McKinley Freeman (born June 9, 1973) is an American actor and producer recognized for his work across television dramas, soap operas, and independent film. Freeman—born David Freeman—initially pursued a career in professional basketball before earning an MBA in marketing and transitioning into acting, a path that began with appearances on daytime television including the long-running soap opera All My Children. He steadily built a career through guest and recurring roles on popular series such as Bones, Criminal Minds, Scandal, and Days of Our Lives, before gaining wider recognition for starring as professional basketball player Derek Roman on the VH1 drama Hit the Floor, a role that helped establish him as a leading man on television.

Freeman continued to expand his television presence with prominent roles in series such as Daytime Divas and If Loving You Is Wrong, while also appearing in shows like Queen Sugar, where he portrayed Dominic, and portraying music legend Ike Turner in the BET biographical drama American Soul. He has also appeared in genre and streaming projects including Titans and Our Kind of People, demonstrating range across drama, biographical storytelling, and action-oriented television.

In film, Freeman’s credits include projects such as Greencard Warriors, for which he received the California Film Award (Diamond Award) for Best Actor, marking one of the early award recognitions of his career.

In recent years, Freeman has remained active in the streaming television space, taking on the role of Lewis Stewart in the Hulu legal drama Reasonable Doubt, a series that has expanded his profile with modern audiences and continued into additional seasons through the mid-2020s. His continued work in high-profile ensemble dramas and streaming series has solidified him as a consistent presence in contemporary television, while his producing efforts and independent projects further demonstrate his ongoing evolution within the entertainment industry. Freeman has also received recognition including a 2013 California Film Award for Best Actor and a 2025 Vision Award nomination for Best Performance in Drama, highlighting both his longevity and sustained impact as a performer.