Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
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Name	Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Caption	Abdul-Mateen II in 2019
Birth date	15 July 1986
Birth place	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley (BA), Yale University (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2012–present

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor who has rapidly ascended to prominence for his commanding performances in major film and television projects. After training at the prestigious Yale School of Drama, he gained widespread recognition for his role as Black Manta in the DC Extended Universe film Aquaman. His career is distinguished by a blend of blockbuster entertainment and critically acclaimed work, including an Emmy Award-winning performance in the limited series Watchmen and a role in the Academy Award-winning film The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Early life and education

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was born in New Orleans and raised in the city's Magnolia Projects before his family relocated to Oakland, California. He initially pursued a career in urban planning, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. After working as a city planner for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, he decided to study acting, subsequently earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. His theatrical training at Yale University provided a foundation for his precise and physically imposing screen presence.

Career

Abdul-Mateen II's breakthrough came with a recurring role on the Netflix musical series The Get Down, created by Baz Luhrmann. He quickly transitioned to major studio films, debuting as the villainous Black Manta in James Wan's DC Comics adaptation Aquaman, a role he reprised in its sequel. His performance as Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan in HBO's acclaimed series Watchmen, created by Damon Lindelof, earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He further demonstrated his range in Aaron Sorkin's historical drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 and as the lead in the Nia DaCosta-directed ''Candyman'' reboot. He starred alongside Zendaya in the sports drama Malcolm & Marie and joined the ''Matrix'' franchise in The Matrix Resurrections.

Filmography

His notable film roles include Black Manta in Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Bobby Seale in The Trial of the Chicago 7, the titular entity in Candyman, and Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections. On television, he gained attention for his work on The Get Down, won an Emmy for Watchmen, and starred in the Apple TV+ series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey alongside Samuel L. Jackson. He is set to portray Paul Atreides in the Legendary and Warner Bros. film Dune: Prophecy.

Stage work

While his career is predominantly screen-based, his training at the Yale School of Drama included significant theatrical work. During his time at Yale University, he performed in productions such as Hamlet and The Winter's Tale, honing the classical technique that informs his screen performances. He made his professional New York City stage debut in the Public Theater's production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at the Shakespeare in the Park festival.

Personal life

Abdul-Mateen II maintains a relatively private personal life. He is known to be a dedicated fan of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and often speaks about the influence of his upbringing in New Orleans and Oakland on his perspective and work. He is an advocate for arts education and has participated in charity events supporting The Actors Fund and other community-based organizations.

Awards and nominations

His performance in Watchmen earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie in 2020. He has also received nominations for a Critics' Choice Television Award, a Satellite Award, and a NAACP Image Award for the same role. For his film work, he was part of the ensemble of The Trial of the Chicago 7 which was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Category:American male actors Category:Yale School of Drama alumni Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners