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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Updated: Wikipedia source

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (; born July 15, 1986) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Black Manta in the superhero films Aquaman (2018) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), Bobby Seale in the Netflix historical legal drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), and Morpheus / Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections (2021). For his portrayal of Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan in the HBO limited series Watchmen (2019), he won a Primetime Emmy Award. He also starred in episodes of The Handmaid's Tale (2018) and Black Mirror (2019). He made his Broadway debut in the Suzan-Lori Parks play Topdog/Underdog for which he received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play nomination. He has played Simon Williams / Wonder Man in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring in the Disney+ series Wonder Man (2026–present).

Infobox

Born
(1986-07-15) July 15, 1986 New Orleans, Louisiana, U .
Education
University of California, Berkeley (BArch) Yale University (MFA)
Occupation
Actor
Years active
2016–present

Tables

· Filmography › Film
2017
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
Role(s)
Duane Jones
Baywatch
Role(s)
Sergeant Garner Ellerbee
The Greatest Showman
Role(s)
W. D. Wheeler
2018
First Match
Role(s)
Darrel
Boundaries
Role(s)
Serge
Aquaman
Role(s)
David Kane / Black Manta
2019
Us
Role(s)
Russel Thomas / Weyland
Sweetness in the Belly
Role(s)
Aziz
2020
All Day and a Night
Role(s)
Big Stunna
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Role(s)
Bobby Seale
2021
Candyman
Role(s)
Anthony McCoy and Candyman
The Matrix Resurrections
Role(s)
Morpheus / Smith
2022
Ambulance
Role(s)
Will Sharp
2023
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Role(s)
David Kane / Black Manta
2026
By Any Means
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
Post-production
The Adventures of Cliff Booth
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
Post-production
TBA
Role(s)
Liminal
Notes
TBA
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2017
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
Duane Jones
Baywatch
Sergeant Garner Ellerbee
The Greatest Showman
W. D. Wheeler
2018
First Match
Darrel
Boundaries
Serge
Aquaman
David Kane / Black Manta
2019
Us
Russel Thomas / Weyland
Sweetness in the Belly
Aziz
2020
All Day and a Night
Big Stunna
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Bobby Seale
2021
Candyman
Anthony McCoy and Candyman
The Matrix Resurrections
Morpheus / Smith
2022
Ambulance
Will Sharp
2023
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
David Kane / Black Manta
2026
By Any Means
TBA
Post-production
The Adventures of Cliff Booth
TBA
Post-production
TBA
Liminal
TBA
Filming
Key · Filmography › Film
†
Denotes films that have not yet been released
· Filmography › Television
2018
The Handmaid's Tale
Role(s)
Omar
Notes
Episode: "Baggage"
2019
Black Mirror
Role(s)
Karl
Notes
Episode: "Striking Vipers"
Watchmen
Role(s)
Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan
Notes
Miniseries; 8 episodes
2026–present
Role(s)
Wonder Man
Notes
Simon Williams / Wonder Man
2026
Man on Fire
Role(s)
John Creasy
Notes
Lead role; Also executive producer
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2016–2017
The Get Down
Clarence "Cadillac" Caldwell
Main role
2018
The Handmaid's Tale
Omar
Episode: "Baggage"
2019
Black Mirror
Karl
Episode: "Striking Vipers"
Watchmen
Cal Abar / Doctor Manhattan
Miniseries; 8 episodes
2026–present
Wonder Man
Simon Williams / Wonder Man
Lead role; 8 episodes
2026
Man on Fire
John Creasy
Lead role; Also executive producer
Key · Filmography › Television
†
Denotes television productions that have not yet been released
· Filmography › Theatre
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2022–2023
Topdog / Underdog
Booth
John Golden Theatre, Broadway debut

References

  1. He played against future NFL player Marshawn Lynch.
  2. BuzzFeed UK
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slxs6yDRVZQ&t=6m21s
  3. calbears
    https://calbears.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/yahya-abdul-mateen/2228
  4. Men's Health
    https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a33502233/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-racism-social-justice-essay/
  5. W Magazine
    https://www.wmagazine.com/story/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-trial-of-the-chicago-7-watchmen-aquaman-interview
  6. People
    https://people.com/tv/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-five-things-to-know/
  7. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/movies/candyman-yahya-abdul-mateen.html
  8. New York Daily News
    http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-shines-netflix-article-1.2740011
  9. Gulf News
    http://gulfnews.com/leisure/television/meet-the-get-down-lead-actor-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-1.1874614
  10. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/yahya-abdul-mateen-candyman-feature-1213453/
  11. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKWH42JPGg
  12. "Alpha Epsilon Lineage"
    https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~aphia/?page_id=27
  13. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-is-the-actor-to-know-this-fall-11567601090
  14. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-get-down-star-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-went-from-architecture-to-acting/
  15. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/baz-luhrmanns-get-down-adds-798651
  16. GQ Middle East
    https://www.gqmiddleeast.com/culture/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-interview-2020
  17. TheWrap
    https://www.thewrap.com/get-down-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-disco-hip-hop-hats-exclusive-video/
  18. Variety
    https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/sidney-hall-review-sundance-logan-lerman-1201970212/
  19. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2016/03/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-baywatch-jacob-latimore-collateral-beauty-1201713044/
  20. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2016/10/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-the-greatest-showman-on-earth-dan-amboyer-brawl-in-cell-block-99-1201837652/
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