# Billy Brown (actor)

Billy Brown (born October 30, 1971) is an American actor best known for his lead roles as Richard 'Death Row' Reynolds on the FX sports drama series Lights Out (2011), Archer Petit on the CBS drama series Hostages (2013–14), and Detective Nate Lahey on the ABC legal drama series How to Get Away with Murder (2014–20). He is also known for his supporting roles as Detective Mike Anderson on the sixth and seventh seasons of the Showtime crime thriller series Dexter (2011–12), and August Marks on the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons of the FX action crime drama series Sons of Anarchy (2012–14).

## Early life

Brown was born and raised in Inglewood, California.

## Career

He is known for his role as detective Mike Anderson on Showtime's Dexter from 2011 to 2012. Previously he starred as boxer Richard "Death Row" Reynolds in the short-lived FX series Lights Out. In 2012, he landed the recurring role of August Marks in the fifth and sixth season of Sons of Anarchy. He also provided the second voice of Cliffjumper in the animated series Transformers: Prime. In 2013, he portrayed Agent Troy Riley in the first season of The Following.
Brown starred opposite Toni Collette in the CBS drama series Hostages from 2013-14. In 2014, he was cast opposite Viola Davis in ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder, produced by Shonda Rhimes.
In 2018, Brown was cast in his first film leading role in the Screen Gems' thriller Proud Mary opposite Taraji P. Henson.
Brown also voices recruiting commercials for the United States Marine Corps.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Geronimo: An American Legend | Native American | |
| 1993 | Dreamrider | Boy in Boston | |
| 1997 | The Beautician and the Beast | Fireman | |
| 1997 | The Lost World: Jurassic Park | InGen Worker | |
| 2001 | Second Coming | — | |
| 2002 | The Wild Thornberrys Movie | Rhino | Voice |
| 2005 | House of the Dead 2 | Griffin | |
| 2008 | I Am Bubba | Bubba | Short film |
| 2008 | Cloverfield | Staff Sgt. Pryce | |
| 2008 | Lakeview Terrace | Patrolman | |
| 2009 | Race to Witch Mountain | Mr. Carson | |
| 2009 | Star Trek | Med Evac Pilot | |
| 2018 | Proud Mary | Tom Spencer | |
| 2018 | Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | Ben Turner / Bronze Tiger | Voice |
| 2020 | Working Man | Walter Brewer | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000–03 | As Told by Ginger | Mr. Patterson / Delivery Guy | 4 episodes |
| 2004 | Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation | Private Ottis Brick | Television film |
| 2004 | CSI: NY | George Thomas | Episode: "Grand Master" |
| 2004 | NCIS | Chief Petty Officer Velat | Episode: "Heart Break" |
| 2005 | Cold Case | Donald Williams | Episode: "Strange Fruit" |
| 2005–06 | E-Ring | MSgt. Meeks | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Criminal Minds | Det. Ware | Episode: "Fear and Loathing" |
| 2007 | Backyards & Bullets | Craig Winslow | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2007–08 | Dirt | Tweety McDaniel | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Southland | Talib | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Californication | Marcy's Date | Episode: "The Land of Rape and Honey" |
| 2010 | CSI: NY | Business Pedestrian | Episode: "Unfriendly Chat" |
| 2011 | Reconstruction | Sam | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2011 | Lights Out | Richard 'Death Row' Reynolds | 11 episodes |
| 2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Joe Marshall | Episode: "Official Story" |
| 2011–12 | Dexter | Det. Mike Anderson | 11 episodes |
| 2012 | Transformers Prime | Cliffjumper | Episode: "Out of the Past" |
| 2013 | The Following | Troy Riley | 3 episodes |
| 2012–14 | Sons of Anarchy | August Marks | 14 episodes |
| 2013–14 | Hostages | Archer Petit | 15 episodes |
| 2014 | Legends | Robert McCombs | Episode: "Rogue" |
| 2014–20 | How to Get Away with Murder | Detective Nate Lahey | 90 episodes |
| 2015 | Adventure Time | The Vampire King | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake | The Vampire King | Episode: "The Star" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Jet Set Radio | DJ Professor K | |
| 2002 | Jet Set Radio Future | DJ Professor K | |
| 2004 | Hot Shots Golf Fore! | T-Bone | |
| 2004 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 | Zez-Kai Ell | |
| 2007 | Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars | Nod Announcer | |
| 2012 | Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed | DJ Professor K | Archive footage |
| 2018 | SEGA Heroes | DJ Professor K | Archive footage |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2012 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |