Jonathan Majors

Jonathan Michael Majors was born on September 7, 1989, in Lompoc, California, and spent much of his youth in Texas. He discovered his passion for acting while attending the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, after which he earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. His professional career began on the stage, but he quickly transitioned to screen roles. His early film work included a supporting part in the 2017 Korean War film The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019), where his performance began to attract critical attention for its intensity and emotional depth.

Majors' breakthrough role came in 2020 with his portrayal of Atticus Freeman in the HBO horror-fantasy series Lovecraft Country. The series, which blended historical fiction with cosmic horror, was a critical success, and Majors' performance as a Korean War veteran searching for his missing father was widely praised as a compelling anchor for the ambitious narrative. Following this, he delivered a critically acclaimed performance as real-life amateur bodybuilder Denny in the independent film Magazine Dreams, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. His most significant commercial contribution to date is his role as Damian "Dame" Anderson, the primary antagonist, in the 2023 blockbuster Creed III.

Majors has rapidly become one of the most sought-after actors of his generation, noted for his chameleonic ability to inhabit complex and physically demanding roles. His casting as a major villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), playing variants of Kang the Conqueror, signifies a pivotal impact on the blockbuster landscape. He is positioned as the next overarching antagonist for the franchise, a role that carries significant narrative weight. His work, particularly in Lovecraft Country, also contributed to important conversations about race and history within genre storytelling, demonstrating the commercial and critical viability of such projects.

Following his appearance in Creed III and as Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Majors was set to reprise his role as the primary antagonist in future Marvel films, including Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, his professional trajectory was significantly altered following a conviction for misdemeanor assault and harassment in late 2023. As a result, Marvel Studios dropped him from all future projects. His other completed film, Magazine Dreams, was subsequently pulled from its theatrical release schedule by Searchlight Pictures. His future projects and career path are currently uncertain as he navigates the legal and professional repercussions.

Jonathan Majors is an American actor who has rapidly become one of the most compelling and sought-after talents in Hollywood. Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in a military family, Majors developed a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for discipline, which he later channeled into his acting. He studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and earned his Master of Fine Arts from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. This rigorous classical training provided a solid foundation for his intense and physically transformative approach to his roles. Off-screen, Majors is known for his thoughtful demeanor and dedication to his craft, often undergoing significant physical and psychological preparation for his characters.

Majors matters because he represents a new wave of leading men who bring both formidable physical presence and profound emotional depth to their performances. He consistently chooses complex, challenging roles that often explore themes of identity, trauma, and power. His rise to prominence signals a shift in the industry toward more nuanced and layered portrayals of masculinity, particularly for Black actors. Majors is not just a star; he is an artist who elevates every project he is part of, making him a critical figure in contemporary cinema and television. His work demonstrates that blockbuster entertainment and serious acting are not mutually exclusive.

Jonathan Majors first gained significant attention for his breakout role in the independent film The Last Black Man in San Francisco, where his performance as a sensitive and loyal friend earned critical acclaim. However, he reached a global audience with his starring role as Atticus Freeman in the HBO series Lovecraft Country. The show blended horror, fantasy, and social commentary, and Majors’s portrayal of a Korean War veteran navigating racism and supernatural terrors was widely praised for its charisma and vulnerability. More recently, he entered the world of major franchises, delivering a chilling performance as the villain Damian "Dame" Anderson in Creed III, opposite Michael B. Jordan. This role showcased his ability to be both a physically intimidating antagonist and a deeply sympathetic character. He is also set to become a central figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the time-traveling villain Kang the Conqueror, a role that confirms his status as a defining actor of his generation.