It might feel like Sterling K. Brown just appeared out of nowhere with his jaw-dropping performances in This Is Us and The People v. O.J. Simpson. But the truth is, this 41-year-old powerhouse has been quietly grinding in Hollywood for over a decade and a half. Now, he's finally getting the recognition he deserves, especially after making history as the first Black actor to win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Drama. That's something worth celebrating, don't you think?
"To finally be the first of something is really fascinating," Sterling shared backstage at the Golden Globes on January 7, according to ABC News. "I never saw myself as a trailblazer. I just focus on staying true to myself. If I can come from a place of authenticity, that's all I can do. I don’t have to try to be Jackie Robinson or anyone else, but I’m incredibly honored by this moment." You can feel the humility in his words, can't you?
From St. Louis to Hollywood: Sterling's Early Days
Sterling's journey began in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was born as Kelby Brown. At just 16 years old, he decided to change his name to Sterling to honor his late father. That's a pretty bold move, right? It shows you how much family means to him. Sterling's education took him to some of the best institutions in the country. He graduated from Stanford University, where he met his future wife and This Is Us co-star, Ryan Michelle Bathe. Talk about destiny bringing people together! He then went on to earn an MFA from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Talk about being a triple threat!
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The Long Road to Stardom
Over the past 15 years, Sterling has been popping up in numerous guest-starring roles on TV shows like ER, NYPD Blue, and The Good Wife. He even had a full-time gig on the Lifetime drama Army Wives. But it wasn't until 2016 that he truly became a household name thanks to his unforgettable role in FX’s The People v. O.J. Simpson. That performance earned him his first Emmy, and he followed it up with another win the next year for his work on NBC’s This Is Us. Now, he's not just a TV star—he's a movie star too, with roles in films like Marshall, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and the upcoming blockbusters Black Panther and The Predator. It's like he's unstoppable!
But as Sterling mentioned in his Golden Globes acceptance speech, his number one priority will always be his family. He and his wife Ryan have two beautiful kids, Andrew and Amaré. "The love of a child, nothing can surpass that," Sterling told Today in September. Now, while nothing beats the love of family, I'm pretty sure a history-making Golden Globe feels pretty darn good too, doesn't it?
