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African-American actor Michael Ealy was born on August 3, 1973, in Silver Springs, Maryland, but he grew up in the suburban neighborhood of Stonegate. Michael graduated from Spring Brook High School, as well as the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in English. He has made cameo appearances in the music videos "Get Your Number" by Mariah Carey & J.D. and "Trade It All" by Fabulous featuring P. Diddy and Jagged Edge. Michael had roles in the films "Bad Company," "The Lush Life" and "Kissing Jessica Stein," but he is best known for his role as Ricky Nash in the movies "Barbershop" and "Barbershop 2: Back In Business." He also has guest starred on the crime drama "Law & Order," the hospital series "E.R.," and the hit series "Soul Food."

A native of Silver Spring, MD, suave and clean-cut actor Michael Ealy appeared on-camera from the late '90s. He began on the small screen, with guest appearances on network programs including Law & Order and ER, but scored his breakout role with a much-favored turn as Ricky Nash, a convict-in-the-running with several past charges against him, in the predominantly African American ensemble comedies Barbershop (2002) and Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004). The billing in these projects was somewhat prescient: Ealy continued to take challenging and unique supporting roles and gradually worked his way up the Hollywood ladder, openly declaring himself in no hurry to become a top-billed star. Additional projects included the action sagas 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and S.W.A.T. (2003) and the psychological thriller November (2003), but Ealy netted much greater acclaim -- and flexed some impressive dramatic muscle -- with his portrayal of Teacake in the Oprah Winfrey-produced telemovie Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005). He then landed the incredibly demanding and edgy lead role of Darwyn Al-Sayeed, a terrorist plotting an attack on the United States, in the Showtime original miniseries Sleeper Cell (2005). In 2008, Ealy starred opposite Will Smith and Rosario Dawson in the earnest suicide drama Seven Pounds, directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness). Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

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