Biography
Omar Benson Miller is an American actor whose commanding screen presence, natural charisma, and versatility have made him a familiar face across film, television, and voice acting for more than two decades. Born on October 7, 1978, in Anaheim, California, and a graduate of San José State University, Miller began building his career with memorable appearances in television before breaking into feature films with roles in Sorority Boys (2002), 8 Mile (2002), American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005), Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2005), Shall We Dance? (2004), Transformers (2007), The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008), and Miracle at St. Anna (2008), the acclaimed World War II drama directed by Spike Lee, which marked one of his earliest leading dramatic performances.
On television, Miller steadily established himself as one of Hollywood’s most dependable character actors with recurring and starring roles in series including Sex, Love & Secrets, Eleventh Hour, and as forensic investigator Walter Simmons on CBS’s long-running hit CSI: Miami (2009–2012). He later earned widespread recognition as Charles Greane, the loyal financial advisor and close friend to Dwayne Johnson’s character on HBO’s critically acclaimed comedy-drama Ballers (2015–2019), a role that introduced him to an even broader international audience. Miller continued his television success as Ben Taylor on CBS’s family comedy The Unicorn (2019–2021), voiced Raphael in Nickelodeon’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series and feature film, portrayed Randy Carmichael in Paramount+’s revival of Rugrats, appeared in Apple TV+’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, starred opposite Steve Howey in CBS’s action-comedy True Lies (2023), and continued expanding his range with guest appearances in acclaimed series including I’m a Virgo.
Miller reached a new career milestone in 2025 with his standout performance as Cornbread in Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed supernatural thriller Sinners. The film became one of the year’s most celebrated releases, earning major awards recognition and placing Miller at the center of one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed ensemble casts. As part of the Sinners ensemble, he received the 2026 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, shared the 2026 Actor Award (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and was honored with the 2025 Gotham Tribute Award alongside his castmates.
Away from acting, Miller has become an increasingly recognizable personality within the entertainment industry. In early 2026, he hosted the 9th Astra Film Awards, further showcasing his humor and stage presence, and during Oscar season he was honored with the Amplified Impact Award at the Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood celebration for his lasting contributions to film and television.
With a career spanning comedy, drama, action, animation, and blockbuster filmmaking, Omar Benson Miller has built an impressive body of work defined by authenticity, warmth, and memorable performances. From early roles in acclaimed studio films to starring on hit television series and contributing to one of the most celebrated films of 2025, he continues to be one of Hollywood’s most respected and consistently working actors, with his recent success in Sinners marking a significant new chapter in an already distinguished career.
