Mike Colter

Mike Colter (born August 26, 1976) is an American actor best known for his role as Luke Cage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2015, including in the series Luke Cage (2016–2018).

He has also appeared as David Acosta in the CBS/Paramount+ series Evil (2019–2024), Lemond Bishop in the television series The Good Wife (2010–2015) and The Good Fight (2018–2019), Malcolm Ward in Ringer (2011–2012), and Agent J's father in Men in Black 3 (2012), and Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise (2014–2015).

Early life Colter is a graduate of Calhoun County High School. In his senior high school yearbook, his senior superlative as voted by the class was "most ambitious." Colter spent a year at Benedict College before transferring to the University of South Carolina, receiving a bachelor's degree in theater in 1999. He obtained an MFA degree in acting from the Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Career Colter's first role was in the film Million Dollar Baby as boxer Big Willie Little. He also guest starred on Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, ER, and The Parkers as well as several television films. He starred in the series Ringer.

In 2012, Colter appeared in Men in Black 3 as Agent J's father.

In 2014, Colter began portraying the role of Agent Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise. Colter starred in the series Halo: Nightfall and provided the motion capture for Locke in Halo 5: Guardians, with Ike Amadi voicing the character.

Colter co-starred as Luke Cage / Carl Lucas in Jessica Jones on Netflix. The first season was released online on November 20, 2015. This was followed by a solo series, Luke Cage, with the first season being released on September 30, 2016. The second season release followed on June 22, 2018. In between the two seasons, Colter also appeared as Cage in The Defenders.

Colter starred in the 2018 alien invasion film Extinction.

Colter was announced as the male lead in the CBS drama pilot, Evil as David Acosta, a Catholic seminarian who assesses unexplained phenomena for supernatural or scientific explanations.

In 2020, Colter starred in the Netflix anthology series Social Distance.

In 2023, Colter and Gerard Butler starred in the film Plane by Lionsgate Play. Colter was expected to headline a sequel titled Ship, but the film was cancelled before production commenced.

Colter reprised his role as Luke Cage in the second season finale of the Marvel Studios' Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again and is set to return in the third season.

Personal life Colter met his future wife, Iva, at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where they were both graduate students. The couple married in 2002. They have two daughters. Colter is a second cousin of actress Viola Davis. He resides in Los Angeles.

In 2019, Colter played for the "home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Million Dollar Baby Big Willie Little 2005 Brooklyn Lobster Jamal 2007 And Then Came Love Yuppie Paul 2010 Salt CIA Tactical Leader 2012 Men in Black 3 Col. James Darrell Edwards II Zero Dark Thirty DEVGRU Operative Mike 2017 Girls Trip Stewart Pierce 2018 Extinction David Skin Daryle Lamont Jenkins 2019 Before You Know It Charles Breakthrough Tommy Shine Black and Blue Darius Tureau 2020 Fatale Rafe Grimes 2021 South of Heaven Whit Price 2022 I'm Charlie Walker Charlie Walker Carter Smith 2023 Plane Louis Gaspare Murder City Neil 2024 The Union Nick Faraday 2025 Alarum Orlin

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 ER Watts Episode: "Hindsight" Lamar Episode: "Lights, Camera, Action" 2005 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Officer Billy Tolbert Episode: "Blue Wall" Silver Bells Bill Television film 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dave Oldren Episode: "Albatross" 2009 Taking Chance Master Gunnery Sgt. Demetry Television film Solving Charlie Jack Dash Television film Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Joseph Serumaga Episode: "Hell" 2010 Royal Pains Officer Tanner Episode: "Lovesick" 2010–2015 The Good Wife Lemond Bishop Recurring cast (season 1-2 & 4-6)Guest (season 3);21 episodes 2011 Blue Bloods Cliff Reacher Episode: "The Blue Templar" 2011–2012 Ringer Malcolm Ward Main cast;16 episodes 2013 Criminal Minds Colin Bramwell Episode: "Final Shot" The Surgeon General Dr. McCallan Television film 2013–2014 American Horror Story: Coven David Recurring cast;3 episodes 2013–2015 The Following Nick Donovan Recurring cast (season 1 & 3);8 episodes 2014 Halo: Nightfall Agent Jameson Locke Main cast;5 episodes 2015 Agent X Miles Lathem Main cast;10 episodes 2015–2019 Jessica Jones Luke Cage Main role (season 1); 7 episodes Guest role (season 3); Episode: "A.K.A. Everything" 2016 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself Episode: "Mike Colter Wears a Pink Button Up and Black Boots" 2016–2018 Luke Cage Luke Cage / Carl Lucas Lead role;26 episodes 2017 Hollywood Game Night Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Playing Hardwick to Get" Breakthrough Himself/Narrator (voice) Episode: "Addiction: A Psychedelic Cure?" The Defenders Luke Cage Main role, miniseries;8 episodes 2018 Comic Book Men Himself Episode: "Power Man vs. Counter Man" American Dad! Guerrilla Soldier (voice) Episode: "(You Gotta) Strike for Your Right" 2018–2019 The Good Fight Lemond Bishop 2 episodes 2019 Drop the Mic Himself Episode: "Mike Colter vs. Ne-Yo and Christina Milian vs. Ashlee Simpson" Hollywood Game Night Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Kiss Me in Lamorne-ing" Seis Manos Brister (voice) Main cast8 episodes 2019–2024 Evil David Acosta Main cast50 episodes 2020 Tiny Creatures Narrator (voice) Main cast8 episodes Monsterland Brian Cooke Episode: "Newark, New Jersey" Social Distance Ike Episode: "Delete All Future Events" 2021 Match Game Himself/Celebrity Panelist Episode #6.2 City Confidential Himself/Narrator (voice) Main narrator (season 12) 2024 Accused John Episode: "Megan's Story" 2026–present Daredevil: Born Again Luke Cage Guest role (season 2); Episode: "The Southern Cross" Main role (season 3); Post-production2026 M.I.A. Dominick Pierre Recurring cast; 3 episodes Big City GreensMr. Brawn (voice)Episode: "Fitness Test"

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2014 Halo: The Master Chief Collection Spartan Jameson Locke 2015 Halo 5: Guardians Also likenessMotion-capture only

Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Category Result 2017 Luke Cage Black Reel Awards Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series MTV Movie & TV Awards MTV Movie Award for Best Hero NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Saturn Awards Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television 2018 The Defenders NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 2020 Evil Critics' Choice Television Awards Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series 2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Horror Series Saturn Awards Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television