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Michael Ealy

Michael Ealy

Actor, also producer · Born August 3, 1973 (53) · Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Michael Brown (born August 3, 1973), professionally known as Michael Ealy, was born on August 3, 1973 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended SpringbrookHigh School and the University of Maryland, College Park. Ealy started his acting career in the late-1990s, appearing in a number of off-Broadway stage productions. Among his first film roles were Bad Company and Kissing Jessica Stein. His breakout role came in 2002's Barbershop, in which he plays reformed street thug Ricky Nash, a role that he reprised in the 2004 sequel, Barbershop 2: Back in Business. In 2003, he played the role of Slap Jack in the second installment of the Fast and the Furious film series, 2 Fast 2 Furious. Later in 2004, Ealy appeared in Never Die Alone with DMX. In 2005, Ealy co-starred in the telefilm version of Their Eyes Were Watching God, produced by Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, and starring Academy Award-winning actress HalleBerry. The same year, he starred in the independent film Jellysmoke, directed by Mark Banning. He starred in the Showtime television series Sleeper Cell and Sleeper Cell: American Terror. On December 14, 2006, Ealy was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in Sleeper Cell: American Terror in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. In December 2008 he was featured in the movie Seven Pounds alongside Will Smith as Ben Thomas. He also starred as CIA Field Officer Marshall Vogel in the ABC television series FlashForward. In 2010 Ealy starred in the action-thriller Takers and in the drama For Colored Girls. Also in 2010, Ealy signed on to play an attorney, Derrick Bond in the TV series, The Good Wife.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 3, 1973 (53)
From
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What are Michael Ealy's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Self
23%
Morality
19%
Survival
18%
Society
7%
Power
6%
Ideas
1%
Purpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 5 · Dark 8

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 14 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 14
Hero
5 of 14
Trickster
1 of 14
Shadow
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Dread
8
Melancholic
9
Joyful
8
Thrilling
8
Other
28

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michael Ealy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 34 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Ealy's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Terminal List: Dark Wolf(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Ish Reinhart

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Reasonable Doubt(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Damon · as Damon Cooke

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Devil You Know(2022)

    Producer · as Detective Joe McDonald

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Bel-Air(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Reed Broderick

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • The Afterparty(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Quentin Deveraux

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as Douglas

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Fatale(2020)

    as Derrick Tyler

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Really Love(2020)

    as Yusef Davis

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • aTypical Wednesday(2020)

    as Dr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Stumptown(2019)

    Show 18 episodes · as Miles Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Jacob's Ladder(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Jacob Singer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Stucco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as X

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Supreme Rameek

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Intruder(2019)

    as Scott

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • August 28: A Day in the Life of a People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Westworld(2016)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jake Reed

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Perfect Guy(2015)

    Executive Producer · as Carter Duncan

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Signal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Daniel Miller

  • Secrets and Lies(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Eric Warner

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Think Like a Man Too(2014)

    as Dominic

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • About Last Night(2014)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Almost Human(2013)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dorian

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Last Vegas(2013)

    as Ezra Clayton

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Following(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sam Lewis · as Strauss's Student · as Theo Noble · as Theo Noble / Mr. Salman · as Theo Noble / Sam Lewis · as Theo Noble / Terrance Jackson

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Unconditional (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Joe Bradford

  • Common Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 12 episodes · as Travis Marks

  • Think Like a Man(2012)

    as Dominic

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Underworld: Awakening(2012)

    as Detective Sebastian

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Margaret(2011)

    as Dave the Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • For Colored Girls(2010)

    as Beau Willie

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Takers(2010)

    as Jake Attica

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Flashforward(2009)

    Show 10 episodes · as Marshall Vogel

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 12 episodes · as Derrick Bond

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Seven Pounds(2008)

    as Ben's Brother

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Miracle at St. Anna(2008)

    as Sergeant Bishop Cummings

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Californication(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ben

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Put It in a Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Akmed

  • Sleeper Cell(2005)

    Show 18 episodes · as Darwyn al-Sayeed

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Jellysmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Jacob

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God(2005)

    as Tea Cake

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Never Die Alone(2004)

    as Michael

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Barbershop 2: Back in Business(2004)

    as Ricky

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • November(2004)

    as Jesse

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • 2 Fast 2 Furious(2003)

    as Slap Jack

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Justice(2003)

    as Woody

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bad Company(2002)

    as G-Mo

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Barbershop(2002)

    as Ricky Nash

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Kissing Jessica Stein(2001)

    as Greg

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Madigan Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick Kendrick · as Ryan Kendrick

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Private Nelson

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Magnificent Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 8 episodes · as Vin Tanner

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles, 51 of them dated from 1990 to 2025; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

$236M worldwide

Highest rated

Seven Pounds (2008)

Midcredits 90th

Film career

19902025

Peak 2013 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 14 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 50 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thProducing2 of 52: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1990s2 · acting2000s18 · acting2010s22 · 22 acting · 2 crew2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 12% of 25 roles
020717

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michael Ealy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Justice (2003)

93rd percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Good Wife (2009)

Midcredits 94th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michael Ealy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles40–70 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles30–64 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles40–70 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles10–50 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles27–70 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Michael Ealy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Ealy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Will Packer shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles