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Ashton Sanders
Sanders at 2016 TIFF
Born	Ashton Durrand Sanders (1995-10-24) October 24, 1995 (age 29) Carson, California, U.S.
Education	DePaul University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2012–present

Ashton Durrand Sanders (born October 24, 1995) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of teenage Chiron in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight (2016). He has since acted in films such as The Equalizer 2 (2017), All Day and a Night (2020), and Judas and the Black Messiah (2020). He portrayed Bigger Thomas in Native Son (2019) and Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022).

Early life and education

Sanders was born in Carson, California. He attended Grand Arts High School in Downtown Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 2014. He was studying towards a BFA at The Theatre School at DePaul University, before leaving after three years in 2016 to focus on his acting career.

Career

Sanders made his film debut in The Retrieval, directed by Chris Eska. The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2013. It was released in a limited release on April 2, 2014, by Variance Films.

In 2015, Sanders had a small role in Straight Outta Compton. In 2016, he appeared in an episode of Refinery29's web series The Skinny.

The same year, Sanders appeared in the drama film Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016, and began a limited release on October 21, 2016, by A24. Moonlight received massive critical acclaim as well dozens of accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture – Drama. The film also won three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali. Sanders' role in the film was praised by critics; Benjamin Lee of The Guardian called his performance "powerful".

Sanders co-starred in The Equalizer 2, a sequel to the hit action film The Equalizer, opposite Denzel Washington. In 2019, Sanders starred in Rupert Wyatt's science fiction thriller film Captive State, opposite John Goodman and Vera Farmiga. He also played the lead in HBO's adaptation of the novel Native Son. In November 2020, he was set to star in The Things They Carried, a Vietnam war movie featuring an ensemble cast.

In September 2021, Sanders was cast as Bobby Brown in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, a biopic feature on Whitney Houston.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. "Ashton Durrand Sanders (@ashtondsanders) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com.
2. Robehmed, Natalie (January 6, 2017). "Meet Ashton Sanders, Star Of 'Moonlight' And 30 Under 30 Honoree". Forbes.
3. Duncan, Fiona. "ASHTON SANDERS". Wonderland Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
4. Cuby, Michael. ""Moonlight"'s Ashton Sanders Opens Up About Being Bullied". Teen Vogue. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
5. Mishra, Himani. "Ashton Sanders Biography: Wiki, Early Life, Age, Career, Awards, Physical Appearance, Affair/Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Movies". Latest In South. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
6. Harris, Brandon (April 3, 2014). "Battle Cry: Chris Eska on The Retrieval". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
7. "The Retrieval". South by Southwest. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
8. McNary, Dave (February 13, 2014). "SXSW Winner 'The Retrieval' Gets US Distribution". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
9. "The Retrieval". Apple Trailers. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
10. Phillips, Michael (September 15, 2016). "'Moonlight' reveals struggles of a young African-American man". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
11. "The Skinny". Refinery29. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
12. McNary, Dave (October 21, 2015). "Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, Mahershala Ali to Star in 'Moonlight'". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
13. Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2016). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup: 'Sully', 'La La Land', 'Arrival', 'Bleed For This' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
14. D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 28, 2016). "A24 Sets Dates For 'Moonlight' & Cannes Jury Prize Winner 'American Honey'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
15. Berman, Eliza (January 9, 2017). "'Moonlight' Wins Golden Globe for Best Picture, Drama". Time. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
16. Opam, Kwame (January 24, 2017). "Oscar nominations 2017: Moonlight and La La Land will go head-to-head at the Academy Awards". The Verge. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
17. "Meet 'Moonlight' Star Ashton Sanders". EW.com. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
18. Lee, Benjamin (April 22, 2017). "Moonlight's Ashton Sanders: 'America isn't made for the black man'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
19. Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 24, 2017). "'Moonlight's Ashton Sanders Lands A Lead In 'Equalizer 2'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
20. "'Moonlight' Breakout Ashton Sanders Joins John Goodman in 'Captive State' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
21. "'The Things They Carried': Tye Sheridan, Tom Hardy, Stephan James, Bill Skarsgard, Pete Davidson & Ashton Sanders Lead All-Star Vietnam War Movie — AFM Hot Pic".
22. "Ashton Sanders To Play Bobby Brown In Whitney Houston Biopic As Black Label Media Joins As Co-Financier".
23. Shand, Rohan, Making Possibilities, Mandy Aceves-Lopez, Karina Maddox, Ashton Sanders, retrieved October 24, 2017

External links

• Ashton Sanders at IMDb

• Living people
• 1995 births
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• People from Carson, California
• Male actors from Los Angeles County, California
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts alumni