Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell (born January 5, 1987)[1] is an American actor. Mitchell started his career acting in minor roles in films such as the action-thriller Contraband (2012), and the neo-noir Broken City (2013). He is best known for portraying rapper Eazy-E in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. The film is considered his career breakthrough, for which he received numerous award nominations including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. Mitchell has also appeared in the Key and Peele comedy film Keanu (2016), the Netflix film Barry (2016), James Franco's The Disaster Artist (2017), and the blockbuster Kong: Skull Island (2017). He has also appeared in critically acclaimed film such as Kathryn Bigelow's crime drama Detroit (2017), Dee Rees' historical drama Mudbound (2017) and Janicza Bravo's black comedy Zola (2021).

For the American football player, see Jason Mitchell (wide receiver).

Jason Mitchell
Mitchell in 2016
Born (1987-01-05) January 5, 1987
Würzburg, Germany
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present

Mitchell is also known for his television roles, making guest appearances in the Amazon Studios limited series Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (2018), Alan Yang's dark comedy series Forever acting alongside Hong Chau. Starting in 2018 he was cast in Lena Waithe's Showtime series The Chi until 2019 when he was accused of multiple allegations of misconduct and subsequently fired from the show. He was also dropped by several talent agencies.[2]

Career

Mitchell had his film debut in 2011 as a 7-Eleven cashier in the crime film Texas Killing Fields. He continued acting in minor roles such as the action-thriller Contraband (2012) starring Mark Wahlberg, and the political neo-noir Broken City (2013) starring Russell Crowe and Wahlberg.

In 2014, Mitchell made his film breakthrough when he was cast as Compton rapper Eazy-E in the F. Gary Gray directed biopic Straight Outta Compton,[3] with his performance being met with significant praise by critics.[4] He received multiple awards nominations including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2016, he appeared in Keanu, which starred Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, and in the Netflix biopic about Barack Obama.

In 2017 starred as a Vietnam War officer in the blockbuster monster movie, Kong: Skull Island. That same year he also appeared in James Franco's comedy film The Disaster Artist. He also starred in two critically acclaimed films, Kathryn Bigelow's crime drama Detroit starring John Boyega, Kaitlyn Dever, and Will Poulter and Dee Rees' historical drama Mudbound. For the later he received the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award and the Gotham Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance along the cast which included Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jonathan Banks, and Mary J. Blige. Mitchell also received his second Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture nomination.

Michell has also made appearances in television including in the Amazon Studios limited series Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (2017) where he appeared in the episode, "Kill all Others". He also appeared in the Alan Yang created dark comedy series Forever (2018) starring in the episode "Andre and Sarah", playing Andre with Hong Chau playing Sarah. The episode was critically acclaimed for its storytelling and performances. In 2018, Mitchell starred in the Lena Waithe's Showtime drama series The Chi, but did not return for a third season due to his misconduct allegations.[5][6]

Controversies

Sexual misconduct allegations

In May 2019, Mitchell was fired from The Chi when showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis and co-star Tiffany Boone accused him of sexual misconduct.[7] Boone was among many actresses who "made repeated complaints of sexual harassment" against Mitchell and said she felt "unsafe" around him.[8]

While creator and showrunner Lena Waithe claimed that Mitchell had never acted inappropriately towards her, she knew of the allegations after filming had wrapped on season one of The Chi. Waithe reportedly sought preemptive and corrective measures to handle the situation. She stated that there had been extensive sexual harassment training on set and that she confronted Mitchell about the allegations by saying, "There was definitely a conversation where I called him and got really real". Waithe alleged the harassment and misconduct allegations continued into season two despite the corrective measures taken.[9]

Mitchell denied the multiple allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against him saying, "I'm all for the Me Too movement...but I think in this situation, [Floyd Davis] tried to use it as a really, really ugly weapon".[10] Mitchell was subsequently fired from the Netflix film Desperados, and was dropped by United Talent Agency and Authentic Talent & Literary Management.[11]

Criminal charges

Mitchell was arrested on April 22, 2020, on multiple counts, including "possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a felon."[12] Officers searched his SUV and found about 2 pounds of marijuana with a bag of 1,300 dosage units of Ecstasy. Deputies also found an AK-47 firearm and a Glock 9mm pistol with extended magazines. Mitchell was released after posting a $150,000 surety bond.[13]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Director Notes
2011 Texas Killing Fields 7-Eleven Cashier Ami Canaan Mann
2012 Contraband Walter Baltasar Kormákur
Dragon Eyes J-Dog John Hyams
2013 Broken City Cast Friend #1 Allen Hughes
2015 Straight Outta Compton Eazy-E F. Gary Gray
2016 Keanu Bud Peter Atencio
Vincent N Roxxy Cordell Gary Michael Schultz
Barry PJ Vikram Gandhi
2017 Kong: Skull Island Glenn Mills Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Detroit Carl Cooper Kathryn Bigelow
Mudbound Ronsel Jackson Dee Rees
The Disaster Artist Nate James Franco
2018 Tyrel Tyler Sebastián Silva
Superfly Eddie Director X
2019 The Mustang Henry Cooper Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
2020 Zola Dion Janicza Bravo
2021 For the Love of Money Gregory Leslie Small
TBA Scarborn[14] Domingo Paweł Maślona Post-production

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Major Crimes Twizz Episode: "Snitch"
2017–18 Freedom Fighters: The Ray John Trujillo / Black Condor Voice; Web series
2018–19 The Chi Brandon Johnson 20 episodes
2018 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Lenny Episode: "Kill All Others"
Forever Andre Episode: "Andre and Sarah"

Awards and nominations
Year Award Project Result Ref.
2015Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureStraight Outta ComptonNominated
Empire Award for Best Male NewcomerNominated[15]
Hamptons International Film Festival Award for Breakthrough PerformerWon
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleNominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an EnsembleNominated
African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorWon
African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleWon
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Ensemble CastWon
Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated
Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough PerformanceNominated
2016 San Diego International Film Festival Rising Star Award Career Achievement Awarded [16]
2017Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureMudboundNominated
Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting EnsembleWon
Independent Spirit Robert Altman AwardWon
Gotham Award for Best Ensemble PerformanceWon
Hollywood Film Award for Breakout EnsembleWon
Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best EnsembleNominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best EnsembleNominated
Black Reel Award for Best Supporting ActorWon
Black Reel Award for Best EnsembleWon

References
  1. "UPI Almanac for Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019". United Press International. January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019. actor Jason Mitchell in 1987 (age 33)
  2. "Jason Mitchell". Moviefit. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  3. Siegel, Tatiana (June 16, 2014). "NWA Biopic Casts Its Dr. Dre, Eazy-E". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. Scott, Mike (August 17, 2015). "What does Eazy-E's daughter think of New Orleans actor Jason Mitchell's portrayal of her father in 'Straight Outta Compton'?". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  5. Metz, Nina. "As 'The Chi' returns without Jason Mitchell, a look back at why is he off the series". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  6. "Jason Mitchell Arrested for Drugs, Weapons in Mississippi | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  7. Lattanzio, Ryan (February 17, 2020). "'The Chi' Star Tiffany Boone Breaks Silence on Series Exit Amid Misconduct Accusations Against Jason Mitchell". IndieWire. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. "Jason Mitchell Dropped From 'The Chi' and Netflix Film Amid Misconduct Claims". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  9. "Lena Waithe on Jason Mitchell Allegations: 'I Wish I Would've Handled It Differently'". Variety. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  10. "Former 'The Chi' actor Jason Mitchell denounces misconduct allegations that got him fired". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (May 20, 2019). "Jason Mitchell Dropped By UTA, Authentic, 'The Chi' & Netflix Movie 'Desperados' Over Misconduct Allegations". Deadline. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  12. Grobar, Matt (April 23, 2020). "'Straight Outta Compton's Jason Mitchell Arrested On Felony Drug And Weapons Charges". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  13. "Jason Mitchell Arrested for Drugs, Weapons in Mississippi". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. April 24, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  14. "Jason Mitchell & Bartosz Bielenia Join Jacek Braciak for Polish Historical Actioner 'Scarborn' as Filming Wraps; K5 Int'l Boards Sales". August 2022.
  15. Nugent, John (February 18, 2016). "Jameson Empire Awards 2016: Star Wars and Mad Max lead the nominations". Empire. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  16. Blair, Iain (September 29, 2016). "San Diego Film Fest Honors Annette Bening, Jason Mitchell, Simon Helberg and Kate Beckinsale". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
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