Keivonn Montreal Woodard (born February 9, 2013) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Sam in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us (2023), for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
Keivonn Woodard | |
|---|---|
 Woodard in 2022 | |
| Born | February 9, 2013 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
Career
editWoodard made his film debut in 2018 with the film Seeds of Hope: The Andrew Jackson Foster Story. He earned wider recognition and critical acclaim for his performance in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us. Woodard starred as Sam, a survivor who travels with his brother Henry in the episodes "Please Hold to My Hand" and "Endure and Survive".[1][2][3]
Woodard, who is deaf, was hired for The Last of Us after series co-creator Craig Mazin, looking for a young actor fluent in American Sign Language, sent a casting call out via Twitter.[4][5] For his role in the series, Woodard was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest nominee in the category at age 10 and the second-youngest Emmy nominee after Keshia Knight Pulliam for The Cosby Show.[6][7] He is the first black deaf actor and second deaf actor overall (after Marlee Matlin) to be nominated for an Emmy Award.[8][9] His performance also earned him an Independent Spirit Award[10] and nominations for a Black Reel TV Award[11] and an NAACP Image Award.[12] In August 2024, Woodard was an honoree of Time's Kid of the Year.[5]
As of August 2024,[update] Woodard is set to appear in Fractal, a short film by Anslem Richardson.[5][8]
Personal life
editBorn on February 9, 2013,[6][13] Woodard lives in Bowie, Maryland, with his mother, April Jackson-Woodard; his father, Dwayne Woodard, died in 2021. In addition to acting, he plays ice hockey.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b Loock, Megan (March 29, 2023). "The Last of Us star Keivonn Woodard of Bowie excels on the ice and on camera". Capital Gazette. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Romano, Nick (February 10, 2023). "The Last of Us stars behind Henry and Sam wanted to do justice to 'heartbreaking' storyline". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Destiny (February 10, 2023). "The Last of Us Actors Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard on the Emotional Filming of 'Endure and Survive'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Douglas, William (February 12, 2023). "Color of Hockey: 10-year-old deaf player lands role on The Last of Us". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c McCluskey, Megan (August 15, 2024). "Keivonn Woodard". Time. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Hibberd, James (July 12, 2023). "The Last of Us Actor Makes Emmy History as Youngest Ever Honored in Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Coggan, Devan (July 12, 2023). "The Last of Us star Keivonn Montreal Woodard sets Emmy record as youngest nominee in category". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Jackson, Destiny (July 12, 2023). "The Last of Us Guest Star Keivonn Woodard on 'Humbling' Historical Emmy Nomination: 'I Was in Shock' and Making a Familial Connection with His Fellow Nominees". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (July 12, 2023). "Emmys Diversity Report: Pedro Pascal Makes Latino History, Black Women Set Acting Record". Variety. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Chery, Samantha; Scribner, Herb; Yuan, Jada (February 26, 2024). "Past Lives, American Fiction win at 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (June 15, 2023). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; The Best Man: Final Chapters Leads with 18 Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét and Usher Lead NAACP Image Award Nominations". Variety. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Woodard, Keivonn [@keivonnwoodard] (February 9, 2023). "Happy Birthday to me!". Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Instagram.
