Tory Kittles

Attracting attention of big name directors like Joel Schumacher right out the gate, Tory Kittles jumped quickly from obscurity to a career on the big screen. Early supporting roles in "Tigerland" (2000) and "Phone Booth" (2002) paved the way to larger parts in television programs like "Sons of Anarchy" (FX 2008-2014) and "True Detective" (HBO 2014-), as well as in films like "American Heist" (2015). A mastery of stoicism and intensity alike made Kittles a reliable force for projects tampering in crime, action, and drama alike.

Tory Kittles was born in 1975 in Lawtey, Florida. His first taste of the screen came with a background appearance in an episode of the Orlando-based production "Kenan & Kel" (Nickelodeon 1996-2000), which led to a serious pursuit of the craft under the Circle in the Square Theater School-trained actor Rus Blackwell. Kittles was involved with the early era web series "The Real Whatever" (2000), an 18-episode reality show parody.

Kittles' earliest film role was in director Joel Schumacher's war movie "Tigerland" (2000), for which songwriter Kittles wrote and performed the soundtrack songs "Looking for Charlie" and "I Want to Take Her Home to My Mama." Kittles worked with the director once again on the thriller "Phone Booth" (2002). Soon after, Kittles switched gears to appear in the comedy film "Malibu's Most Wanted" (2003), parodying the increasingly popular inner city crime drama that'd manifest sincerely in one of Kittles' next movies, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" (2005).

After additional film roles in action pictures including "Next" (2007) and "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008), Kittles landed his first regular television role in the popular crime drama series "Sons of Anarchy" (FX 2008-2014), playing One-Niners street gang leader Laroy Wayne in 11 episodes throughout the first four seasons. Afterward, he continued to accumulate action-heavy film roles, notably in "Olympus Has Fallen" (2013), before taking on his next small screen project: the critically esteemed anthology series "True Detective" (HBO 2014-). Kittles played Det. Papania, one of two officers assigned to investigate a mysterious case involving former cops played by series stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Kittles continued his television work in the mystery drama "Intruders" (BBC America).

The rising star took a role opposite Hayden Christiansen, Adrien Brody, and Jordana Brewster in the crime drama "American Heist" (2015).