LaKeith Stanfield (born August 12, 1991) is an American actor and musician known for performances that feel unpredictable, precise, and emotionally honest. He broke through in the indie drama Short Term 12 (2013), then became widely recognizable as Darius in FX’s Atlanta, where his calm, philosophical presence helped define the show’s offbeat tone.
On the film side, Stanfield has built a resume that moves comfortably between mainstream hits and bold, director-driven projects. He stood out in Get Out (2017), led the surreal satire Sorry to Bother You (2018), and added scene-stealing turns in Uncut Gems and Knives Out (both 2019). His portrayal of William O’Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) earned him an Academy Award nomination, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most distinctive actors of his generation.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | LaKeith Lee Stanfield |
| Profession: | Actor, musician |
| Born: | August 12, 1991 |
| Age: | 34 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | San Bernardino, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Darius in Atlanta, plus standout film roles in Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, and Judas and the Black Messiah |
| Notable Films: | Short Term 12; Get Out; Sorry to Bother You; Uncut Gems; Knives Out; Judas and the Black Messiah |
| Awards: | Academy Award nomination (Best Supporting Actor); Black Reel Award (TV) win; multiple critics-group honors |
| Zodiac Sign: | Leo |
| Relationship: | Married to Kasmere Trice (married 2023) |
| Years Active: | 2008 to present |
Image Gallery
Trailer Video
Early Life & Education
LaKeith Stanfield was born in San Bernardino, California, and grew up in Riverside and Victorville. He has described a difficult upbringing and has spoken openly about growing up with limited resources, which shaped both his perspective and his drive.
He became interested in acting as a teenager after joining his high school drama club, then trained at the John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in Los Angeles. That early step helped him get representation and start auditioning, setting the foundation for the indie breakout that followed.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Stanfield’s first major wave of attention came through Short Term 12, where his performance helped mark him as a serious new talent in independent film. Soon after, he expanded into higher-profile projects while keeping his choices interesting, appearing in films like Selma and Straight Outta Compton, then landing the role of Darius on Atlanta, one of the defining TV series of its era.
From 2017 onward, his film work accelerated: Get Out put him in the center of a modern classic, and Sorry to Bother You gave him a lead role that demanded both comedy and surreal intensity. He followed that with sharp supporting turns in Uncut Gems and Knives Out, then delivered an awards-level performance as William O’Neal in Judas and the Black Messiah, which earned him an Academy Award nomination and cemented his status as a major contemporary actor.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Short Term 12 (2013)
- Selma (2014)
- Straight Outta Compton (2015)
- Atlanta (2016 to 2022)
- Get Out (2017)
- Sorry to Bother You (2018)
- Uncut Gems (2019)
- Knives Out (2019)
- Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
- The Changeling (2023)
Major recognition
- Academy Award nomination: Best Supporting Actor, Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
- Black Reel TV Awards: win for Atlanta (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series)
- African-American Film Critics Association: Breakout Performance win for Crown Heights
- BAFTA: EE Rising Star Award nomination
- Film Independent Spirit Awards: nomination for Short Term 12
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Judas and the Black Messiah | Nominated |
| 2018 | African-American Film Critics Association | Breakout Performance | Crown Heights | Won |
| 2019 | BAFTA Awards | EE Rising Star Award | N/A | Nominated |
| 2014 | Film Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male | Short Term 12 | Nominated |
| 2019 | Critics’ Choice Movie Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy | Sorry to Bother You | Nominated |
| 2018 | Gotham Awards | Best Actor | Sorry to Bother You | Nominated |
| 2018 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Cast (Motion Picture) | Get Out | Nominated |
| 2018 | Black Reel TV Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor (Comedy Series) | Atlanta | Won |
| 2022 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor (Motion Picture) | Judas and the Black Messiah | Nominated |
| 2015 | Hamptons International Film Festival | Breakthrough Performer | Straight Outta Compton | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Short Term 12 | Film | Breakout performance that helped launch his career. |
| 2014 | Selma | Film | Played civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson. |
| 2015 | Straight Outta Compton | Film | Portrayed Snoop Dogg. |
| 2016 to 2022 | Atlanta | TV | Star role as Darius Epps, a defining TV character. |
| 2017 | Get Out | Film | Key supporting role in a modern horror classic. |
| 2018 | Sorry to Bother You | Film | Lead role as Cassius “Cash” Green. |
| 2019 | Uncut Gems | Film | Memorable supporting turn opposite Adam Sandler. |
| 2019 | Knives Out | Film | Detective Lieutenant Elliot. |
| 2021 | Judas and the Black Messiah | Film | Played William O’Neal, earned an Academy Award nomination. |
| 2023 | The Changeling | TV | Starred as Apollo (also executive producer). |
| 2025 | Die My Love | Film | Feature role (released in the mid-2020s slate). |
| 2026 | I Love Boosters | Film | Upcoming Boots Riley comedy project. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Stanfield has not published a verified net worth figure. Many online estimates exist, but they are not independently confirmed. |
| Income Sources | Acting for film and television, producing work on select projects, and music releases. |
| Properties & Assets | He keeps most personal financial details private. Public coverage focuses more on projects than on specific assets. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as creative and low-key, balancing major roles with experimental choices and music work. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Commonly used account: @lakeithstanfield3 (audience size changes over time). | |
| X (Twitter) | Commonly used account: @lakeithlakeith (platform verification and naming can change). |
| IMDb | Filmography reference: IMDb profile. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with LaKeith Stanfield. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He performs music under the stage name Htiekal, which is his first name spelled backwards.
- Before acting became steady, he worked a range of jobs, including roofing and gardening, while continuing auditions.
- He is one of the few actors to appear in both the short-film and feature-film versions of Short Term 12.
- Atlanta turned him into a cult favorite, with Darius becoming one of the show’s most quoted and rewatched characters.
- His career is known for mixing prestige work with left-field, experimental choices, especially in modern indie cinema.
Quotes
“I just want to let it all out.”
— on expressing himself through both music and acting
“Music has a freedom that acting doesn’t really have.”
— on why he keeps both lanes active
“It’s like freestyle dancing or something.”
— describing how it can feel to act in the moment
“Anytime someone is honoring my work, I’m happy.”
— on recognition and keeping perspective
“I’m not really a sneaker head.”
— from a GQ “Actually Me” interview segment
“It was the craziest, beautiful, powerful, amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
— reflecting on watching his wife give birth
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is LaKeith Stanfield’s age?
A: He is 34 years old (born August 12, 1991).
Q: What is LaKeith Stanfield best known for?
A: He is widely known for Darius on FX’s Atlanta, and for film roles in Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, Uncut Gems, Knives Out, and Judas and the Black Messiah.
Q: Was LaKeith Stanfield nominated for an Oscar?
A: Yes. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah.
Q: Is LaKeith Stanfield married?
A: He has been reported as married to Kasmere Trice (married 2023).
Q: Where is LaKeith Stanfield from?
A: He was born in San Bernardino, California, and grew up in Riverside and Victorville.
Upcoming Projects
- I Love Boosters (2026) – Boots Riley comedy featuring an ensemble cast, with a festival premiere at SXSW and a planned theatrical release window.
- Die My Love (mid-2020s) – Feature film in his recent slate, with premiere events and press coverage tied to its release cycle.
- 48 Hours in Vegas (TBA) – Set to portray Dennis Rodman in a film based on Rodman’s famously wild 1998 Vegas trip during the NBA Finals.
- F.A.S.T. (TBA) – Action-thriller project reported in development and pre-production activity.
- The Wrong Girls (TBA) – Listed among his upcoming film credits in industry tracking.
Interviews & Features
- GQ Video, “Lakeith Stanfield Goes Undercover on Reddit, YouTube and Twitter” (Jul 31, 2020) , a fun, candid format where he responds to internet questions and lets his personality come through without the usual press-filter.
- Interview Magazine, “LaKeith Stanfield and Idris Elba on Keeping It Real in an Industry of Make-Believe” (Dec 8, 2020) , a conversation about craft, image, and navigating an industry that can reward performance off-screen as much as on-screen.
- TIME, “Lakeith Stanfield, Contemporary Chameleon” (Aug 2017) , a profile of his rise across Atlanta, Get Out, and a fast run of attention-grabbing projects.
- Interview Magazine, “The Sincere Multi-Hyphenate” (Dec 2014) , an early-career look at how he thought about music and acting before his biggest mainstream breakthroughs.
- PEOPLE, “One Last Thing” feature (2025) , a lighter personal Q&A that highlights his creative hobbies and family-focused routines.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- San Diego Comic-Con International (July 20, 2017): Appeared on-stage during SDCC programming tied to Death Note, with press photos captured at the event in San Diego, California.
- New York premiere of Die My Love (Nov 1, 2025): Attended the premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City, appearing on the red carpet and speaking with entertainment press.
- SXSW (March 12, 2026): I Love Boosters is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, ahead of its planned theatrical release window.
