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 appeared as KEIR in Will Trent on ABC and as Crosby Smith — the uncle of Emmett Till — in the ABC mini-series Women of the Movement, opposite Glynn Turman. Additional screen work includes Black Adam, a Warner Brothers feature starring Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, and the acclaimed production of Merry Wives at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
Sekou won the 2023 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Principal Performer in a Play for his role as Lucius in Jesus Hopped The A-Train at Actor's Express. His stage credits include Montrellous in Clyde's at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Claudius/Ghost in Hamlet at Playmakers Repertory. On Broadway, he has been directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Montello in Airline Highway and The Boys in the Band. One of Sekou’s great joys was originating 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.
His versatility is also evident in romantic comedies and independent film, including Better Off Single starring Aaron Tveit and Kal Penn; The Mend opposite Josh Lucas and Austin Pendleton; and the comedic web series What's Your Emergency? directed by his Juilliard classmate, Michael Urie. Even at Juilliard, Laidlow was recognized as singular. He became the first student invited to perform a monologue for the School’s commencement, appearing before James Earl Jones, Athol Fugard, and Nancy Wilson — all honorary degree recipients that year.
Be on the lookout for Sekou in 2026, playing Gerald in All the Queen’s Men and David Mantle in the highly anticipated film Art Matters.
When not on stage or screen, Laidlow empowers others to share their stories. Through his self-produced podcast Let Me Introduce Myself, he and his co-host challenge the myths of Black manhood in a format that invites vulnerability, healing, and humor.
Sekou’s commitment to community extends beyond performance into leadership. He serves 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 Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was a Robert W. Woodruff Scholar."