Content Warning: The following article contains depictions/discussions of sexual assault.
With a Jamie Foxx-led biopic about Mike Tyson being in development hell for a long time, Hulu scooped up the opportunity to tell the story. Mike, which premiered on August 25, had been a controversial project right from the moment it was announced because the boxer didn’t approve of it (via Rolling Stone).
Many critics think it wasn’t worth the risk, a consensus that’s evident in the 43% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, having waited for a Mike Tyson biopic for so long, a good number of fans seem glad it finally came, and their joy is reflected in the 6.4 IMDb score. The stars of the bipoic have had varied careers between them before the series, with some rather notable credits.
Trevante Rhodes – Moonlight (2016)
Stream On Hulu
After a difficult childhood, Mike grows to be one of the best boxers the world has ever seen. Portraying the legendary boxer and the titular character in the Hulu series is Trevante Rhodes.
Rhodes rose to prominence after his incredible performance as the drug dealer, Chiron, in the 2016 Best Picture winner, Moonlight. Parallels can be drawn between that particular character and Mike Tyson since they are both shown to be victims of bullying in their earlier years before going on to be feared in adulthood. Still, Moonlight comes off as the better project for some in terms of significance to society as it heavily addresses the issues of sexuality, drug abuse, and parental neglect.
Russel Hornsby – Fences (2016)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Russel Hornsby portrays the controversial boxing promoter, Don King. Quickly noticing Mike’s talent, he signs him up, aiming to profit from him. Hornsby has had a string of supporting roles throughout his career, but he is remembered more for his role as Lyons, the stubborn adult son of Troy (Denzel Washington) in Fences.
Like Don King, Lyons is obsessed with money. However, that’s where the similarities end. While Don King is a hardworking individual, Lyons prefers to constantly borrow from his father, leading to clashes between the two. Overall, Fences has a touching storyline and great performances from everyone involved, hence the 4 Oscar nominations feel very much deserved.
Harvey Keitel – Pulp Fiction (1994)
Stream On Amazon Prime VIdeo
One of Quentin Tarantino’s frequent collaborators, Harvey Keitel portrays Mike’s first boxing manager, Cus D’Amanto. One of the first people to spot his talent, Cus goes on to shape Mike into a star. Having starred in over 80 brilliant movies in his career, it feels unfair to select one Keitel project over the others but his most critically acclaimed movie is undoubtedly Pulp Fiction.
Harvey plays Winston Wolfe, a professional “cleaner” hired to help two enforcers get rid of a dead body. Both Cus and Wolfe are shown to be excellent at their jobs. Just as Cus keeps instructing Mike on what to do, Wolfe also orders the enforcers around, making sure the “cleaning” process goes on without a hitch.
Li Eubanks – The Wrong Friend (2018)
Stream On BET+
Li Eubanks' role in the series is a rather prominent one. She stars as Desiree Washington, the fast-rising model who accuses Mike Tyson of sexual assault, leading to the boxer’s conviction. So far, Eubanks only has seven acting credits overall, but her resume is guaranteed to expand, given her impressive performances so far.
In The Wrong Friend, Eubanks is Riley, a teenager that falls for a popular boy only to realize there is a darker side to him. Both Desiree and Riley are victims and through them, sexual assault and all forms of abuse are totally condemned.
Laura Harrier – Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Stream On Disney+
Laura Harrier takes on the role of Mike Tyson’s ex-wife, Robin Givens. Cracks pop up quickly in her marriage to the boxer, leading to a divorce between the two.
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Harrier portrays Liz Allan, the daughter of one of the best MCU villains, Vulture. Fans will be quick to notice that like Robin Givens, Liz’s arc revolves around flirtation or love that ends in disappointment. Givens never gets to have a fairytale marriage with Mike because of his narcissism while Liz never gets to date Parker because he’s too busy with superhero work to spend time with her.
Kale Browne – Days Of Our Lives (1965 – Present)
Stream On Peacock
Kale Browne is the boxing promoter, Bill. When Mike chooses to go with Don King as his new manager, Bill sues him, resulting in an ugly legal showdown between the two.
A soap opera legend, Browne is best remembered as the soft-spoken Dr. Bermane in Days Of Our Lives. Over the years, there have been many actors who surprisingly came out of retirement and Browne now qualifies as one of them. For him, the current role marks a grand return to a profession he was once a force in. Prior to being cast in the Hulu series, the actor had last been seen on screen in 2008.
Olunike Adeliyi – The Expanse (2015 – 2022)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Olunike Adeliyi stars in the Hulu miniseries as Mike Tyson’s mother, Lorna Mae Smith Tyson. Eager to ensure her son doesn’t end up in jail, Lorna makes a point of instilling discipline in him every single day.
Adeliyi is best known for her role as the henchwoman, Karal, in one of the best-ever sci-fi TV shows, The Expanse. The actress always does a perfect job of bringing out the stern nature of her characters, something than can be seen in both Loran and Karal. Just as Lorna demands discipline from Mike, Karal goes to great lengths to make sure the Free Navy commander is obeyed and that everyone aligns with the course.
Grace Zabriskie – Twin Peaks (1990 – 1991)
Stream On Hulu
Grace Zabriskie has a supporting role as Cus’s wife, Camile Ewald. She takes the boxer into her home and treats him like her own son. Though she mostly plays supporting characters, Zabriskie counts as one of the most prolific Hollywood actors as she has appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows throughout her five-decade career.
In her most popular role, Twin Peaks, Sarah is a mother figure too, though her life is characterized by melancholy, stemming from the tragedy in her life as opposed to the happiness of Camile who gets to see a boy she cared for becoming a superstar.
Johnny Alexander – Stunt Performer
In the series, Johnny Alexander stars as one of Mike Tyson's greatest rivals, Evander Holyfield. After getting the better of the boxer on a couple of occasions, Holyfield gets beaten by Mike.
This marks Johnny’s first full acting credit as he has been a stunt performer for most of his career. Casting a stuntman as a boxer isn’t such a bad idea since the ring scenes get to be even more realistic. In 2022, he is the stunt double for Terry Crews in Tales of The Walking Dead. He also performed for a number of characters in the upcoming MCU movie, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
B.J. Minor – Casting The Net (2020)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
B.J. Minor’s role is that of a teenage Mike Tyson. As the boxer rises to fame, he gets caught up in a number of disciplinary issues.
It might not be one of the best TV shows about Hollywood but Casting The Net has great performances overall. In it, Minor plays a young actor keen on getting on Hollywood’s radar. And with the performance he gives in what was previously his only major project, he sure does get on Hollywood’s radar.