BSU student and Tony Award winning actor Myles Frost will make his first major film debut in Ava DuVernay’s “Origin.” Frost will play the role of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American tragically killed in Sanford, Florida on February 26th, 2012.
The film is based on the book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson, and addresses the caste system of racial hierarchy and it’s impact in the United States.
“Trayvon Martin has never been portrayed this way on film before,” said Frost. “I try to show how much of a regular kid he was, show his personality, perseverance and strength in the best way. I’m just so blessed to be able to share that.”
Frost is a multi-talented actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer, who won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor for depicting Michael Jackson in “MJ: The Musical” on Broadway. The award winning actor will graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts this month.
“Myles Frost has given the word excellence an entire new meaning,” said Professor Tewodross M. Williams, BSU chairperson of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.
“My first introduction to this amazing young man was through his work as an actor, producer and musician. He continues to surprise me with the depth of his talent. Myles is a shining star for our students, and an example of the dope talent coming out of Bowie State, our HBCUs and the DMV.”
Origin opened with a limited theater release in Los Angeles and New York on December 8.
Since it’s premiere, the film has won two awards at the Virginia Film Festival and was nominated at the Venice International Film Festival, Hollywood Music in Media Awards and Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Awards.
Other actors featured in “Origin” include Jon Bernthal, Aunjanue Ellis, Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash and Blair Underwood.
The film will release worldwide on January 19, 2024.
