Men's Health
While these days Yahya Abdul-Mateen is probably best known for his Emmy-nominated performance in the hit HBO show Watchmen, the Men's Health September cover star has been busy performing in TV and movie roles going back to Netflix's big-budget music drama, The Get Down, in 2016.
The actor's versatility knows no bounds. He's not afraid to show passion and grit, as we saw in Sweetness in the Belly or First Match. He can adopt a villainous persona and vow to seek revenge on Jason Momoa in Aquaman. And he even memorably shared the screen briefly with The Rock in Baywatch. And that's all without even considering some of his upcoming projects, which this fall include the new Candyman and Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7. Next year, Abdul-Mateen is scheduled to appear in a little movie called The Matrix 4.
Want to go deeper into Abdul-Mateen's acting career? Join us for a journey through all of Abdul-Mateen's TV and movie roles, and see just how he blazed the path to become the person he is today: one of the industry's most exciting upcoming performers.
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It’s very rare that the antagonist on a TV show can make you root for him, but Abdul-Mateen’s performance as the slick, smooth, disco prince Clarence "Cadillac" Caldwell was way too cool. The Get Down was canceled before it could really get going—the Netflix series aired only 11 episodes between 2016 and 2017—but Abdul-Mateen’s moves will forever be etched in our hearts. - Temi Adebowale, Editorial Assistant
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Considering this was his first feature film credit, Abdul-Mateen lucked out landing in this movie with a pretty great cast alongside him. His role as an English teacher might’ve been small, but his influence on Logan Lerman’s character is great, as he encourages him to keep on writing. - Adrianna Freedman, Editorial Fellow
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Sure, the film might be well known for The Rock and Zac Efron's ... questionable performances [The Rock accepted his Razzie Award for Worst Actor]. But Abdul-Mateen showing up as a beach cop who isn't afraid to get into the WWE star's face is nothing short of memorable. - AF
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In a movie full of theatrical numbers and a full-fledged menagerie, Abdul-Mateen’s role as acrobat W.D. Wheeler is subtle compared to co-star Zendaya’s performance as his sister Anne. But it’s his ability to play the smaller, less flashy roles that showcases a willingness to shine as a supporting actor in addition to a leading man. Sure, he might not be re-writing the stars or creating a million dreams in the film, but he is a part of the greatest show—and that’s saying something. - AF
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Abdul-Mateen's role as an estranged father to a young girl proves he's willing to play tougher characters when the right roles come along. - AF
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Abdul-Mateen only appeared in one episode of The Handmaid’s Tale as a man named Omar, but his part was equally inspiring and heartbreaking, as his character’s willingness to help Elisabeth Moss’ June escape led to his execution. Abdul-Mateen’s role on the Hulu series showed even more of his range, and parts in other TV shows like Black Mirror and Watchmen soon followed for the star on the rise. - TA
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Abdul-Mateen’s role might be small, but he definitely proves he’s no small-time actor. The story of a woman who has to drive her stoner father down the West Coast comes with an all-time cast [Christopher Plummer, Christopher Lloyd—just to name a few], and somehow he manages to fit in as if he’s been acting his entire life. Talk about impressive. - AF
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Mainstream audiences saw Abdul-Mateen in a big-time big screen role for the first time when he played badass supervillain Black Manta in 2018’s Aquaman. He’s not the main villain in the movie—that’s Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master—but Black Manta’s the one who gets the most exciting hand-to-hand combat scenes against Jason Momoa’s titular ocean-dwelling superhero. Can’t complain! - Evan Romano, Associate Editor
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Even just as mild-mannered Cal Abar, Abdul-Mateen was a delight to watch on screen: the perfect, supportive, sweet husband to Regina King’s ass-kicking Angela Abar/Sister Night. But then there’s that twist—you know the one—where [YEAR-OLD SHOW SPOILER ALERT!] Cal is revealed to be a memory-erased version of the omnipotent superhero Dr. Manhattan. And that’s when the real fun starts. Abdul-Mateen was nominated for an Emmy for his Watchmen role, and he absolutely deserved it. - ER
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In this indie film, he plays the love interest to a British orphan in Ethiopia [Dakota Fanning] who moves to England and helps refugees reunite with their families. While the subject matter may be difficult to watch, it’s impressive to see the actor’s range at play. He's capable of making you laugh and breaking your heart simultaneously. - AF
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Abdul-Mateen played a small but important role in Jordan Peele’s second feature, Us:, as the feather of Lupita Nyong’o’s character during her childhood flashbacks. It’s something about that Yahya charm that works even when he’s losing his small daughter on a beach boardwalk. - ER
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We’ll admit it: Season 5 of Black Mirror was a trainwreck and despite its massive talent. [Anthony Mackie! Miley Cyrus! Hot priest from Fleabag!] It did start off with an episode we’ll never forget, though. In it, Mackie’s character, Danny, reconnects with an old friend, Karl, [played by Abdul-Mateen] during a birthday party. Attempting to forge a new friendship, the two really reconnect over a fighting video game. We’ll save you from any spoilers, but it’s a story that quickly spirals into two men battling their own toxic notions of masculinity and in the midst of an identity crisis. - Josh Ocampo, Senior Editor
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Abdul-Mateen joins a helm of powerful Black actors to tell the story of a young man who's just trying to keep his acting dream alive in a gang-ridden Oakland neighborhood. While he might not necessarily be the center of the film, his performance is still essential to the movie working. - AF
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While the new Candyman movie was delayed to a new release date of October 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic, fan excitement for the movie hasn’t lessened at all. Seeing Abdul-Mateen lead the film is sure to be the highlight of the year, and the actor’s charisma is almost enough to make you forget that the classic horror film is the stuff of childhood nightmares. - TA
The Trial of the Chicago 7 will follow the story of the group of anti-Vietnam War protesters who were charged with conspiracy in 1969. The movie’s ensemble cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, and Jeremy Strong, and Abdul-Mateen's performance as Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale is sure to add a grounding presence to what many are already calling an award contender. Catch it on Netflix on October 16. - TA
We don’t even know who Abdul-Mateen is playing in the upcoming and long-awaited fourth installment of the Matrix franchise, but he just sort of feels like a natural fit. Maybe he’s playing a young Morpheus, since Laurence Fishburne isn’t confirmed to be returning to the cast, and maybe he’s not. But either way, just picture Yahya in one of those long leather coats with cool sunglasses over his eyes. It just feels right. Cannot wait. - ER
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