Biography
Michael Potts is an American actor. He was born on 21 September 1962 in Brooklyn, New York City, and trained at the Yale School of Drama.
On stage he originated the role of Mafala Hatimbi in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon (2011) and appeared in the 2022 Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson as Wining Boy. His other Broadway credits include The Prom (2018) and Grey Gardens (2006).
On screen Potts is known for playing Brother Mouzone in the HBO series The Wire (2003–2004) and Maynard Gilbough in the first season of True Detective (2014). Film roles include Slow Drag in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) and Wining Boy in the 2024 Netflix adaptation of The Piano Lesson.
