Darius Kaleb is an American actor and musician that achieved recognition through his role in the

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

original ''

Luke Cage Lucas "Luke" Cage, born Carl Lucas and also known as Power Man, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in ''Luke Cage, Hero for Hire'' #1 (June 1972) and was created by Archie Go ...

'', as well as playing parts in multiple shows on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. Kaleb also featured in a Japanese live show tour as a fictional

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

. He and his siblings formed the band, The Brothers Harris, with Kaleb himself acting as the drummer. They were all home-schooled.

Acting career

Netflix Original - Luke Cage

Kaleb plays the character “Lonnie Wilson” in the Netflix original series ''

''. The character depicts the struggles of black youth in modern American society, and deals with social issues pertinent to that culture. His role as Lonnie Wilson addresses issues surrounding police brutality towards young African Americans. Lonnie Wilson is a

kid Kid, Kids, KIDS, and K.I.D.S. may refer to: Common meanings * Colloquial term for a child or other young person ** Also for a parent's offspring regardless of age * Engage in joking * Young goats * The goat meat of young goats * Kidskin, lea ...

from

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street (Manhattan), 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th Street (Manhattan), ...

, where the show is located. He meets Luke Cage, the main character, who looks out for him on the streets. Lonnie is taken into custody for questioning about Luke Cage, and is given a brutal beating by one of the police officers. This leads to a leak of the abusive treatment to the media by corrupt politicians—for their own benefit. In this role, he is a supporter of Luke's whom he knows is innocent of the crimes he has allegedly committed.

''STEPS'' (Independent Film)

In this independent film written by Eddie B. Harris, Kaleb plays "Omar" the son of the main character "Brian". Kaleb's character in the film is a symbol of what his father had lost and what he was striving to regain by taking steps toward redemption.

ABC pilot - ''Delores & Jermaine''

ABC Network has cast Darius Kaleb as "Jamaal", the younger brother, in

Whoopi Goldberg Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...

and Jermaine Fowler's new pilot series ''Delores and Jermaine''. The new pilot is about Jermaine, a young millennial who after being kicked out of his house, moves in with his grandmother Delores, who after quitting her job as a DC cop never leaves her home anymore. The two of them end up needing each other more than they would have thought, as Jermaine is in need of parental guidance, while Delores needs a push to get her back into the world.

Broadway performances

Kaleb has had a career on Broadway. He played parts in multiple shows, alongside some big celebrities. When he was 11 years old, Kaleb starred in the play ''A Raisin in the Sun'' written by

Lorraine Hansberry Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (May 19, 1930 – January 12, 1965) was a playwright and writer. She was the first African-American female author to have a play performed on Broadway. Her best-known work, the play ''A Raisin in the Sun'', highlig ...

, which also starred

LaTanya Richardson LaTanya Richardson Jackson ( Richardson; born October 21, 1949) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in off-Broadway productions, before playing supporting roles on television and film. Richardson has appeared in films includi ...

and

Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...

. He also starred in the hit Broadway musical, '' Motown the Musical'' written by

Berry Gordy Jr A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

. Kaleb was the youngest actor in the musical, and even played three roles; those of Michael Jackson,

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

, and Berry Gordy Jr. himself. However, before performing on Broadway in NYC, Kaleb toured Japan, where he played the role of young Michael Jackson in ''Thriller Live''.

Music

Aside from plays, he also has his foot in the door in the music industry. He started a band, The Brothers Harris, along with his twin brothers who attend

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

, with him being the drummer. He also has a love for singing and produces music as well.

Personal life

Darius Kaleb and his family live in

Charles County, Maryland Charles County is a county in Southern Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore. Charles County is part of the Wash ...

. His older twin brothers are also involved in the performing arts—they are both musicians and the three brothers enjoy playing together. Kaleb supports the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

and the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...

. With all of the success that Kaleb has enjoyed, he received no formal training. His gift comes from being part of a musically and artistically talented family. He has also ventured into writing and is currently working on a short film called "The Audition".

Awards

Kaleb was awarded the Black Essence Hall of Fame/Youth Division recognition.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaleb, Darius American male actors American male drummers Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people)