Sinqua Walls

Sinqua Walls is an American actor known for his work in film and television. His work includes the feature films White Men Can’t Jump, Carry-On, and Man of Tomorrow, as well as the Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. Carry-On became one of Netflix’s most-watched films, recording 172.1 million views during its first 91 days of release. Earlier in his career, Walls starred as Don Cornelius in BET’s American Soul and appeared in the television series Power, Teen Wolf, Once Upon a Time, and Friday Night Lights.

Early life and education Walls was born in Louisiana and moved with his family to Marina del Rey, California, during childhood. He attended El Segundo High School before enrolling at the University of San Francisco, where he studied theatre and film while playing NCAA Division I basketball for the San Francisco Dons men’s basketball team. After graduating in 2007, he pursued a career in acting.

Career Walls began his acting career with guest and recurring roles in television series including Lincoln Heights, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey’s Anatomy, Chuck, Blue Mountain State, Friday Night Lights, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Necessary Roughness, and Pair of Kings.

He gained wider recognition portraying Vernon Boyd in MTV’s supernatural drama Teen Wolf before appearing as Sir Lancelot in ABC’s Once Upon a Time. He later played Shawn Stark in the Starz crime drama Power and starred as Terrance “Lil Ray” Baltimore in VH1’s The Breaks.

In 2017, Walls was cast in Clint Eastwood’s biographical drama The 15:17 to Paris, released the following year.

In 2018, Walls was cast as Don Cornelius in BET’s drama series American Soul, portraying the creator and host of Soul Train. The series ran for two seasons and marked his first leading role in a scripted television series.

Walls subsequently expanded into feature films with roles in Resort to Love, Nanny: Nanny premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where it became the first horror film to win the U.S Democratic Grand Jury Prize, Alice, The Blackening, and Mending the Line.

In 2023, he starred as Kamal Allen in White Men Can’t Jump, the remake of the 1992 sports comedy.

In 2024, Walls appeared in the Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and the Netflix action thriller Carry-On. Carry-On became one of Netflix’s most-watched films, recording 172.1 million views during its first 91 days of release.

In 2026, it was announced that Walls had joined the cast of James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman (2025), in an undisclosed role. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Choose Connor Voter 2009 The Second Half Harlan Short film 2011 From the Head Santos Shark Night Malik Henry 2014 Believe Me Tyler 2016 Past Forward Man #3 Short film 2018 The 15:17 to Paris Marine 2019 Otherhood Matt Walker 2021 Resort to Love Caleb King 2022 Nanny Malik Alice Joseph The Blackening Nnamdi Mending the Line John Colter 2023 White Men Can't Jump Kamal Allen 2024 Carry-On Jason Noble 2027 Man of Tomorrow TBA

Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 Lincoln HeightsDesmond 2 episodes 2008 Chuck Student Episode: "Chuck Versus the Ex" 2008 Friday Night Lights Jamarcus Hall 9 episodes 2010–2012 Pair of Kings Pierce 4 episodes 2010 Grey's Anatomy Tom Kates Episode: "Blink" 2010 Blue Mountain State Batman Barstow 2 episodes 2010 Savage Country Noah Television film 2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Paramedic Sam Rill Episode: "CSI Down" 2011–2012 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Daniel 13 episodes 2012–2015 Once Upon a Time Sir Lancelot 6 episodes 2012–2013 Teen Wolf Vernon Boyd 15 episodes 2013 Necessary Roughness Devon Langer Episode: "Swimming with Sharks" 2014–2015 Power Shawn 18 episodes 2017 The Breaks Terrance "Lil Ray" Baltimore Main role (season 1) Tales Marcus Episode 7 2019–2020 American Soul Don Cornelius Main role 2024 Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist McKinley 'Mac' Rogers Side Role