Known for movies
Hairspray (2007)
as Seaweed
Red Tails (2012)
as Samuel 'Joker' George
Strange Magic (2015)
as Sunny
The Butler (2013)
as Charlie Gaines (15-18)
Short Info
| Date Of Birth | August 1, 1986 |
| Fact | As a child he performed in a gospel band in his hometown and appeared in several Coca-Cola commercials. |
Elijah Kelley is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his roles in the films Hairspray, Red Tails and The Butler.
Two ears. Two eyes. One mouth. Hear more. See more. Speak less.
— Elijah Kelley (@elijah_kelley) July 25, 2016
Kelley was born on August 1, 1986 in LaGrange, Georgia, to parents who were both in the military. His father was a pilot and his mother was a nurse. Kelley has two older sisters. He was raised in a strict Baptist household.
Kelley attended LaGrange High School. He was a talented singer and was a member of the school choir. He also played football and ran track. After graduation, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles on a track scholarship.
Kelley’s acting career began with a small role in the film Drumline (2002). He has since appeared in such films as Hairspray (2007), Red Tails (2012) and The Butler (2013). He has also guest-starred on television shows such as CSI: Miami and Numb3rs.
Kelley’s net worth is estimated to be $3 million. He has earned his wealth through his acting roles and endorsements. He is currently single and does not have any children.
General Info
| Full Name | Elijah Kelley |
| Date Of Birth | August 1, 1986 |
| Height | 1.69 m |
| Profession | Actor, Dancer, Singer |
| Education | Troup County High School |
| Nationality | American |
Accomplishments
| Awards | Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble |
| Nominations | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song |
| Movies | The Wiz Live!, Strange Magic, The Boys of Abu Ghraib, The Butler, Red Tails, Hairspray, Take the Lead, Rome & Jewel, 28 Days |
Social profile links
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | Growing up in Georgia, it was sort of the last place to jump on the bandwagon of the integrated frontier.. I have aunts and uncles and grandparents that experienced the 'whites only" and segregated schools. Their experiences are very real and ...I wanted to be part of cinematic history in exploring how ridiculous the separation of these two cultures was. |
| 2 | I'm an actor. I'm a singer. And I dance. To be able to do all these things is amazing. And to have similar-minded people all around you, doing what you love, is even more amazing. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Coming out with his debut album 'Love Letters', due out in September 2008 [July 2008] |
| 2 | Was ranked #30 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list. (2008). |
| 3 | Awarded the key to the city (La Grange) in July 2007. |
| 4 | After high school graduation he moved with his family to Los Angeles to pursue his career seriously. |
| 5 | As a child he performed in a gospel band in his hometown and appeared in several Coca-Cola commercials. |
| 6 | He is establishing the Elijah Kelley Foundation in his hometown of LaGrange, GA to help local children follow their dreams. The Elijah Kelley Center for Performing Arts will offer music, dance, and drama classes. |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The New Edition Story | 2017 | TV Movie completed | Adult Ricky Bell |
| The New Edition Story | 2017 | TV Series post-production | Ricky Bell |
| The Wiz Live! | 2015 | TV Movie | Scarecrow |
| Strange Magic | 2015 | Sunny (voice) | |
| Boys of Abu Ghraib | 2014 | Tunde | |
| The Butler | 2013/I | Charlie Gaines (15-18) | |
| Red Tails | 2012 | Samuel 'Joker' George | |
| Dirty Sexy Money | 2009 | TV Series | Elon Elder |
| Rome & Jewel | 2008 | Ben | |
| Hairspray | 2007 | Seaweed | |
| Heavens Fall | 2006 | Leroy Wright | |
| Take the Lead | 2006 | Danjou | |
| Numb3rs | 2006 | TV Series | Anthony |
| Everybody Hates Chris | 2005 | TV Series | Guy |
| The Shield | 2005 | TV Series | Jaymon |
| 28 Days | 2000 | Darnell | |
| A Lesson Before Dying | 1999 | TV Movie | Clarence |
| Mama Flora's Family | 1998 | TV Mini-Series | Young Willie |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strange Magic | 2015 | performer: "Three Little Birds", "Three Little Birds Dark Forest Version", "Say Hey", "Three Little Birds Reprise", "Three Little Birds Encore" | |
| This Is 40 | 2012 | performer: "You Can't Stop the Beat" | |
| Hairspray | 2007 | performer: "Run and Tell That" 2001, "Without Love" 2001, "You Can't Stop the Beat" 2001, "Come So Far Got So Far To Go" |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Making of the Wiz Live! | 2015 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Wendy Williams Show | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| Today | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| 45th NAACP Image Awards | 2014 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Scream Awards 2011 | 2011 | TV Special | Himself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
| 13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards | 2008 | TV Special | Himself |
| Hairspray: Inside the Recording Booth | 2007 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| You Can't Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of 'Hairspray' | 2007 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Oprah Winfrey Show | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| Up Close with Carrie Keagan | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| HBO First Look | 2007 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 'Hairspray' Extentions | 2007 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| It's 'Hairspray'! | 2007 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| 2006 MTV Movie Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Himself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment Tonight | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Critics Choice Award | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Acting Ensemble | Hairspray (2007) |
| 2008 | Ensemble Cast Award | Palm Springs International Film Festival | Hairspray (2007) | |
| 2007 | Hollywood Film Award | Hollywood Film Awards | Ensemble of the Year | Hairspray (2007) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film | Strange Magic (2015) |
| 2008 | Critics Choice Award | Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Song | Hairspray (2007) |
| 2008 | Gold Derby Award | Gold Derby Awards | Ensemble Cast | Hairspray (2007) |
| 2008 | OFTA Film Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Music, Original Song | Hairspray (2007) |
| 2008 | OFTA Film Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Music, Adapted Song | Hairspray (2007) |
| 2008 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Hairspray (2007) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
