Sean Nelson (actor) facts for kids

Sean Nelson, born on May 9, 1980, is an American actor. He started acting when he was a kid. He became well-known after his first movie, Fresh (1994), where he played the main character.

He then had important roles in movies like American Buffalo (1996) and The Wood (1999). He also played Jesse Bayliss in the TV show Sisters from 1995 to 1996. As an adult, Nelson has kept acting, mostly in independent films and smaller TV roles.

For his role in Fresh, Sean Nelson won an Independent Spirit Award. He also received a Sundance Film Festival Award.

Early Life and Education

Sean Nelson was born in the Co-op City area of the Bronx, New York. His family was working class. His father, Aubrey, was a mechanical engineer. His mother is Sonia Nelson.

In 1988, when he was eight, Sean joined a local acting school. His mom first wanted him to learn piano and singing. But the teacher thought he should try acting instead. When he was a teenager, Nelson went to the Professional Performing Arts School. Later, he studied film at Temple University and graduated by 2007.

Acting Career Highlights

By age 10, Sean Nelson got a part in an off-Broadway play called Hey Little Walter. He first appeared on TV in 1992. This was in an episode of the NBC show Here and Now. In 1994, he acted on stage as Steve in a play called The Shadow Box.

Breakthrough Role in Fresh

Sean Nelson's big break came with the 1994 movie Fresh. The movie's director, Boaz Yakin, first didn't pick Nelson after his first try-out. But a casting director convinced Yakin to give him another chance. Nelson then won the part.

His acting in Fresh was highly praised. Reviewers called him "vibrant," "superb," and said he was "the key to the movie's success." For this role, he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. He was the very first person to win this award. He also earned a Sundance Film Festival Award. Plus, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award.

Other Notable Roles

During the 1990s, Sean Nelson appeared in crime TV shows. These included Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Street, and New York Undercover. In 1996, he played Bobby in the movie American Buffalo. He acted alongside famous actors Dennis Franz and Dustin Hoffman. A movie critic said Nelson was able to "hold his own" with the more experienced actors. He later played Bobby again in a theater version of American Buffalo in 2005.

In 1999, he played young Mike in the movie The Wood. One reviewer thought Nelson was the best of the three young actors in the film. Stephen Holden of The New York Times felt Nelson added deep emotion to the movie. Later, in the 2000 miniseries The Corner, Nelson played DeAndre McCullough. A reviewer for The Washington Post said Nelson was "magnetic" in this role.

Sean Nelson also appeared in the 2004 short film Date as James. He played Willie in Stake Land (2010). In the 2005 miniseries Miracle's Boys, Nelson was Charlie. Charlie was a teenager just released from juvenile hall. Some of his other movies as an adult include The Gospel (2005) and Premium (2006). He has also been a guest star on TV shows. These include Elementary (2014), The Good Wife (2015), and Blue Bloods (2022).

Filmography

• Fresh (1994), as Fresh
• American Buffalo (1996), as Bobby
• A Stranger in the Kingdom (1998), as Nathan Andrews
• The Wood (1999), as Young Mike
• The Year That Trembled (2002), as Phil Robbins
• Date (2004), as James
• The Gospel (2005), as Young Frank
• Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) (TV), as Hezekiah
• The Orphan King (2005), as Damon
• Miracles Boys (2005), as Charlie
• Premium (2006), as Austin Price
• The Mannsfield 12 (2007), as Lil Rich
• Stake Land (2010), as Willie
• The Breaking Point (2014), as Jay

Television

• Law & Order, as Damon Fox (1 episode, 1994), Shawn Foreman (1 episode, 2005), and Lt. Van Buren's son (2 episodes, 2009)
• Homicide: Life on the Street, as Ronnie Sayers (1 episode, 1995)
• New York Undercover, as Alex (2 episodes, 1994–1995)
• Sisters (1991), as Jesse Bailiss (8 episodes, 1995–1996)
• The Client, as Justin Mayfield (1 episode, 1996)
• Touched by an Angel, as Calvin (2 episodes, 1997)
• The Corner (2000 miniseries), as DeAndre McCullough
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as Tito Frank (1 episode, 2001)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent, as Taye Powers (1 episode, 2003)
• The Jury, as McKinley Jones (1 episode, 2004)
• Miracle's Boys (2005 miniseries), as Charlie
• Power Book II: Ghost as Kai (3 episodes, 2023)