Boris Kodjoe

From his big screen and television roles to his theater and entrepreneurial skills, Boris Kodjoe has proven to be one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. He was handpicked by JJ Abrams to star in his drama series "Undercovers" which aired during the 2010 TV season.

Boris is best known for his role as Damon Carter on the hit Showtime TV series "Soul Food." The show earned him three NAACP Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Boris was seen opposite Bruce Willis for director Jonathan Mostow in the Disney thriller Surrogates and in Resident Evil: Afterlife with Milla Jovovich, Wentworth Miller and Ali Larter.

Boris was born in Vienna, Austria, to Ursula Kodjoe, a psychologist from Germany, and Eric Kodjoe, a physician from Ghana, West Africa. He grew up in Germany with brother Patrick and sister Nadja, where he went to school and was exposed to athletics and the arts early in his life. He became one of the best tennis players in the country, and accepted a tennis scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University in the Fall of 1992.

While studying in Richmond, he was approached by a Ford Modeling agency which he joined after earning his marketing degree in May of 1996. Immediately he booked twelve campaigns such as Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis, Yves Saint Laurent, and The GAP, within the first seven months. His career skyrocketed as he quickly became one of the most recognizable faces amongst male supermodels which ultimately led to him being Awarded a Supermodel Award at

Hollywood soon took notice of Boris. While studying with acting coach Janet Alhanti, he started guest starring on sitcoms such as "For Your Love," and landed a supporting role in the Spike Lee produced feature film Love and Basketball.

Boris also starred in the feature Brown Sugar, alongside Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, for which he was nominated for an NAACP Award for the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Previously, Boris co-starred in the hit movie Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion and was the lead in The Gospel which was a surprise hit at the box office.

Boris made his Broadway debut in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opposite James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose for director Debbie Allen. Previously, he toured the country in the play Whatever She Wants with Vivica A. Fox and Richard Roundtree.

On television, Boris starred on the UPN sitcom "Second Time Around" opposite then fiance Nicole Ari Parker where they played a once married couple that after years of being apart, decide to remarry and give their relationship a second try. He has since gone on to guest star on such hit television shows as Franklin & Bash, Nip/Tuck, Crossing Jordan, Eve, and Boston Public among others.

Boris launched the clothing company ALFA (Affordable Luxury For All) with his brother Patrick Kodjoe, bringing the luxury of custom made clothing to every man and woman in America at affordable prices.

© 2012 Screen Gems