Justin Cornwell: Movies & Filmography

Justin Michael Cornwell is an American actor, writer, and musician who has quickly become a recognizable face in contemporary television and film. Born on November 5, 1988 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, he spent his early childhood moving between Cleveland, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky, a journey that exposed him to diverse cultural influences and sparked his passion for performance. After his mother remarried to Jackie Herring, the family settled in Louisville when Justin was ten, and he soon began participating in school choir and theater productions at Eastern High School, where his talent was noted by the Muhammad Ali Center as a premier student artist. He pursued formal acting studies at the University of Louisville, graduating with a solid foundation that prepared him for the competitive world of professional acting. In 2011, driven by ambition, he relocated to Chicago, where his career launched with roles at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, appearing in productions such as Othello the Remix and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His early screen work included commercials for Walmart and the Ohio Lottery, followed by guest spots on NBC’s Chicago P.D. and Fox’s Empire. A breakthrough arrived in 2016 when he was cast as Kyle Craig in the CBS series Training Day, a role he carried through the show's sole season. Subsequent projects showcased his range: a part in Spike Lee’s Chi‑Raq, a starring role in the TNT limited series I Am the Night, and an appearance in the supernatural drama The InBetween. In 2020, Cornwell captured audiences as young Jeronicus Jangle in Netflix’s musical Jingle Jangle, delivering a memorable performance of the opening song “This Day”. The following year he joined The Umbrella Academy as Marcus Hargreeves, leading the Sparrow Academy, and was later announced as a lead in Gareth Evans’ action thriller Havoc alongside Tom Hardy. Most recently, he has portrayed LaMarcus Alton in the reboot series Bel‑Air, cementing his reputation as a versatile and dynamic talent in today’s entertainment landscape.