The One Night in Miami cast expertly brings to life a story of Black American icons, and many of the cast members will seem familiar to viewers. The Amazon Prime film is based on the eponymous play by Powers Kemp, who adapted his story for the movie version. One Night in Miami revolves around conversations between civil rights activist Malcolm X, boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), NFL star Jim Brown, and musician Sam Cooke.
Directed by Regina King, One Night in Miami mostly takes place in a hotel room. After Clay earns the heavyweight title on February 25, 1964, he celebrates with various high-profile friends and plans to announce his religious conversion to Islam the following day, with Malcolm X at his side. Meanwhile, Brown discusses a potential movie career, and Cooke receives criticism for the fluffy nature of his lyrics. One Night in Miami underlines each man's hopes and fears, with the subtext focusing on the sociopolitical climate of the time.
The One Night in Miami cast is headlined by actors like Kingsley Ben-Adir and Leslie Odom Jr., who deliver layered and complex performances. But they are far from being the only recognizable faces in the movie, as there are plenty of other notable actors and actresses in supporting roles.
Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as Malcolm X, an iconic human rights activist who was the spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. In One Night in Miami, Malcolm X successfully recruits Cassius Clay but also feels conflicted abut his own role within the organization. Malcolm X was assassinated approximately one year after the events in One Night in Miami.
Ben-Adir portrayed Ben Younger in Peaky Blinders and Karim Washington in The OA. He recently starred opposite Zoë Kravitz in the one-and-done Hulu series High Fidelity, and also played Jake Hapman in the Disney+ original film Noelle.
Eli Goree co-stars as the legendary boxer Cassius Clay, who earns the heavyweight title after defeating Sonny Liston. After converting to Islam in real life, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and famously protested the Vietnam War. In One Night in Miami, he's portrayed as a thoughtful 22-year-old who is uncertain about committing to Islam, if only because of his conversations with Malcolm X.
Goree appeared as Wells Jaha in The 100 and Dave Albritton in the 2016 movie Race. He also portrayed Quincy Carter in Ballers and Mad Dog in Riverdale.
Aldis Hodge co-stars as NFL running back Jim Brown, who played his ninth and final season in 1964 before retiring at age 28. In One Night in Miami, he's optimistic about a movie career but is reminded about Hollywood's unflattering portrayals of African-American characters. Brown made his movie debut in the 1964 film Rio Conchos and remained a working industry actor over the next 40 years. He's best known for portraying Robert Jefferson in The Dirty Dozen, Fireball in The Running Man, and Montezuma Monroe in Any Given Sunday.
Hodge played original N.W.A. member MC Ren in Straight Outta Compton and Levi Jackson in Hidden Figures. He also starred as the title character in Brian Banks, appeared as Jack in the Black Mirror season 4 episode "Black Museum", and held a leading role as Alec Hardison on Leverage.
Leslie Odom Jr. co-stars as Sam Cooke, a soul singer who was at the height of his fame in 1964. In One Night in Miami, Malcolm X challenges Cooke to write inspirational songs that could positively impact the civil rights movement, which ultimately inspired the musician to compose "A Change Is Gonna Come." Nine months after the events in One Night in Miami, Cooke was murdered in downtown Los Angeles at age 33.
Odom Jr. is best known starring as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. During the early 2010s, he appeared as Reverend Curtis Scott in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and also portrayed Dr. Arbuthnot in Murder on the Orient Express.
Joaquina Kalukango portays Malcolm's wife Betty Shabazz aka Betty X. In the Amazon Prime film, she worries about her husband while taking care of their six children. Betty X died in 1997 after her 10-year-old grandson purposely set fire to her home.
Kalukango portrayed Michelle in the 2018 indie hit Chained for Life and recently appeared as Hannah in four episodes of Lovecraft Country season 1. Netflix subscribers may know her as Adelle from When They See Us.
In a smaller role, Nicolette Robinson portrays Sam's wife, Barbara Cooke. Less than three months after her husband's December 1964 death, Barbara married musician Bobby Womack on his 21st birthday.
Robinson portrayed Tara Jane in Hart of Dixie and Sade in Love in the Time of Corona. She's perhaps best known for her role as Jane in The Affair.
Michael Imperioli portrays Angelo Dundee, Clay/Ali's trainer for the majority of his career. Dundee also trained Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. He briefly appears in One Night in Miami during an introductory boxing sequence. Dundee passed away in 2012 at age 90.
Imperioli famously starred as the mobster Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos. He also portrayed Spider in Goodfellas and headlined the early 2010s ABC series Detroit 1-8-7 as Detective Louis Fitch. Most recently, Imperioli played Detective Michael Sellitto in Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector.
Jerome A. Wilson has a small role as Elijah Muhammad, who led the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975. In One Night in Miami, Malcolm X is challenged to question his mentor's motivations. Muhammad passed away in 1975 at age 77. Wilson makes his feature film debut in One Night in Miami.
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. portrays Drew Bundini Brown, the cornerman for Clay. In real life, Brown previously worked with the legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson (Jake LaMotta's primary rival in Raging Bull) and also wrote all of Clay/Ali's speeches. He died in 1987 at age 59, and was portrayed by Jamie Foxx in Ali.
Fans of HBO's The Wire will remember Gilliard Jr. as the Baltimore gangster D'Angelo Barksdale. He also portrayed Derek Wallace in The Waterboy, Jimmy Spoils in Gangs of New York, and Chris Alston in The Deuce.
Aaron D. Alexander portrays boxer Sonny Liston, who is defeated by Clay during the first act of One Night in Miami. In real life, Liston lost again to Clay (now going by Ali) in 1965, however it's been rumored that the fight was fixed. Liston mysteriously died in 1970 at either age 39 or 40 (his exact birthdate is unknown), presumably from a drug overdose.
Alexander appeared as Ed Robinson in Dirty John. He's also had small roles in Scandal, Ballers, and Black-ish.
Jeremy Pope portrays Jackie Wilson, a famous singer who essentially passed the torch to Sam Cooke during the early '60s. Wilson died in 1984 at age 49 from pneumonia complications. He's portrayed in La Bamba by Howard Huntsberry. Pope made his film debut as Jerk in 2018's The Ranger, and then played Archie Coleman in Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Hollywood.
Christopher Gorham briefly appears as talk show host Johnny Carson, who interviews Sam Cooke during the final act of One Night in Miami. Carson famously headlined The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1962 to 1992, and set a standard for later NBC hosts such as Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and Jimmy Fallon. Carson passed away in 2005 at age 79.
Gorham portrayed Senator John Gaines in The Magicians and Bobby in 2 Broke Girls. He recently had a recurring role as Bob Barnard in Insatiable, but he's also recognizable for playing Auggie on Covert Affairs.
Beau Bridges (Above) as Mr. Carlton: Jim Brown's southern friend who won't allow him in the house. Beau Bridges starred as Frank Baker in the 1989 film The Fabulous Baker Boys, and later won two Golden Globes for performances in the '90s miniseries Without Warning: The James Brady Story and The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom. In recent years, he portrayed Wheeler in Goliath, Edmund DeGuilles in Messiah, and President Ralph Warner in Homeland.
Emily Bridges as Emily Carlton: Mr. Carlton's granddaughter. Emily Bridges portrayed Velma in Masters of Sex and Becky in Eastsiders.
Lance Reddick as Brother Kareem: Malcolm X's main bodyguard. Lance Reddick portrayed Cedric Daniels in The Wire and appears as Charon in the John Wick movie franchise.
Christian Magby as Jamaal: Malcolm X's younger bodyguard who requests autographs from Clay, Cooke, and Brown. One Night in Miami marks the movie debut for Christian Magby. He previously portrayed Dennis in the TV series Legacies.
Alan Wells as Ed McMahon: Johnny Carson's real-life TV sidekick. Alan Wells has appeared in The Vampire Diaries and TURN: Washington's Spies.
Amondre D. Jackson as L.C. Cooke: Sam's younger brother. Amondre D. Jackson makes his movie debut in One Night in Miami. He previously appeared as Ronald in The Springs.
Randall Newsome as Myron Cohen: A real-life comedian who performs before Sam Cooke's Copacabana debut. Randall Newsome portrayed Governor William Tryon in TURN: Washington's Spies and Chief Ray Morgan in Chicago Fire.
Kimberly Brown as Geradline Liston: Sonny Liston's wife. One Night in Miami marks the movie debut for Kimberly Brown.
Nola Epps as Attallah Shabazz: Malcolm X's daughter. Nola Epps makes her movie debut in One Night in Miami.
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