Draft:Woody McClain

Woody McClain
Born	Woody McClain (1989-05-14) May 14, 1989 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupations	Actor Producer Dancer Comedian
Years active	2015–present
Known for	Bobby Brown in The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story Cane Tejada in Power Book II: Ghost

Woody McClain (born May 14, 1989) is an American actor, producer, dancer, and comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of Bobby Brown in The New Edition Story and its follow-up, The Bobby Brown Story. He currently stars as Cane Tejada in the Starz series Power Book II: Ghost.

Early life

Woody McClain was born on May 14, 1989, in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Florida. As a teenager, he was inspired by the film Drumline, which led him to join his high school’s marching band, where he played the tuba. His talent earned him a full scholarship to Florida A&M University, where he became part of the renowned March 100, a prestigious marching band. McClain has described the March 100 as "the best marching band in the land."

Raised with strong family values, McClain credits his grandparents and parents as role models. He is named after his grandfather and father and plans to continue the tradition. His grandfather, a reverend, radio host, and community activist, greatly influenced his outlook on life.

Career

Dancing and social media breakthrough

Before transitioning into acting, McClain made a name for himself as a professional dancer, performing as a backup dancer for artists such as Chris Brown. He later gained recognition on social media platforms, particularly Vine, where his comedic skits went viral. His big break came in 2015 when Kevin Hart’s production company, HartBeat Digital, signed him after his viral rendition of the "Permission to Cuss" skit.

Acting

McClain made his acting debut portraying Bobby Brown in BET’s miniseries, The New Edition Story (2017). His performance received critical acclaim, and he reprised the role in the follow-up film, The Bobby Brown Story (2018). His portrayal of Brown earned praise from the singer himself.

McClain has also appeared in other notable projects such as:

• Canal Street (2018) as MayMay
• The Harder They Fall (2021) as Clyde Grimes
• Power Book II: Ghost (2020–present) as Cane Tejada

Producing

In addition to acting, McClain is an executive producer. He collaborated with Kevin Hart on the streaming series Stories with Kev, where he reenacts Hart's life stories. The series airs on Hart’s streaming platform, Laugh Out Loud, with new episodes released every Friday.

Filmography

Film

• Canal Street (2018) as MayMay
• The Harder They Fall (2021) as Clyde Grimes

Television

• The New Edition Story (2017) as Bobby Brown
• The Bobby Brown Story (2018) as Bobby Brown
• Power Book II: Ghost (2020–present) as Cane Tejada
• Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. (2018) as Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemond

Personal life

McClain currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He is deeply connected to his family, often citing his grandfather and father as role models. He is a practicing Christian and often reflects on his family values as key influences in his life.

References

References:

1. IMDb – Woody McClain as Clyde Grimes in The Harder They Fall 2. BetaSeries – Woody McClain Biography