Jeffrey Wright

**Jeffrey Wright** (born December 7, 1965) is an acclaimed American actor who started his acting career in theater, notably winning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his outstanding performance in Tony Kushner's *Angels in America* (1993). He then continued to impress audiences and critics alike by reprising his role in the 2003 HBO miniseries adaptation, earning him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Wright's first starring film role was as Jean-Michel Basquiat in *Basquiat* (1996), garnering substantial praise and kicking off a series of noteworthy performances in films like *Shaft* (2000), *Syriana* (2005), *Casino Royale* (2006), and *No Time to Die* (2021). His acting abilities extend to animated series and video games as well, voicing characters in *The Last of Us Part II* (2020) and the Marvel Studios animated series *What If...?* (2021–present). In addition to these accomplishments, Wright delivered commendable performances in HBO series *Boardwalk Empire* (2013–2014) and *Westworld* (2016–2022), earning him three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the latter. His dedication to acting began when he decided to pursue acting full-time instead of law, dropping the MFA acting program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts to appear in *Les Blancs* at Arena Stage. Wright's impact on theater and film through his nuanced performances and remarkable talent have earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in *American Fiction* (2023).