A native of Silver Spring, MD, suave and clean-cut actor Michael Ealy appeared on-camera from the late '90s. He began on the small screen, with guest appearances on network programs including Law & Order and ER, but scored his breakout role with a much-favored turn as Ricky Nash, a convict-in-the-running with several past charges against him, in the predominantly African American ensemble comedies Barbershop (2002) and Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004). The billing in these projects was somewhat prescient: Ealy continued to take challenging and unique supporting roles and gradually worked his way up the Hollywood ladder, openly declaring himself in no hurry to become a top-billed star. Additional projects included the action sagas 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and S.W.A.T. (2003) and the psychological thriller November (2003), but Ealy netted much greater acclaim -- and flexed some impressive dramatic muscle -- with his portrayal of Teacake in the Oprah Winfrey-produced telemovie Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005). He then landed the incredibly demanding and edgy lead role of Darwyn Al-Sayeed, a terrorist plotting an attack on the United States, in the Showtime original miniseries Sleeper Cell (2005). In 2008, Ealy starred opposite Will Smith and Rosario Dawson in the earnest suicide drama Seven Pounds, directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness).
| Title | Year | Editors' Rating | User Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Think Like a Man
Actor |
2012 | |||
Underworld: Awakening
Actor |
2012 | |||
For Colored Girls
Actor |
2010 | |||
Takers
Actor |
2010 | |||
Miracle at St. Anna
Actor |
2008 | |||
Seven Pounds
Actor |
2008 | |||
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Sleeper Cell: Season 02
Actor |
2006 | |||
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Jellysmoke
Actor |
2005 | |||
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2005 | |||
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Sleeper Cell: Season 01
Actor |
2005 | |||
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2004 | |||
Never Die Alone
Actor |
2004 | |||
2 Fast 2 Furious
Actor |
2003 | |||
|
2003 | |||
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Law & Order: Genius
Actor |
2003 | |||
November
Actor |
2003 | |||
S.W.A.T.
Actor |
2003 | |||
Barbershop
Actor |
2002 | |||
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ER: Hindsight
Actor |
2002 | |||
Kissing Jessica Stein
Actor |
2001 | |||
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2000 | |||
Law & Order: Sideshow
Actor |
1999 |
