Michael Ealy

Michael Ealy quickly rose through the ranks as one of Hollywood's leading young actors after his breakout roles in Barbershop and Barbershop 2. He stars opposite Kate Beckinsale in Underworld Awakening and co-starred in the box-office smash Takers, opposite Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and Hayden Christensen. He also starred in Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls with Kimberly Elise, Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Whoopi Goldberg and Phylicia Rashad. The role earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award from the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).

Will Smith personally selected Ealy to play the pivotal role of Smith's character's younger brother in Seven Pounds. He also starred in Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna, which portrayed the story of four Buffalo Soldiers who risked their lives to save a young Italian boy while in enemy territory.

On television, Ealy stars in the USA series, "Common Law,". He has also been featured on the CBS series "The Good Wife" with Julianna Margulies, Showtime's "Californication" and ABC's "FlashForward." His lead performance on the Showtime miniseries "Sleeper Cell" earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

In addition, Oprah Winfrey chose Ealy to star opposite Halle Berry in the ABC and Harpo Films telepic "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Ealy earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special. He also starred in a Sundance selection: the film noir, Never Die Alone, opposite DMX for Fox Searchlight Pictures.

A native of Silver Spring, Md., Ealy graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in English. Shortly after, he headed to New York where he performed in several stage productions, including the off-Broadway hits Joe Fearless and Whoa Jack, for which he earned an Adelco Award nomination for his performance.

© 2012 Screen Gems (Sony)