Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an actor recognized for his work across film, television, and theater. With a background in architecture, Abdul-Mateen initially worked as a city planner in San Francisco's Housing and Development Office before transitioning to acting. He earned an MFA from Yale University's School of Drama, having also been accepted to Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theater Training and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Shortly after completing his graduate studies, Abdul-Mateen was cast by Baz Luhrmann as Cadillac in the Netflix series "The Get Down."

Abdul-Mateen gained attention for his portrayal of Black Manta in "Aquaman," part of the DC Comics franchise, and appeared in Jordan Peele's "Us." He played Doctor Manhattan in the HBO series "Watchmen," a role that earned him an Emmy Award for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Special. Additional credits include Bobby Seale in Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and a leading role in the Jordan Peele-produced "Candyman." Abdul-Mateen also appeared as Morpheus in "The Matrix Resurrections" and co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in Michael Bay's "Ambulance."

On stage, Abdul-Mateen made his Broadway debut in a revival of Suzan-Lori Parks's "Topdog/Underdog," earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play. He has been recognized by the Critics' Choice Association's Celebration of Black Cinema with the Breakthrough Award and was included in the HuffPost Culture Shifters list and The Hollywood Reporter NextGen list. In addition to acting, Abdul-Mateen founded the production company House Eleven10, which focuses on stories from his upbringing and supports talent from underrepresented communities.

Abdul-Mateen has portrayed Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring in the Disney+ series "Wonder Man." The role earned him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards, highlighting his presence in both Marvel and DC franchises. He has also been cast as John Creasy in the Netflix adaptation of "Man on Fire." Abdul-Mateen's career encompasses roles as supervillains, historical figures, and Broadway leads, establishing him as a versatile figure in contemporary film, television, and theater.