Biography
Sekou Laidlow's artistry is a fusion of craft, creativity, and commitment. Known for bringing nuance, depth, and specificity to character portrayals, this son of Baltimore is driven by the power of storytelling to transform. He is particularly drawn to roles that call for a conflicted emotional journey and characters who overcome extraordinary odds.
Laidlow guest stars as Bobby Purcell in The Resident on FOX on November 8th, 2022. His craftsmanship can also be seen in his recurring guest star role as Leon Payne in the NBC TV Series Ordinary Joe opposite James Wolk and Charlie Barnett (Eric Payne). He is a recurring guest star in the upcoming ABC mini-series, Women of the Movement as Crosby Smith, the uncle of Emmett Till, opposite Glynn Turman. He plays Harrison Carter in the BET+ episodic Kingdom Business and will appear in Black Adam, a Warner Brothers feature starring Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson; both 2022 releases.
Laidlow appeared in the romantic comedy, Better Off Single, starring Aaron Tveit, and was supporting lead actor in The Mend opposite Josh Lucas and Austin Pendleton. His Juilliard classmate, Michael Urie, sought him out to direct him in the comedic web series, What's Your Emergency?
On Broadway, Sekou has been directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Montello in Airline Highway and again for the smash hit, Boys in the Band. One of Sekou's great joys was to originate the role of Homer in Suzan Lori Parks' epic, Father Comes Home from the Wars, which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Kennedy Prize for Drama.
Even at Juilliard, Laidlow was a standout. He was the first student ever to be asked to render a monologue for the School's commencement ceremony -- performing in front of virtuosos James Earl Jones, South African playwright Athol Fugard and songstress Nancy Wilson -- all honorary degree recipients that year.
When not on the stage or on the screen, Laidlow empowers others to share their stories. Through his self-produced podcast, Let Me Introduce Myself, in an intimate, one-on-one- format, Laidlow and co-host Maxime Paul challenge the myths of Black manhood. Sekou creates a welcoming environment for men to share everything from their healing journeys to their wildest dreams. Laidlow serves proudly on the Board of Directors of Beautiful Ventures, a creative start-up focused on narrative change and social entrepreneurship. In addition to his Juilliard degree, Laidlow holds a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was a Robert W. Woodruff Scholar.
www.sekoulaidlow.com
Personal Social Media: Twitter: @SekouLaidlow IG: sekoulaidlow
