Byron Coolie (he/him)
Actor, Writer
Byron Coolie is an actor, writer, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He holds an MFA in Performance from the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Originally from New Orleans, Byron lived in nine different cities before coming to LA, including Chicago and New York.
Byron was the 2013 recipient of the Shawn T. Smith Best Characterization Award for his work in his original production, Schizophrenia at Elizabeth City State University in NC.
Some of Byron’s favorite stage credits include “Mercutio” in Romeo and Juliet (Kentucky Shakespeare Festival), “Benvolio” in Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), “character” in Orphan of Chao (Nanyang Academy in Singapore), Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Winter’s Tale (Kentucky Shakespeare Festival), “Ora” in Amiri Baraka’s The Toilet (Haven Theatre), and “Malik” in Kingdom (Broken Nose Theatre).
Byron’s television credits include Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, and Smoketown (series regular). His first feature film, Wages of Sin (starring Danny Trejo), will premiere in 2024.
In 2023, Byron wrote and directed two short films: Do Not Disturb, a film that addresses healing and addiction to social media; and TOBI (also starring Byron), a film tackling black generational trauma and abuse. Byron is passionate about telling honest tales rooted in black culture.
