McKinley Freeman (born June 9, 1976) is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in films and on television series, including the starring role of Derek Roman in the drama series Hit the Floor,[1] portraying the role of Dominic in the OWN's drama TV series Queen Sugar, and playing the character Lewis in Hulu's Reasonable Doubt.[2][3][4][5]

Early life

Freeman earned a BS in finance at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In 2004 while working at IBM as a Business Development Manager, he auditioned for All My Children and ended up getting the role.[2][3][6][7]

Career

After working on the soap opera All My Children, he later made appearances on shows such as ER, ', and Criminal Minds. In 2007, he starred as the role Airborne Soldier in the comedy film Delta Farce.[8] In 2009, Freeman became a regular, playing Tony Dane on the ABC's series Samantha Who? Afterwards, he took on some acting roles for a few soap opera series, such as Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital. In 2012, he landed an acting spot on End of Watch.[9] Freeman became a series regular, starring as the character Derek Roman in the drama series Hit the Floor. After three seasons, he left and became a series regular for Daytime Divas and If Loving You Is Wrong.[2][10][3][6]

Personal life

Freeman stays healthy by practicing a variety of forms of boxing, kickboxing and martial arts, such as Bojuka, Jeet Kune Do, and Muay Thai. He also works with the Covenant House and the Boys & Girls Club of America, while focusing on using his basketball skills in order to help children.[11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRefs
2004Pop RocksTV HostTV movie[12][13]
2006McBride: RequiemUniformed OfficerTV movie[14]
2007Delta FarceAirborne Soldier[8]
SharpshooterAndreTV movie[15]
2008Good BehaviorMountain ManTV movie[16]
201010 Years LaterDarrell Litner[17][18]
2011HallelujahLyndonTV movie[19]
Waking MadisonHenry[20]
2012Blue-Eyed ButcherConstableTV movie[21][18]
End of WatchWilliams[9]
2013CrosstownLB[22]
Jaded the SeriesEricVideo[23]
2014A Second Chance ChristmasMalcolmTV movie[24]
2016The Best Thanksgiving EverThe Hammer[25]
2017Hometown HeroMitchTV movie[26]
Message From a MistressJackson Clinton[27]
2019I Got the Hook Up 2Detective Freeman[28]
Loved to DeathJackson[10][21]
If Not Now, When?Jackson[29]
2020IllicitLance[30]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRefs
2004All My ChildrenMcKinley FreemanEpisode: "September 16, 2004"[11][22]
2005ERFlight MedicEpisode: "Here and There"[31]
'MDPD UniformEpisode: "Recoil"[32]
Over ThereMDPD UniformEpisode: "Roadblock Duty"[33]
2006In JusticeRay EstevezEpisode: "Victims"[34]
Close to HomeWilliam HardingEpisode: "Still a Small Town"[34]
Boston LegalEntertainment LawyerEpisode: "Spring Fever"[33]
2007Criminal MindsAgent FranksEpisode: "The Big Game"[35]
2008–11Days of Our LivesEvan SayersRegular Cast[36]
2009Samantha Who?Tony DaneRecurring Cast: Season 2[37]
NCISMarine Sergeant Ross BarnesEpisode: "Code of Conduct"[2]
General HospitalDet. Roy WilliamsRegular Cast[32][7]
2010LookZachRecurring Cast[38]
2011The ProtectorPatrick 'Trick' PurcellEpisode: "Safe"[39]
The CloserAgent BurnsEpisode: "Relative Matters"[36]
2012The Client ListClient 1Episode: "Life of Riley"[40]
2013Major CrimesAgent BurnsEpisode: "Backfire"[36]
BonesCoach Davis McIntyreEpisode: "The Spark in the Park"[11]
2013–18Hit the FloorDerek RomanMain Cast[3][9][41][42]
2015Switched at BirthBrad ZiffEpisode: "We Mourn, We Weep, We Love Again"[31]
In-BetweenNickRecurring Cast
2016Relationship StatusScottyRecurring Cast[43]
2017ScandalSean CampbellEpisode: "Head Games"[44][32]
Daytime DivasShawn RobinsonMain Cast[22]
If Loving You Is WrongDeonRecurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3[22]
20189-1-1BurglarEpisode: "Let Go"[34]
2019American SoulIke TurnerEpisode: "Proceed with Caution"[45]
2019–2021TitansJustin ColeGuest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3[46]
2020PumpJaredMain Cast[47]
Into the DarkNateEpisode: "Good Boy"[48]
2021–22Our Kind of PeopleNate RobinsonRecurring Cast[49]
Queen SugarDominic BachardRecurring Cast: Season 6–7[50][4][51]
2022–presentReasonable DoubtLewis StewartMain Cast[5][52][53][31]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientOutcome
2013California Film AwardsDiamond Award - Best ActorGreencard WarriorsWinner[22]

References

  1. ^ "35 Gorgeous Pics of 'Hit the Floor' Hunks McKinley Freeman & Rob Riley to Jump Start Your Day". Essence. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  2. ^ "McKinley Freeman - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  3. ^ "Meet the Cast: McKinley Freeman". TV One. 2014-11-18. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  4. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (2021-04-06). "‘Queen Sugar’ Adds Tammy Townsend As Series Regular; Trio Tapped To Recur, Nine Directors Set For Season 6 Of OWN Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  5. ^ Han, Angie (2022-09-26). "‘Reasonable Doubt’ Review: Hulu’s Legal Drama Is a Soapy Good Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  6. ^ "McKinley Freeman brings 'Illicit' to Chicago, where career began". Chicago Sun-Times. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  7. ^ "Actor McKinley Freeman of VH1's Hit the Floor Shares What He Did to Taylor Paige". HuffPost. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  8. ^ "Delta Farce". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  9. ^ "The Scoop: 9 Things You Never Knew About 'Hit The Floor' Star McKinley Freeman". www.vh1.com. Archived November 27, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  10. ^ "The Pulse of Entertainment - July 19, 2019". www.thepulseofentertainment.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  11. ^ Maddison, Jacqueline (2016-01-22). "Hollywood Star: McKinley Freeman". Beverly Hills Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  12. ^ Pop Rocks (2004) - Turner Classic Movies (tcm.com)
  13. ^ "McKinley Freeman". www.blu-ray.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  14. ^ "McBride: Requiem". digiguide.tv. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  15. ^ "Sharpshooter". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  16. ^ "Good Behavior (2008)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  17. ^ "10 Years Later Movie Review - Dances With Films". Shockya.com. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  18. ^ "Search results for All Products :". www.moviesunlimited.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  19. ^ "Hallelujah". www.saltypopcorn.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  20. ^ "Waking Madison - DVD Netflix", retrieved 2022-11-27
  21. ^ "Mckinley Freeman". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  22. ^ "Spotlight On McKinley Freeman". Soap Opera Digest. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  23. ^ "Jaded Series". jadedtheseries.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  24. ^ "Interview with Actor McKinley Freeman". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  25. ^ "Watch Best Thanksgiving Ever | Prime Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  26. ^ "Hometown Hero (TV) (2016)", retrieved 2022-11-27
  27. ^ "Vudu - Watch Movies". www.vudu.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  28. ^ "I Got the Hook Up 2 (2019) | DREAM13Media". Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  29. ^ "If Not Now, When? - Movies on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  30. ^ Illicit | Apple TV
  31. ^ Randolph, Elizabeth (2022-10-04). "Is McKinley Freeman Married? ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Fans Want to Know". Distractify. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  32. ^ "McKinley Freeman | TVmaze". www.tvmaze.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  33. ^ "McKinley Freeman: Movies, TV, and Bio". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  34. ^ "McKinley Freeman". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  35. ^ "McKinley Freeman". www.listal.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  36. ^ Moseley, Dr Eunice (2019-07-20). "The Pulse of Entertainment: Truvillion and Freeman Tackle the Truth in TV One’s ‘Loved to Death’". EURweb. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  37. ^ My Best Friend's Boyfriend - Samantha Who? (Season 2, Episode 10) | Apple TV
  38. ^ "Look". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  39. ^ PROTECT.pdf (inaf.it)
  40. ^ "The Client List: Season 1, Episode 7", retrieved 2022-11-27
  41. ^ "'Hit the Floor' Star McKinley Freeman Has Special 'Suits' Connection to Meghan Markle (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  42. ^ Daniels, Sharifa (2013-05-27). "Gentlemen’s Corner: McKinley Freeman Talks ‘Hit The Floor’ and Gives Workout Advice to Women". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  43. ^ Jarvey, Natalie (2016-01-07). "Milo Ventimiglia, James Frey to Debut New Series on Verizon’s Go90 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  44. ^ "'Scandal' Hires 'Hit the Floor' Alum McKinley Freeman for Guest Role (Exclusive)". 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  45. ^ M, Sheila (2019-04-10). "TV Recap: American Soul - This Is Your Dream ...". Pop Culture Review. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  46. ^ "Melissa De Sousa, McKinley Freeman set for recurring roles on Fox’s Our Kind Of People". BlackFilmandTV.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  47. ^ Williams, Kellie (2019-07-11). "EXCLUSIVE: Ray J Stars In New Scripted Show 'Pump' W/ Jennifer Freeman, Michael Jai White & McKinley Freeman". theJasmineBRAND. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  48. ^ Into The Dark | Hulu
  49. ^ Petski, Denise (2021-10-06). "'Our Kind Of People': Melissa De Sousa & McKinley Freeman Join Fox Drama As Recurring". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  50. ^ "OWN Announces Queen Sugar Season 6 New Cast Members & Directorial Team". BlackFilmandTV.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  51. ^ "Watch Queen Sugar - Stream Online | OWN". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  52. ^ Baldwin, Kristen; Greenblatt, Leah; September 30, Darren Franich; EDT, 2022 at 10:00 AM. "'Smile' lays out horror bait, 'Bros' is rom-com bliss, and 'Andor' requires some patience". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  53. ^ Otterson, Joe (2021-11-10). "Onyx Collective on Hulu Series ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Casts Tim Jo, McKinley Freeman, Angela Grovey (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-27.