Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Sterling K. Brown is one of the entertainment industry’s most prolific and esteemed talents. The three-time Primetime Emmy and one-time Golden Globe-winning actor is arguably best known to fans for his performance in the critically acclaimed family drama, This Is Us, and was even included in TIME magazine’s 2018 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Having earned his BA from Stanford University and his MFA from NYU, Brown’s range has led to his casting in numerous successful live-action and animated dramas, comedies, and thrillers, and has solidified his position as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors today.
Brown began his professional on-screen acting career in 2002 with supporting roles in film and television, having appeared in Rick Famuyiwa’s rom-com, Brown Sugar, and NBC’s Third Watch. Since his debut, Brown has remained booked and busy, often appearing in at least two film projects a year while also simultaneously filming multiple episodes for multiple shows. With the release of the Hulu thriller series Paradise earlier this year, Brown is keeping busy and showing no signs of slowing down.
In this article, we’ll look back on some of Brown’s best performances and rank them according to their impact and popularity.
14
Halk Hogam in ‘Solar Opposites’
Hulu’s Solar Opposites was created by controversial Rick and Morty co-creator James Roiland and has enjoyed praise from audiences and critics worldwide. Boasting an ensemble voice-over cast and lush animation that helped make Rick and Morty the pop-culture darling we know it as today, Solar Opposites follows a family of aliens who crash land on Earth and adjust to their new home. The show’s storylines often tackle themes of police brutality, xenophobia, and family with the signature comedic flare that helped make Roiland and Dan Harmon household names.
Brown Nails the Role of a Selfless Hero
Brown voices Halk, a beloved hero who constantly puts the desires of others before himself, and who is debating whether he still wants to be a hero by the time of his introduction. Brown’s rich, booming, and authoritative voice perfectly capture the essence of a hero, but he also succeeds in expressing Halk’s vulnerability and insecurities with each appearance. No stranger to voice-over roles, Brown’s work in Solar Opposites is so well done, that his character’s apparent death has left audiences hoping the writers find a way to bring him back for the fifth and final season.
13
Phillip Davidson in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’
Brown delighted audiences and truly stole the show when he made an unforgettable appearance in the fifth season of the fan-favorite police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, with “The Box” becoming one of the comedy’s most memorable entries. In the episode, Brown portrays successful dentist Phillip Davidson, who becomes the prime suspect of a murder and is brought in by Jake and Holt for questioning. As the night progresses, Davidson manipulates the duo and engages in an epic battle of wits.
Brown’s Spectacular Guest Appearance
Throughout the amusing episode, Jake (Andy Samberg) desperately tries to catch Davidson in a lie, but the arrogant suspect masterfully outsmarts the detective and gets into his head. Audiences loved seeing Jake and Davidson’s rapid-fire verbal showdown, which culminated in the dentist’s arrogance being his ultimate downfall and resulting in his arrest. Brown’s ability to ping-pong off Samberg in the interrogation scenes as his character grows more and more agitated when his intelligence is questioned packed quite the punch, and he rightfully earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
12
Waikiki in ‘Hotel Artemis’
Lionsgate’s Hotel Artemis centers around a hospital that caters to violent criminals working in a futuristic version of Los Angeles and features the talents of Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Sophia Boutella, and Brown. Despite the movie’s interesting premise and ensemble cast, Hotel Artemis received mixed reviews from critics and only grossed $13 million on a $15 million budget, thus effectively killing any chances for a sequel.
Brown Brings a Complexity to His Career Criminal Role
Nevertheless, Brown delivers a solid performance as Sherman/Waikiki, a career criminal who specializes in bank robberies and is the brother to Henry’s Lev/Honolulu. Brown’s performance in Hotel Artemis is noteworthy because, despite his character’s dubious nature and amoral career path, he infuses a great deal of humanity and relatability into a character who could have otherwise easily been “generic movie assassin guy #100.”
11
Will Traeger in ‘The Predator’
Shane Black’s 2018 sci-fi action flick, The Predator was the writer-director’s attempt at a soft reboot for Hollywood’s favorite “ugly motherf****er” and with Black handling the film’s screenplay and directing, and the charismatic cast gracing the silver screen, The Predator should have been a massive success. Unfortunately, Black’s 2018 outing received mostly negative reviews, with many of the criticisms aimed at the movie’s script and clumsy handling of its depicted violence.
The Actor Embraces His Villainous Side in ‘The Predator’
Despite the movie’s lackluster performance critically and commercially, Brown delivered one of his best performances as one of The Predator’s antagonists, Agent Will Traeger, a government employee tasked with capturing the Predator. Brown excels in his ability to be completely unlikable, but he also stands out as a deeply committed man who’ll stop at nothing to accomplish his mission.
The icing on the cake however lies in Traeger’s demise when after fighting tooth and nail to acquire one of the Predator’s weapons, he blasts his head off when attempting to fight the Predator. The scene is both gruesome and hilarious as it comes at an unexpected point in the movie and shows fans that despite his professional achievements, Brown doesn’t take himself too seriously.
10
Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs in ‘Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.’
Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a mockumentary comedy written and directed by Adamma Ebo and sees Brown and Regina Hall as the pastor and first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch attempting to reopen after a scandal. While the comedy might not have been 2022’s most popular movie to hit theaters, it features some of Brown and Hall’s best comedic work as Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. analyzes and pokes fun at the megachurch culture while also offering its audience a compelling story about honesty and loyalty.
A Refreshing & Fun Mockumentary Comedy
Hall is perhaps best known for her work as Brenda Meeks in the Scary Movie franchise, thus her return to comedy after starring in well-received dramas was highly anticipated among her fans. Brown on the other hand is primarily known for his roles in critically acclaimed dramas, but his turn as a closeted homosexual over-the-top Baptist pastor was a much appreciated role in the actor’s filmography and further showcased his range as a diverse performer.
9
Lieutenant Destin Mattias in ‘Frozen II’
Disney’s Frozen was released in 2013 to critical and commercial success, and its cast, songs, and lush animations helped it achieve global success. 2019’s Frozen II would surpass its predecessor for many of the same reasons, and rumors of Disney producing a third movie lead us to believe this trend will continue.
Brown’s Courageous Character Sets a Positive Example
Brown plays Lieutenant Destin Mattias, a soldier of Arendelle whose bravery helps him rise through the ranks until he eventually becomes a General. In addition to his bravery, Lieutenant Mattias is also kind to his friends and highly skilled with a sword and shield on the battlefield. The character is significant in Brown’s filmography because Lieutenant Mattias’ admirable traits help set a positive example for the children watching the movies — especially the Black girls and boys who otherwise don’t see characters in animation that look like them properly represented.
8
Angstrom Levy in ‘Invincible’
Brown continued showcasing his dazzling skills as a voice actor when he joined the adult animated series Invincible, which chronicles the transformation of 17-year-old Mark Grayson into the titular superhero (Steven Yeun) under the guidance of his father Nolan, the most powerful superhero in the world. In the exciting series, Brown voices the supervillain Angstrom Levy, a brilliant, disfigured scientist who can access parallel dimensions and who targets Invincible because he blames him for his mental and physical deterioration.
Brown Dazzles as a Formidable Foe in ‘Invincible’
Brown’s outing as the fearsome foe is truly impressive, as the actor is able to capture the many complexities of the villain, from a passionate academic with a massive ego to the all-consuming rage he feels after descending into madness after traveling through various universes. Levy keeps audiences (and Invincible himself) constantly on their toes as he becomes more and more hostile throughout the episodes, and Brown knocked it out of the park as in the diabolical role, once again earning a Primetime Emmy nod for his impressive work.
7
Ronald Williams in ‘Waves’
Waves is a 2019 drama film written and directed by Trey Edward Shults and focuses on the tumultuous circumstances of two families. Par for the course with most of A24’s projects, Waves wasn’t necessarily made with mainstream appeal in mind, as such, the film only grossed $2.6 million on a budget of six million dollars. Nevertheless, critics praised the film for its cinematography, score, and strong performances by its principal cast — namely Brown.
‘Waves’ Provides a Poignant Look at Toxic Masculinity
The actor plays Ronald Williams, a father and husband who, despite his overbearing nature, wants the absolute best for his family. Brown’s performance in this film stands out because he strikes the perfect balance between a doting family man while also hitting the cruel and abusive traits one would expect from a helicopter parent. In a film that analyzes toxic masculinity and the effects it can have on young men, especially young Black men, Brown’s performance shines bright.
6
Xavier Collins in ‘Paradise’
Touting a star-studded cast led by Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson, the political thriller Paradise takes place in a massive underground bunker in the aftermath of a catastrophic doomsday event and centers on dedicated United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Brown) as he sets out to unravel the truth behind the murder of President Cal Bradford (Marsden). Collins must navigate a dangerous web of lies, deceit, and personal vendettas while on the quest to clear his name.
‘Paradise’ & Brown Delivers Juicy Twists & Turns
Brown’s powerful portrayal of a man facing an unfathomable obstacle who makes it his mission to discover the truth is one of the reasons Paradise became such a streaming hit, with the character being plagued by a myriad of emotions, including guilt, grief, anger, and his unwavering devotion to his country. Created by Dan Fogelman, Paradise and Brown’s performance was met by widespread acclaim and has garnered numerous accolades and awards, with the series unsurprisingly being picked up for a second season.
5
Gordon Walker in ‘Supernatural’
Supernatural was a dark fantasy drama television series that debuted in 2005 to critical acclaim. Supernatural followed Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, respectively) as they hunt down various demons, monsters, and other creatures based on American mythology. The show’s writing, performances by Ackles and Padalecki, and modern updates of classic monster lore were some of the aspects that made the fifteen-season drama a success.
Brown’s Scene-Stealing Performance as a Vampire Hunter
Brown briefly joined the cast in the show’s second season as vampire hunter Gordon Walker, an unwavering and highly skilled hunter obsessed with killing all vampires after one bit his sister in their youth. Gordon and the Winchesters initially get along, but he signs his death certificate once he makes it clear to the brothers that he’ll stop at nothing to kill Sam when he is temporarily turned into a vampire. Despite only appearing in four episodes, Brown’s performance stood out as audiences saw that Brown could convincingly portray a threat to one of television’s most formidable demon-hunting duos.
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