LaKeith Stanfield
An actor who embodies off-kilter intensity, he brings a magnetic and unpredictable energy to every role, from social horror to historical drama.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American actor·Birthday: August 12·Millennials
Biography
LaKeith Stanfield emerged not from a traditional acting pipeline, but from the raw, improvisational world of independent film. His breakthrough in 'Short Term 12' was a masterclass in quiet, wounded vulnerability, setting a template for the complex outsiders he would later inhabit. Stanfield possesses a rare ability to seem both completely present and hauntingly detached, a quality filmmakers like Jordan Peele and Boots Riley leveraged to unforgettable effect. In 'Get Out,' his brief, paranoid phone call became a cultural touchstone; in 'Sorry to Bother You,' he navigated absurdist capitalism with deadpan unease. He reached a career peak with his portrayal of FBI informant William O'Neal in 'Judas and the Black Messiah,' a performance of gut-wrenching internal conflict that earned him an Academy Award nomination. He consistently chooses roles that defy easy categorization, building a filmography defined by its daring and his unique, unsettling charisma.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
LaKeith was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When LaKeith Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
LaKeith's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Judas and the Black Messiah' (2021).
- Won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in 'Short Term 12' (2013).
- Played the pivotal role of Andre Hayworth in Jordan Peele's groundbreaking horror film 'Get Out' (2017).
- Starred as Cassius Green in Boots Riley's critically acclaimed surreal satire 'Sorry to Bother You' (2018).
Did You Know?
He is also a musician and has released music under the name Moors.
He initially auditioned for the lead role of Chris in 'Get Out,' which went to Daniel Kaluuya.
He lived in a tent in the California desert for a period while trying to start his acting career.
He provided the voice of the anxiety-ridden representation of 'Anxiety' in Pixar's 'Inside Out 2'.
“I'm just trying to figure it out, man. I think we all are.”
