Michael Bakari Jordan

Born on February 9, 1987, Michael B. Jordan spent two years in California before his family moved to Newark, New Jersey. After working as a child model, Jordan began his acting career in 1999, landing small roles in The Sopranos and Hardball. In 2002, his star began to rise when he played Wallace in season 1 of HBO’s The Wire. Seven years later, he joined the beloved drama Friday Night Lights as quarterback Vince Howard.

Jordan’s big-screen career took off in 2013 when he starred in the critically acclaimed film Fruitvale Station, directed by frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler. The duo have since worked together on 2015’s Creed and 2018’s Black Panther, where he portrayed Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. Jordan is also set to direct Creed III, due out in 2022, with a screenplay by Coogler.

In addition to his role in Black Panther, Jordan also played superhero Johnny Storm in Marvel’s 2015 adaptation of Fantastic Four. His other major film roles include Red Tails, That Awkward Moment, A Journal for Jordan, Just Mercy and Without Remorse. In 2021, he made a cameo in Space Jam: A New Legacy as himself (to the disappointment of the Looney Tunes, who confused him with basketball icon Michael Jordan).

From November 2020 to June 2022, he dated Lori Harvey, the daughter of comedian Steve Harvey.