From 'Black Panther' to 'This Is Us,' here are the highlights from the Oscar nominee's career.
After six seasons as our favorite TV dad on NBC’s This Is Us, Sterling K. Brown continues to prove his incredible range with compelling role after compelling role. He’s made a name for himself in both television and film, demonstrating that he can play anyone from a grieving father to a murder suspect to even a vampire hunter. Having three Emmys and a Golden Globe win under his belt already, the actor was recently nominated for his first Academy Award for his supporting turn in Best Picture hopeful American Fiction.
While he’ll always have a special place in our hearts as Randall Pearson, he’s given numerous other outstanding performances that deserve recognition as well. Here are EW’s picks for the 15 best Sterling K. Brown movies and TV shows, ranked.
15. Hotel Artemis (2018)
Sure, this bloody action flick may not be Oscar-worthy — EW’s critic dubbed it “midnight-movie guts and noise, forgettable but fun” — but the performances make it worth the watch. The film centers on a nurse who runs a secret hotel for criminals in a futuristic version of Los Angeles. Brown stars as Sherman, a professional criminal whose attempted bank robbery leaves half of his team dead. It’s a noticeably different type of role for the This Is Us actor, and it’s undeniably enjoyable to see him pull off the fast-paced thrills alongside costar Jodie Foster.
Where to watch Hotel Artemis: Hulu
14. Supernatural (2005–2020)
If you somehow managed to avoid the Winchester brothers Tumblr discourse circa the 2010s, more power to you. This popular WB/CW series, which ran for 15 seasons, stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as siblings Sam and Dean as they hunt monsters, demons, and other creatures. Although Brown only appears in four episodes, his performance as hunter turned vampire Gordon Walker is memorable because of how convincingly and chillingly he plays a baddie. If you’re looking for an excuse to rewatch Supernatural from the beginning, this is it.
Where to watch Supernatural: Netflix
13. Biosphere (2022)
This sci-fi comedy starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass (who also co-wrote the script with director Mel Eslyn) follows a pair of childhood friends who are the lone survivors of a global apocalypse living together in a man-made dome. Brown plays a scientist while Duplass portrays the former president of the United States. The film’s quirky, unique premise serves as a true testament to Brown’s wide range as an actor, proving he can make us laugh and cry. At its heart, Biosphere is a true buddy movie, and the two leads certainly sell the friendship (or whatever you might call it) between their characters.
Where to watch Biosphere: AMC+
12. Army Wives (2007–2013)
Before stealing our hearts as Randall Pearson, Brown was known for playing Dr. Roland Burton on Lifetime’s Army Wives, a drama series following five military families. EW’s critic praised the show for its realistic dialogue and relationships, calling it “pretty addictive.” Brown stands out as the solo army husband in a cohort of wives, and he shines alongside his on-screen spouse, Lieutenant Colonel Joan Burton (Wendy Davis). His performance here feels like a foreshadowing of the complex family dynamics he would later convey in This Is Us.
Where to watch Army Wives: Hulu
11. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. (2022)
Adamma Ebo’s satirical mockumentary sees Sterling K. Brown play a disgraced mega-church pastor who, after a series of sexual misconduct suits, must build his Bible-thumping business from the ground up with the help of his wife (Regina Hall). Although EW’s critic didn’t consider the story to be “awards-season gold,” they praised the cast’s “great” acting and commended Brown for his performance as a “paragon of self-delusion in every shade of Prada suit, a born sinner who just can't seem to help himself.” While the actor is mostly known for drama, Honk for Jesus is a reminder that he can prove a point with his comedic chops, too.
Where to watch Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul: Peacock
10. A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (2020)
It’s not easy to sub in for another actor — especially one with such big shoes to fill — but Brown is more than up to the challenge in this West Wing one-off reunion episode. Here, he takes on the role of Leo McGarry, who was originally played by the late John Spencer, for a recreation of the season 3 episode “Hartsfield's Landing” ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The special marks the first time the cast reunited in 20 years. Brown’s performance is also a fun nod towards his This Is Us character's eventual foray into politics.
Where to watch A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote: Max
9. Frozen II (2019)
Do you wanna build a snowman? Brown is the voice behind loyal and loveable Lieutenant Mattias in this Disney animated sequel. The film picks up three years after Frozen and follows sisters Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) on their journey to an enchanted forest. In an interview with EW, Brown noted the importance of adding more diversity to the Frozen world. “We tell these fairy tales and for some reason the fairy tales are all white,” he said. “And we’re now to a point where someone has brought that into attention and there’s a recognition.”
Where to watch Frozen II: Disney+
8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
“The Box” is widely considered one of the best Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes, and Brown’s performance plays a major part in that. The actor guest stars in season 5 as dentist Phillip Davidson, who becomes a murder suspect after his business partner dies. Watching Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher interrogate his character is entertaining in itself, but the most satisfying and engrossing moment is when Brown famously just snaps (and his Emmy nomination is proof).
Where to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Netflix
7. Black Panther (2018)
Marvel’s Black Panther stars the late Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the titular superhero and newly appointed king of Wakanda. The film received widespread acclaim, with EW’s critic writing that it “makes the radical case that a comic-book movie can actually have something meaningful — beyond boom or kapow or America — to say.” Although Brown has a relatively small part as N’Jobu, he makes the most of his time on screen, as our writer notes, “It’s hard to find a weak spot in the stacked cast, even the ones who only have a few brief scenes.”
Where to watch Black Panther: Disney+
6. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)
Amy Sherman-Palladino’s acclaimed comedy-drama series, which takes place throughout the 1950s and early ‘60s, centers on New York housewife Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) as she pursues her newly discovered talent for stand-up comedy. Brown plays Reggie, the protective manager of entertainer Shy Baldwin (LeRoy McClain). The charmed role taps into the actor’s theatrical talents, shining a spotlight on his singing abilities. (In an interview with EW, Brown called the series “the closest thing to live theater being done on television.”) He was even nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Where to watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Amazon Prime Video
5. Marshall (2017)
A year before Black Panther hit theaters, Sterling K. Brown and Chadwick Boseman shared the screen in this legal drama. The film follows Thurgood Marshall (Boseman), the first Black Supreme Court justice, during an early case in his career. Brown plays Joseph Spell, a chauffeur accused of rape by a wealthy white socialite (Kate Hudson). Although EW’s critic took issue with some of the biopic’s writing choices, they praised the cast, calling Brown “always excellent.”
Where to watch Marshall: Netflix
4. Waves (2019)
Brown shines in this heavy drama by once again playing a hard-driving family patriarch. He stars as Ronald, a father who’s determined to connect with his daughter Emily (Taylor Russell) as they navigate the aftermath of a devastating familial loss. EW’s critic praised Waves as one of the highlights of the 2019 Telluride Film Festival, writing that it “regularly landed near the top of the ‘You have to see this movie’ chain.” Though Brown plays a supporting role in this teen tragedy, he deftly walks the line between domineering and nurturing; in reality, this character is just as lost as his children.
3. The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016)
Brown’s outstanding performance as Christopher Darden — the real-life co-prosecutor in one of the most high-profile murder cases of all time — earned him his first Emmy win and Golden Globe nod. Our critic praised the riveting limited series, which received widespread acclaim and still managed to shock despite its infamous source material, calling it “an enthralling recollection of a tragic mess with a long legacy.” In an interview with EW, Brown explained that the role ultimately pushed him “to have a sense of ownership that I belong in this room,” and reminded him to “trust and believe that I am capable [as an actor].”
Where to watch The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story: Hulu
2. American Fiction (2023)
Based on the 2001 novel Erasure, this comedy-drama centers on Dr. Thelonious "Monk" Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) who, after being told that his work isn’t “Black” enough, writes a satirical book that ends up being taken seriously. Brown plays Monk’s estranged brother Cliff, a plastic surgeon whose wife left him after he cheated on her with a man. The film has garnered five Academy Award Nominations (including Best Picture), amongst other accolades. Brown — who’s up for his first Oscar — truly brings his comedic A-game but also dazzles in serious scenes, exploring his and Monk’s complicated sibling dynamic.
Where to watch American Fiction: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)
1. This Is Us (2016–2022)
Despite being off the air for nearly two years, the impact of This Is Us lives on. Brown stars as Randall, the youngest of the “Big Three,” adopted by Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) after he was abandoned at a fire station. He delivers an incredible performance as one of the show’s most layered characters, tackling everything from his complex relationship with his biological dad to his own fatherhood journey. EW’s critic specifically singled Brown out, writing, “[he] navigates his scenes with such intelligence, authenticity, and charisma,” rightfully winning an Emmy and Golden Globe in the process.
Where to watch This Is Us: Netflix
Related content:
- Work of fiction: How Jeffrey Wright & Co. are re-writing the book on Black stereotypes in American Fiction
- Sterling K. Brown lists Supernatural as his favorite onscreen death
- Sterling K. Brown knows he'll lose the Oscar to Robert Downey Jr. and is 'totally fine with it'
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
