Elijah Kelley
Encyclopedia
Elijah Kelley is an American
actor
, singer, and dancer. Kelley has appeared in the films Take the Lead
(2006) and 28 Days
(2000), and co-starred in the musical film re-adaptation of Hairspray
(2007), in which he portrayed the character Seaweed J. Stubbs.
, attending both Long Cane Middle School and Troup County High School
, where he auditioned for and participated in the school's show choir for years.
As a child, Kelley starred in Coca-Cola commercials, and played a short role in the film, "Mamma Flora's Family." He also performed in a gospel band with his family as a child. Kelley's parents, determined to keep their son down to earth, moved with him when he set out for Los Angeles after graduating from high school.
In 2006, Kelley was cast in a film version of Hairspray released on July 20, 2007. Both Kelley's performance and the film have received positive reviews. He will next be seen in an upcoming biopic of Sammy Davis, Jr.
, in which he was chosen to portray the legendary title character. The film will focus on the younger days of Davis, Jr., tackling many racial issues (including his relationship with white actress Kim Novak
) and his days in The Rat Pack.
He is the first choice to play Bobby Brown
in the Untitled New Edition Biopic.
Kelley is a devout Christian.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, singer, and dancer. Kelley has appeared in the films Take the Lead
Take the Lead
Take the Lead is a movie starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard, Dante Basco, Marcus T. Paulk, Jenna Dewan, Lauren Collins and also features former America's Next Top Model contestant, Yaya DaCosta. The film was released in mainstream cinema on April 7, 2006...
(2006) and 28 Days
28 Days (film)
28 Days is a 2000 American drama film directed by Betty Thomas. Sandra Bullock plays Gwen Cummings, a newspaper columnist obliged to enter rehabilitation for alcoholism. The film costars Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Buscemi and Diane Ladd.-Plot:Gwen Cummings borrows the...
(2000), and co-starred in the musical film re-adaptation of Hairspray
Hairspray (2007 film)
Hairspray is a 2007 musical film produced by Kolaja Productions and distributed by New Line Cinema. It was released in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on July 20, 2007. The film is an adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John...
(2007), in which he portrayed the character Seaweed J. Stubbs.
Life and career
Kelley was born and raised in LaGrange, GeorgiaLaGrange, Georgia
LaGrange is a city in Troup County, Georgia, United States. It is named after the country estate near Paris of the Marquis de La Fayette, who visited the area in 1825. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census...
, attending both Long Cane Middle School and Troup County High School
Troup County High School
Troup County Comprehensive High School, originally called Troup High School, is a public college-preparatory and tech-preparatory school in LaGrange, Georgia and a member of the Troup County Board of Education. The school is located on Hamilton Road, and the Middle school associated is Long Cane...
, where he auditioned for and participated in the school's show choir for years.
As a child, Kelley starred in Coca-Cola commercials, and played a short role in the film, "Mamma Flora's Family." He also performed in a gospel band with his family as a child. Kelley's parents, determined to keep their son down to earth, moved with him when he set out for Los Angeles after graduating from high school.
In 2006, Kelley was cast in a film version of Hairspray released on July 20, 2007. Both Kelley's performance and the film have received positive reviews. He will next be seen in an upcoming biopic of Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
, in which he was chosen to portray the legendary title character. The film will focus on the younger days of Davis, Jr., tackling many racial issues (including his relationship with white actress Kim Novak
Kim Novak
Kim Novak is an American film and television actress. She began her career with her roles in Pushover and Phffft! but achieved greater prominence in the 1955 film Picnic...
) and his days in The Rat Pack.
He is the first choice to play Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
in the Untitled New Edition Biopic.
Kelley is a devout Christian.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family Mama Flora's Family Mama Flora's Family is a novel by Alex Haley. The story begins with Flora, a daughter of poor black sharecroppers at her home in Mississippi... |
Young Willie | TV-Movie |
| 1999 | A Lesson Before Dying A Lesson Before Dying (film) A Lesson Before Dying is a television film released in 1999 adapted from the Ernest J. Gaines novel of the same title.-Cast and characters:* Don Cheadle – Grant Wiggins* Cicely Tyson – Tante Lou* Mekhi Phifer – Jefferson* Elaine Russell – Miss Emma... |
Clarence | TV-Movie |
| 2000 | 28 Days 28 Days (film) 28 Days is a 2000 American drama film directed by Betty Thomas. Sandra Bullock plays Gwen Cummings, a newspaper columnist obliged to enter rehabilitation for alcoholism. The film costars Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Buscemi and Diane Ladd.-Plot:Gwen Cummings borrows the... |
Darnell | |
| 2000 | Heavens Fall Heavens Fall - Plot :In the film, two young white women accuse nine black youths of rape in the segregated South. Timothy Hutton stars as criminal defense attorney Samuel Leibowitz.... |
Leroy Wright | |
| 2000 | Rome & Jewel | Ben | Direct-to-video |
| 2006 | Take the Lead Take the Lead Take the Lead is a movie starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard, Dante Basco, Marcus T. Paulk, Jenna Dewan, Lauren Collins and also features former America's Next Top Model contestant, Yaya DaCosta. The film was released in mainstream cinema on April 7, 2006... |
Danjou | |
| 2007 | Hairspray Hairspray (2007 film) Hairspray is a 2007 musical film produced by Kolaja Productions and distributed by New Line Cinema. It was released in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on July 20, 2007. The film is an adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John... |
Seaweed J. Stubbs | Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble Of The Year Hollywood Film Festival The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington.... Young Hollywood Award for One to Watch Nominated – Critics Choice Award |
| 2010 | Red Tails Red Tails Red Tails is an upcoming 2012 action drama film directed by Anthony Hemingway, from a screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder. The story, written by Ridley, is inspired by true events. George Lucas serves as the executive producer for the project... |
Samuel 'Suicide' George |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Shield The Shield The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons... |
Jaymon | Episode: "Grave" |
| Everybody Hates Chris Everybody Hates Chris Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years... |
Guy | Episode: "Everybody Hates the Babysitter" | |
| 2006 | Numb3rs NUMB3RS Numb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes... |
Anthony | Episode: "The OG" |
| 2009 | Dirty Sexy Money Dirty Sexy Money Dirty Sexy Money is an American prime time drama series created by Craig Wright, which ran on the ABC from September 26, 2007 to August 8, 2009. The series was produced by ABC Studios, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Berlanti Television and Gross Entertainment... |
Elon Elder | Episode: "The Facts" |
Soundtracks
- 2007: Hairspray SoundtrackHairspray (2007 soundtrack)-2-disc Collector's edition:A limited edition two-disc version of the Hairspray soundtrack was released on November 20, 2007, the same day as the film's DVD/Blu-Ray release...
- July 10, 2007 - 2008: DisneyMania 6DisneyMania 6Disneymania 6 is the sixth installment in the Disneymania series. It features contemporary performers' takes on classic Disney songs. It was released on May 20, 2008.-Track listing:...
Hairspray singles
- "Run and Tell That"
- "Come So Far"
- "Without Love"
- "You can't Stop the Beat"
External links
- (July 3, 2006). "Elijah Kelley to Play Seaweed in Hairspray Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 2, 2007.