Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an American actor who has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he initially studied architecture at UC Berkeley before discovering his passion for acting. He earned his MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 2015, setting the stage for an impressive career.

Abdul-Mateen gained widespread recognition for his role as Cadillac in the Netflix series The Get Down (2016-2017). His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Black Manta in Aquaman (2018), which he reprised in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his remarkable dual performance as Cal Abar and Doctor Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen (2019).

His versatility shines through diverse roles in films like Us (2019), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), Candyman (2021), and The Matrix Resurrections (2021). In 2026, he takes on the lead role in Marvel’s Wonder Man series on Disney+, further cementing his status as a leading man in Hollywood.