Biography

From drama to comedy, actor on the rise Sylvester Powell has steadily made a name for himself in the entertainment industry over the last few years. This summer he can be seen reprising his starring role as Jessie "JR" Raymond, Jr. on the critically acclaimed, CW drama series "All American: Homecoming." The show debuted on The CW in 2022 to rave reviews, with media calling it "big-hearted" (Variety), "the show is bolstered by solid performances" (IndieWire), "a compelling cast" (Decider), and "a warm and likable spin on the college experience" (The Hollywood Reporter).

"All American: Homecoming" is set against the backdrop of the HBCU experience at Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life. Powell remains a fan favorite as JR, with season three finding him struggling to get his life back on track following his ousting from KEK, and the completion of treatment for aplastic anemia. Season three will premiere on July 8, 2024, on The CW and will be available for streaming on The CW app.

Additional television credits for Powell include CBS' "CSI:NY," a lead role in the Facebook limited series "Five Points" (executive produced by Kerry Washington), and CBS' "Criminal Minds." On the film front Powell was the lead character in Mykel Shannon Jenkins' short film "Kilo Valley." Powell and Jenkins formed a great working relationship and collaborated on two additional film projects: "The Gods," a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story and "Two Wolves," an urban thriller drama.

Born on the west side of Chicago, Powell grew up in a household filled with music and the arts. As the son of prolific songwriter and record producer Sylvester Earl Powell and eldest of four siblings, his interest in show business was sparked at a very young age. He began modeling and acting classes as a child and built his resume with local work through high school. Upon graduation he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television full time, where Powell has been working ever since.

A natural athlete, Powell won a Gold Medal for Tumbling in the Junior Olympics and continues to build his gymnastic skills while also enjoying basketball and baseball. His athleticism led him to starring in global advertising campaigns for ASICS and Nike, where he was seen across Europe, specifically in Nike's first Paris/Michael Jordan collaboration store where he appeared in the advertising campaign for the 20th anniversary of "Space Jam."

Powell resides in the Los Angeles area.
- IMDb mini biography by: Persona PR