Elijah Kelley
| Elijah Kelley | |
|---|---|
 Elijah Kelley, January 2008 | |
| Born |
August 1, 1986 LaGrange, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, singer, dancer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Elijah Kelley (born August 1, 1986) is an American actor, singer, and dancer. He appeared in films such as 28 Days (2000), Take the Lead (2006), Hairspray (2007), Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013) and in NBC's live-musical event The Wiz Live! in December 2015.
Early life
Kelley was born and raised in LaGrange, Georgia. He attended Long Cane Middle School and Troup County High School, where he participated in the school's show choir for years.[1][2] As a child, he starred in Coca-Cola commercials and played a role in the film Mamma Flora's Family. He also performed in a church choir and gospel band with his family.[3] His parents, determined to keep their son down to earth, went with him when he moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school.[4]
Career
In 2007, Kelley starred in the film adaptation of Hairspray.[5] Both his performance and the film received positive reviews.[6] On December 2, 2011, Kelley sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
In 2015, Kelley was cast in the role of the Scarecrow in NBC's production of The Wiz Live![7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 Days | Darnell | ||
| 2000 | Heavens Fall | Leroy Wright | ||
| 2000 | Rome & Jewel | Ben | Direct-to-video | |
| 2006 | Take the Lead | Danjou | ||
| 2007 | Hairspray | Seaweed J. Stubbs | Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble Of The Year Young Hollywood Award for One to Watch Nominated – Critics Choice Award | |
| 2012 | Red Tails | Samuel "Joker" George | ||
| 2012 | Boys of Abu Ghraib | Tunde | ||
| 2013 | The Butler | Charlie Gaines | ||
| 2015 | Strange Magic | Sunny | Voice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Young Willie | Television film |
| 1999 | A Lesson Before Dying | Clarence | Television film |
| 2005 | The Shield | Jaymon | Episode: "Grave" |
| 2005 | Everybody Hates Chris | Waiter | Episode: "Everybody Hates the Babysitter" |
| 2006 | Numb3rs | Anthony | Episode: "The OG" |
| 2009 | Dirty Sexy Money | Elon Elder | Episode: "The Facts" |
| 2015 | The Wiz Live! | The Scarecrow / Sticks The Farmhand Man #3 | NBC live TV musical |
| 2017 | The New Edition Story | Ricardo "Ricky" Bell | BET 3-part Miniseries |
Discography
Soundtracks
- 2007: Hairspray Soundtrack - July 10, 2007
- 2008: DisneyMania 6
- 2008: Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Vol. 2
Hairspray singles
- "Run and Tell That"
- "Come So Far"
- "Without Love"
- "You Can't Stop the Beat"
DisneyMania 6 singles
- "He Lives in You"
Semi-Pro
- "Shining Star"
References
- ↑ Barnes, Brad (July 20, 2007). "LaGrange to honor local 'Hairspray' star". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- ↑ Eisner, Ken (July 19, 2007). "Hairspray's Kelley energized by cast". Straight.com. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- ↑ "Elijah Kelley: Whoa, Who's That Kid?". Time. July 19, 2007.
- ↑ Philadelphia, Desa (July 15, 2007). "Elijah Kelley has the total package". USA Weekend.
- ↑ "Elijah Kelley to Play Seaweed in Hairspray Film". BroadwayWorld.com. July 3, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
- ↑ VH1.com
- ↑ Prudom, Laura (August 13, 2015). "'The Wiz': Common, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley Join NBC Live Musical". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elijah Kelley. |