man" |
| American Dad!
| Guerrilla Soldier (voice) | Episode: "(You Gotta) Strike for Your Right" |
| 2018–19
| Lemond Bishop | 2 episodes |
| rowspan=3| 2019
| Himself | Episode: "Mike Colter vs. Ne-Yo and Christina Milian vs. Ashlee Simpson" |
| Hollywood Game Night
| Himself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Kiss Me in Lamorne-ing" |
| Seis Manos
| Brister (voice) | Main cast |
| 2019–24
| Evil | David Acosta | Main cast |
| rowspan=3| 2020
| Narrator (voice) | Main cast |
| Monsterland
| Brian Cooke | Episode: "Newark, New Jersey" |
| Social Distance
| Ike | Episode: "Delete All Future Events" |
| rowspan=2| 2021
| Himself/Celebrity Panelist | Episode #6.2 |
| City Confidential
| Himself/Narrator (voice) | Main narrator (season 12) |
| 2024
|John |Episode: "Megan's Story"{{Cite web |title=Accused: Season 2 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/accused_2022/s02#cast-and-crew |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDcUILVPOeB/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=www.instagram.com}} |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Voice role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2014
| Halo: The Master Chief Collection | Spartan Jameson Locke | |
| 2015
| Spartan Jameson Locke | Also likeness |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Nominated work ! Award ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan=4| 2017
|rowspan=4| Luke Cage | Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards
| MTV Movie Award for Best Hero | {{nom}} |
| NAACP Image Awards
| NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| Saturn Awards
| Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| 2020
|rowspan=3| Evil | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series | {{nom}} |
| rowspan=2| 2021
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Horror Series | {{nom}} |
| Saturn Awards
| Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1591496}}
- {{Instagram|realmikecolter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colter, Mike}}
Category:20th-century African-American male actors
Category:21st-century African-American male actors
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Benedict College alumni