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 most recently guest starred as Bobby Purcell in The Resident on FOX. His craftsmanship can also be seen in his guest starring role as Leon Payne in the NBC TV Series Ordinary Joe opposite James Wolk and Charlie Barnett. He is a recurring guest star in the 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 appeared in Black Adam, starring Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.
Sekou won the 2023 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Principal Performer in a Play for his role as Lucius in the Actor's Express production of Jesus Hopped The A-Train. He most recently played Montrellous in Clyde's at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Claudius/Ghost in Hamlet at Playmakers Repertory. 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.
Sekou's versatility is evident through his several roles in romantic comedies -- appearing in Better Off Single starring Aaron Tveit and Kal Pen; The Mend opposite Josh Lucas and Austin Pendleton and in the comedic web series, What's Your Emergency? directed by his Juilliard classmate, Michael Urie.
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 his co-host challenge the myths of Black manhood. In each episode, Sekou creates a welcoming environment for men to share everything from their healing journeys to their wildest dreams.
Sekou's commitment to community is reflected in his leadership on the Board of Directors for Beautiful Ventures, a social enterprise supporting Black storytellers and storylovers. 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.