Danielle Deadwyler
Born 1982 · Age 43
American actress and writer from Atlanta, Georgia. Began in theatre, transitioned to film and television; acclaimed for roles in The Harder They Fall (2021), Till (2022) and The Piano Lesson (2024).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
Danielle Deadwyler was born in Atlanta and raised in Southwest Atlanta; daughter of a legal secretary and a railroad supervisor.
Birth of son (Ezra) – date not publicly specified
Danielle Deadwyler has a son named Ezra; the child's birthdate is not given in public sources.
Early performing arts training (dance and tae kwon do)
Started dance at age four; later studied tae kwon do — disciplines that influenced her approach to physicality in performance.
Graduated Grady High School (approx.)
Graduated from Grady High School (now Midtown High School). Year is estimated based on birth year.
Completed BA at Spelman College (approx.)
Earned an undergraduate degree in History and African American Studies from Spelman College (year estimated circa 2004 based on typical timeline).
Master's study at Columbia University (completed prior to 2008)
Received a Master of Arts in American Studies from Columbia University (exact year not listed; sourced accounts indicate she completed this before returning to Atlanta by 2008).
Hired first manager and left Southwest Arts Center to act full-time
Following success onstage, obtained her first manager and transitioned to acting full-time while remaining based in Atlanta.
Joined Southwest Arts Center (Atlanta)
Started a position at The Southwest Arts Center assisting with administration, exhibitions and arts camps — pivotal step reconnecting her to Atlanta arts community.
Starred as Lady in Yellow in For Colored Girls (True Colors production)
Performed the Lady in Yellow role at the 14th Street Playhouse in a True Colors Theatre production directed by Jasmine Guy; led to wider recognition in Atlanta theatre circles.
Performed For Colored Girls at True Colors Theatre (NY/Public Theater staging)
Production success continued; True Colors took the show to New York the following summer with Deadwyler reprising her role.
Short film: Cyburbia
Appeared in the short film 'Cyburbia' (credited in filmography), one of her early on-screen projects.
Began producing short films and performance pieces
Started producing and appearing in short films and performance art projects in Atlanta, building a multimedia portfolio.
Screen debut in A Cross to Bear (lead role)
Made her screen debut playing a homeless, alcoholic mother (Erica Moses) in the drama 'A Cross to Bear' (2012).
One-woman theatrical performance 'dis(possessed)' at Spelman (live mixtape)
Produced and performed a one-woman performance-art project at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art combining poetry, music, dance and narrative.
Began working regularly as performance artist and producer in Atlanta
Created performance art pieces, received residencies, fellowships and grants, and produced short films and gallery work across Atlanta (ongoing through 2010s).
Positive reviews for stage work (Alliance Theatre's The C.A. Lyons Project)
Received positive critical reviews for leading performance in the Alliance Theatre production The C.A. Lyons Project, further cementing local theatre reputation.
TV guest spot on Being Mary Jane
Guest-starred in Season 2 of BET's 'Being Mary Jane', expanding her television credits.
Joined cast of The Haves and the Have Nots (Tyler Perry)
Began a recurring role as LaQuita 'Quita' Maxwell on Tyler Perry's primetime soap 'The Haves and the Have Nots'.
Left The Haves and the Have Nots during Season 4
Departed the series during its fourth season (left cast c. 2017).
Completed master's in creative writing at Ashland University (2017)
Received another master's degree in creative writing from Ashland University in 2017 (as reported by sources).
Supporting roles in Gifted and The Leisure Seeker
Had small supporting parts in the feature films 'Gifted' and 'The Leisure Seeker' (both credited 2017).
Title role in Jane and Emma (2018)
Played Jane Manning James in the period drama 'Jane and Emma', a notable lead role in an independent feature.
Starred in and produced The Devil to Pay
Played the lead (Lemon Cassidy) and was a producer on the thriller 'The Devil to Pay' (2019); film and performance received positive reviews.
GenreBlast Film Festival Best Actress – Feature Film (won)
Received Best Actress – Feature Film at GenreBlast Film Festival for 'The Devil to Pay' (award context noted 2020 festival listing for 2019 film).
Recurring role in P-Valley and guest on FBI: Most Wanted
Appeared as Yoli in the series 'P-Valley' (recurring) and guest-starred on 'FBI: Most Wanted'.
Cast as series regular in Paradise Lost (announced)
Was cast as a series regular in 'Paradise Lost' alongside Josh Hartnett, Bridget Regan and Barbara Hershey; series was not renewed for a second season.
Awards & ensemble recognitions for The Harder They Fall
Received NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress and shared several Best Ensemble awards and tributes (Gotham ensemble tribute, NBR Best Cast etc.).
Station Eleven casting and miniseries role
Played Miranda Carroll in the HBO Max miniseries 'Station Eleven' (2021–2022).
Cast as Cuffee in The Harder They Fall (Netflix)
Played Cuffee (role inspired by Cathay Williams) in the revisionist western 'The Harder They Fall' (released late 2021); performance received critical praise.
Princess Grace Award (won)
Awarded a Princess Grace Award in 2021 for filmmaking/performance work (source dated Aug 6, 2021).
Public criticism of Academy Awards snub for Till
Spoke publicly about perceived 'misogynoir' and racism in the Academy following 'Till' not receiving Oscar nominations despite wide critical acclaim.
National Board of Review Breakthrough Performance (won)
Received the NBR Award for Breakthrough Performance (shared with Gabriel LaBelle) for 'Till'.
Gotham Independent Film Award Outstanding Lead Performance (won)
Won the Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Performance for 'Till' (award announced Nov 28, 2022).
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuosos Award (honored)
Honored with a Virtuosos Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival following her breakthrough work in 'Till'.
National and critical recognition increases career trajectory
Following 'Till', Deadwyler's profile rose significantly with wide critical accolades, leading to larger studio and festival projects.
Starred as Mamie Till in Till (film release)
Played Mamie Till-Mobley in Chinonye Chukwu's biographical drama 'Till' (released Oct 2022); her performance received widespread critical acclaim.
Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination (Leading Actress) for Till
Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role at the SAG Awards for 'Till'.
BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Till)
Nominated for the 2023 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) Best Actress for her performance in 'Till'.
Won Boston Society of Film Critics Best Supporting Actress (The Piano Lesson)
Recognized by Boston Society of Film Critics among other critics groups for supporting performance in 'The Piano Lesson' (awards and nominations throughout late 2024).
Starred in Parallel (lead) and I Saw the TV Glow (Sundance premiere)
Played lead in sci-fi thriller 'Parallel' and starred in A24's 'I Saw the TV Glow' which premiered at Sundance 2024 to positive reviews.
Starred as Berniece in The Piano Lesson (Netflix/Telluride)
Played Berniece in the film adaptation of August Wilson's 'The Piano Lesson' (2024), which premiered at Telluride and was produced by Denzel/Todd Black; performance earned award nominations and wins.
Multiple critics awards & nominations for The Piano Lesson
Between late 2024 and early 2025 Deadwyler collected numerous critics awards and nominations (BFCC, Boston, Washington D.C. WAFCA win among them) for her supporting performance in 'The Piano Lesson'.
I Saw the TV Glow box office (A24) reported gross
A24's 'I Saw the TV Glow' (in which Deadwyler appears) is reported to have grossed $5.4 million after Sundance and release.
Appeared in Carry-On and 40 Acres (festival releases)
Featured in Netflix's 'Carry-On' (airport thriller) and the Canadian post-apocalyptic '40 Acres' (Toronto premiere); both 2024 credits added to filmography.
Cast as Zelma Redding in Otis & Zelma (announced)
Announced to portray Zelma Redding (Otis Redding's widow) in the biopic 'Otis & Zelma' (casting announced Oct 2024).
Estimated net worth (mid-2025)
Estimated net worth after multiple leading roles, producing credits, critical prizes, and higher-profile studio/streaming work.
Set to star & executive produce The Woman in the Yard (Blumhouse)
Starring and executive producing Blumhouse's 'The Woman in the Yard' (announced earlier; project listed for wide release / development in 2024–25).
Executive producer & lead on The Saviors (announced)
Set to executive produce and lead in the dark comedic thriller 'The Saviors' opposite Adam Scott (announcements late 2024 / early 2025).
Cast as series regular opposite Steve Carell in untitled HBO comedy
Announced Feb 2025 as a series regular in an untitled HBO comedy starring Steve Carell; will portray a poetry professor and published author.
Cast to star in & produce adaptation of Ann Petry's The Street
Announced April 2025 that Deadwyler will produce and star in the film adaptation of Ann Petry's 1946 novel 'The Street'.
Named to Time 100 Most Influential People
Time magazine included Danielle Deadwyler on its 2025 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Key Achievement Ages
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