Honestly, if you only know André Holland as the guy who made the best "Arroz con Pollo" in cinematic history, you’re missing the forest for the trees. Yes, Moonlight was a massive, culture-shifting moment. But looking at the full spectrum of André Holland movies and TV shows, it's clear he isn’t just an actor who shows up; he’s an actor who anchors.
He has this specific, quiet gravity. It’s a "less is more" vibe that most actors are too insecure to pull off. Whether he’s playing a 1900s surgeon or a 1950s actor with amnesia, he has this way of looking at his scene partners like he’s reading their internal monologue. It’s rare.
Why The Knick Is Still His Best Work
Most people point to Moonlight as the peak. I'd argue it’s The Knick. In Steven Soderbergh’s grimy, visceral medical drama, Holland played Dr. Algernon Edwards.
He was a Black surgeon in a 1900s New York hospital that didn't want him there. The performance wasn't just about "dealing with racism." It was about the physical toll of excellence. You could see it in how he held his scalpel. He played Edwards with this simmering, intellectual rage that felt more modern than the period setting suggested.
The show was cancelled too soon. It’s a tragedy, basically. If you haven't seen it, stop reading and go find it.
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The Breakout: Moonlight and Beyond
When Moonlight happened in 2016, everything changed. Holland’s Kevin was the emotional exhale of the movie. That diner scene? Pure masterclass. He didn't need a monologue; he just needed a cigarette and a look of recognition.
But then he didn't just go for the big Marvel paycheck. He stayed weird. He stayed specific.
- Selma (2014): He played Andrew Young. He brought a pragmatism to the civil rights movement that grounded the more soaring speeches.
- 42 (2013): As Wendell Smith, the journalist who mentored Jackie Robinson, he showed how much power there is in being the guy behind the guy.
- High Flying Bird (2019): This was a reunion with Soderbergh. Holland played a sports agent trying to disrupt the NBA during a lockout. It’s basically all dialogue, shot on an iPhone, and he carries the whole thing like a thriller.
The Recent Surge: 2024 to 2026
If you’ve been tracking his recent moves, the man is on a tear. He's moved into a phase where he isn't just the supporting "best friend" or the "moral compass." He’s the lead.
The Actor (2025)
This one just hit recently, and it’s a trip. Directed by Duke Johnson (the Anomalisa guy), Holland plays Paul Cole. It’s 1950s Ohio. He’s an actor who gets beaten up and loses his memory. It’s a crime mystery, but it’s really about identity. Watching Holland play a man who literally doesn't know which "mask" to wear is meta in the best way.
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The Dutchman (2025/2026)
This is an adaptation of the Amiri Baraka play. It’s intense. It’s basically Holland and Kate Mara in a psychological war on a train. It deals with race and the "white gaze" in a way that feels incredibly uncomfortable—which is exactly the point. Holland plays Clay, a businessman who starts the movie buttoned-up and ends it... well, somewhere else entirely.
Love, Brooklyn (2025)
Finally, we got a romantic lead role for him. He produced this one too. It’s a 90s-style romance but for people in their 40s who actually have baggage. It’s soft, it’s adult, and it lets him be charming without a "prestige drama" weight on his shoulders.
The Small Screen: From Horror to Animated Sci-Fi
Holland’s TV credits are a bit of a mixed bag, which makes them interesting. He doesn't have a "type."
- Castle Rock: He played Henry Deaver. If you like Stephen King, you've probably seen this. He brought a lot of soul to a character that could have been a flat "troubled protagonist" trope.
- American Horror Story: Roanoke: He played Matt Miller. It’s arguably one of the better AHS seasons because it messed with the format, and Holland sold the "real-life" version of the horror perfectly.
- The Big Cigar (2024): He took on the role of Huey P. Newton. Playing a Black Panther icon is a high-wire act, but he focused on the human paranoia of the man rather than just the poster-board image.
- Terminator Zero (2024): He voiced Malcolm Lee. Even just with his voice, you get that same sense of a man carrying the weight of the world.
Why We Keep Watching
André Holland is one of those actors who makes the writing look better than it is. He finds the gaps in the script.
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When you look at the total list of André Holland movies and TV shows, you see a guy who is deeply invested in the history of Black men in America. Not just the "struggle," but the interior lives. The quiet moments. The way a man adjusts his tie when he knows he’s being watched.
He’s an actor's actor, but he’s also a viewer's best friend because he never phones it in. Not even for a second.
To really appreciate his range, start with The Knick for the intensity, move to Moonlight for the heart, and then track down The Actor to see what he’s doing right now. You’ll see a performer who is finally getting the leading-man flowers he earned a decade ago.
Keep an eye on his production credits too—he’s clearly starting to take the reins on the stories he wants to tell, which usually means the quality is only going to go up from here.