Tristan Wilds
Encyclopedia
Tristan Paul Mack Wilds (born July 15, 1989) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Lee
on the HBO original drama series The Wire
and as Dixon Wilson on the CW
drama series 90210
.
(father) and African-American, Irish, and Dominican
(mother) descent. He started acting at age seven following in the foot steps of his older brother. His first professional role was in the 2005 Miracle's Boys
on The N alongside future Wire co-star Julito McCullum
. He is the cousin of fellow The Wire Castmate Jermaine Crawford who played "Dukie" in the series.
After The Wire ended, he completed a workshop of Wool for The Roundabout Theatre Company, where he worked with actress Phylicia Rashad
, and played the role of Brice in a workshop of Stockholm Brooklyn for the Cherry Lane Theatre. He currently plays the role of Dixon Wilson on the CW Network's Beverly Hills, 90210
spinoff, 90210
.
He can be seen in Jay-Z
's video "Roc Boys" from the American Gangster
album billed as "the nephew" Tristan also appeared in Lil Flip's music video "Ghetto Mindstate
", Wale
's video "Pretty Girls
", and the video for Alicia Keys
' "Teenage Love Affair
". He has also appeared in a clip encouraging people to register to vote, called The Muzzler alongside Jessica Alba
and Hayden Panettiere
.
His film work includes roles in the movies Half Nelson
and The Secret Life of Bees
, a film adaptation of the book by Sue Monk Kidd. In 2012, Tristan is slated to star in Red Tails
, director George Lucas
' new film about the Tuskegee Airmen
.
He makes a cameo appearance in Lil Wayne
's How To Love
music video.
, while the latter was written by Wilds and Ryan Toby
. Both songs were produced by Dre & Vidal
. Two of his songs, "2 Girls" and "Kim" were featured in the fourth season of 90210
. He recently released an EP titled "Remember Remember" which features him singing and rapping under the moniker Mack.
Michael Lee (The Wire)
Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers...
on the HBO original drama series The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
and as Dixon Wilson on the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
drama series 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
.
Life and career
Wilds attended Michael J. Petrides School in Staten Island, New York. He is of African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
(father) and African-American, Irish, and Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
(mother) descent. He started acting at age seven following in the foot steps of his older brother. His first professional role was in the 2005 Miracle's Boys
Miracle's Boys
Miracle's Boys is a six part miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Jacqueline Woodson, shown on The N in February 2005. The series was directed by Neema Barnette, LeVar Burton, Ernest R. Dickerson, Bill Duke, and Spike Lee and was filmed on-site in Harlem, New York...
on The N alongside future Wire co-star Julito McCullum
Julito McCullum
Julito McCullum is an American actor of Afro-Colombian descent best known for his role as Namond Brice on the HBO series The Wire. Currently lives in Staten Island....
. He is the cousin of fellow The Wire Castmate Jermaine Crawford who played "Dukie" in the series.
After The Wire ended, he completed a workshop of Wool for The Roundabout Theatre Company, where he worked with actress Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashād is an American Tony Award winning actress and singer, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
, and played the role of Brice in a workshop of Stockholm Brooklyn for the Cherry Lane Theatre. He currently plays the role of Dixon Wilson on the CW Network's Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
spinoff, 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
.
He can be seen in Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's video "Roc Boys" from the American Gangster
American Gangster (album)
American Gangster is the tenth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 6, 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It is Jay-Z's last studio release for the Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records label and his first concept album, which was inspired by the film of the same name. The album features...
album billed as "the nephew" Tristan also appeared in Lil Flip's music video "Ghetto Mindstate
Ghetto Mindstate
"Ghetto Mindstate" is the first single from Lil' Flip's album, I Need Mine. It features Lyfe Jennings. The song peaked at #77 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.-Other versions:...
", Wale
Wale
A wale is a broad, thick plank around the outside of a wooden ship.The garboard is the wale next to the keel; the gunwale is the top such plank and covers the heads of the timbers between the main and fore drifts....
's video "Pretty Girls
Pretty Girls (Wale song)
"Pretty Girls" is the third official single from Wale's debut album, Attention Deficit and is produced by The Best Kept Secret. It features Gucci Mane and Weensey from the legendary go-go band Backyard Band. It was released to iTunes and Rhapsody on October 6, 2009. The song samples Backyard Band's...
", and the video for Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
' "Teenage Love Affair
Teenage Love Affair
"Teenage Love Affair" is a song by American R&B and soul singer–songwriter Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am . Written by Keys, Jack Splash, Matthew Kahane, and Harold Lilly, it was released as the album's third single in March 2008....
". He has also appeared in a clip encouraging people to register to vote, called The Muzzler alongside Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba is an American television and film actress. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack . Alba rose to prominence as the lead actress in the television series Dark Angel...
and Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
.
His film work includes roles in the movies Half Nelson
Half Nelson (film)
Half Nelson is a 2006 American drama film directed by Ryan Fleck and written by Anna Boden and Fleck; it stars Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps and Anthony Mackie. The film was scored by Juno Award winning Canadian band - Broken Social Scene. Gosling received an Academy Award nomination for lead actor...
and The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees (film)
The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 American drama film, adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The film was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and produced by Will Smith, with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as executive producer. The film is noted for Queen Latifah's critically...
, a film adaptation of the book by Sue Monk Kidd. In 2012, Tristan is slated to star in Red Tails
Red Tails
Red Tails is an upcoming 2012 action drama film directed by Anthony Hemingway, from a screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder. The story, written by Ridley, is inspired by true events. George Lucas serves as the executive producer for the project...
, director George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
' new film about the Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
.
He makes a cameo appearance in Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
's How To Love
How to Love
"How to Love" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne, released as the third single from his ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV. The song features production from Noel "Detail" Fisher with LaMar and LaNelle Seymour p/k/a Drum Up, and was released as a digital download on June 13, 2011. It was later...
music video.
Music
Wilds has signed a record deal with Ten2one and so far has 2 songs: "Fall 4 her," and "Runaround." The first was written by Rico LoveRico Love
Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...
, while the latter was written by Wilds and Ryan Toby
Ryan Toby
Ryan Toby is an American soul singer, attended St Stephens in Alexandria, VA, songwriter and producer, best known as the baritenor in the group City High. He and his wife have two sons....
. Both songs were produced by Dre & Vidal
Dre & Vidal
Dre & Vidal is a Multi-Grammy Award Winning songwriting and production duo consisting of Andre Harris and Vidal Davis, who are best known as the main producers for Jill Scott and Glenn Lewis...
. Two of his songs, "2 Girls" and "Kim" were featured in the fourth season of 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
. He recently released an EP titled "Remember Remember" which features him singing and rapping under the moniker Mack.
Filmography/Television
| Year | Films | Characters | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Miracle's Boys Miracle's Boys Miracle's Boys is a six part miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Jacqueline Woodson, shown on The N in February 2005. The series was directed by Neema Barnette, LeVar Burton, Ernest R. Dickerson, Bill Duke, and Spike Lee and was filmed on-site in Harlem, New York... |
A.J. | Mini-series |
| 2006 | Half Nelson Half Nelson (film) Half Nelson is a 2006 American drama film directed by Ryan Fleck and written by Anna Boden and Fleck; it stars Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps and Anthony Mackie. The film was scored by Juno Award winning Canadian band - Broken Social Scene. Gosling received an Academy Award nomination for lead actor... |
Jamal | Film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... |
| 2006–2008 | The Wire The WIRE the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma... |
Michael Lee Michael Lee (The Wire) Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers... |
Television Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... |
| 2007 | Cold Case-8.03 (TV Episode) | Skill | Television Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... |
| 2008 | The Secret Life of Bees The Secret Life of Bees (film) The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 American drama film, adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The film was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and produced by Will Smith, with his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as executive producer. The film is noted for Queen Latifah's critically... |
Zach Taylor | Film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... |
| Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... -Driven (TV Episode) |
Will Manning | Television Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... |
|
| 2008–Present | 90210 90210 (TV series) 90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS... |
Dixon Wilson | Television Television Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound... |
| 2012 | Red Tails Red Tails Red Tails is an upcoming 2012 action drama film directed by Anthony Hemingway, from a screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder. The story, written by Ridley, is inspired by true events. George Lucas serves as the executive producer for the project... |
Ray 'Ray Gun' Gannon | Film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... |
| Indelible | Adrian | Film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... |