Tristan Wilds

Tristan Wilds
Born	Tristan Paul Mack Wilds (1989-07-15) July 15, 1989 Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Other names	Mack Wilds
Occupation	Actor, singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active	2005–present

Tristan Paul Mack Wilds (born July 15, 1989), also known as Mack Wilds, is an American actor, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for his roles as Michael Lee on the HBO original drama series The Wire and as Dixon Wilson on the CW teen drama series 90210. He was also featured in the Adele music video for Hello. His debut album, New York: A Love Story was released on September 30, 2013.^[1] Wilds received his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album for New York: A Love Story at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.^[2]

Early life

Wilds was born in Staten Island, New York City, to Monique Moncion and Paul Wilds.^[3][4] His father is African American, and his mother is of Irish and Afro-Dominican descent.^[5][6] He attended Michael J. Petrides School. He started acting at age seven, following in the footsteps of his older brother.

His acting debut came in Miracle's Boys, a The N (now called TeenNick) drama mini-series. Wilds then made guest appearances on television shows such as Cold Case and Law & Order. The following year Wilds made his film debut in a bit-role in the independent drama film Half Nelson alongside Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling.^[7]

Wilds has appeared in a number of music videos for Adele, Jay-Z, Lil Flip, Wale, Wynter Gordon and Alicia Keys.^[8] Most recently he made a cameo in the music video for "How To Love" by American Hip-Hop Rapper Lil Wayne.^[9] In 2008, Wilds appeared alongside Jessica Alba and Hayden Panettiere in a promotional-clip titled The Muzzler encouraging young people to vote.^[10]

The Wire

In 2006, Wilds joined the HBO drama television series The Wire (then into its fourth season) in a major recurring role. Wilds portrays Michael Lee, a smart but troubled middle school student who lives in poverty and cares for his younger brother. Jermaine Crawford, who plays Duquan "Dukie" Weems in the show, is Wilds' second cousin.^[11][12] Wilds appeared over the course of 23 episodes.^[13]

After The Wire

Shortly after The Wire ended Wilds attended an acting workshop at the Roundabout Theatre Company. Wilds worked with actress Phylicia Rashād and played the role of Brice in a stage production of Stockholm Brooklyn at the Cherry Lane Theatre.^[14] In 2007 Wilds was cast in the Fox Searchlight Pictures drama film The Secret Life of Bees an adaptation of the novel of the same name.^[15] Production began in January 2008 in Lumberton, North Carolina with Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning confirmed to star.^[16] Wilds portrays Zach Taylor, the romantic interest to Fanning's character. The film was screened in September 2008 at the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States the following month.^[17] The film received mixed reviews^[18] and grossed over $39 million worldwide.^[19]

In July 2008 Wilds was cast in The CW teen drama television series 90210, a spin-off to Beverly Hills, 90210.^[20] Wilds portrays Dixon Wilson, a teenage boy who is adopted and moves with his family to Beverly Hills.^[21] The series premiered in September the same year to 4.65 million viewers and received mixed reviews from critics.^[22] The series ended on May 13, 2013, after five seasons.

In March 2009, Wilds was confirmed to star in the George Lucas war film Red Tails. The film follows the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American United States Army Air Force (USAAF) servicemen, during World War II.^[23] Ne-Yo, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr. were announced to star in the film.^[24] Production began that same month on a $58 million budget.^[25] The film was eventually released in January 2012 after numerous push-backs.^[26]

In July 2011, it was reported that Wilds would star in the independent drama film Indelible. The film was scheduled to begin shooting in Schenectady, New York in October that same year, but plans never materialized.^[27] In April 2009, a trailer was filmed to promote the yet-to-be filmed film.

Wilds starred in Adele's 2015 music video "Hello", directed by Xavier Dolan.^[28]

Music

Wilds signed a recording contract with independent record label Ten2one in 2010.^[29] Two tracks have leaked, the Rico Love-penned track "Fall 4 Her" and "Runaround".^[30] Both songs were produced by Dre & Vidal. Another track titled "2 Girls" was featured in the fourth season of 90210^[31] and "Kim".^[32] In October 2011, Wilds released an extended play titled Remember Remember.^[33]

In summer 2013, Tristan revisited the music scene and released the hit single "Own It".^[34] His debut album, New York: A Love Story was released on September 30, 2013.^[1] Wilds received his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album for New York: A Love Story at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014, but lost out to Rihanna's Unapologetic.^[2]

Wilds was also featured on Situationships by Fabolous, featuring Mack Wilds & Tiara Thomas off the mixtape album The Soul Tape 3^[35]

He is expected to release his sophomore album, which follows the single "Bonnie & Clyde". It will feature music co-written and produced by Amy Winehouse's producer Salaam Remi, the singer/songwriter Elijah Blake and the British writer David Asante.

Wilds just released his music video this month of January 2016 Love In The 90s.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Guest appearances

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tristan Wilds.

• Tristan Wilds at the Internet Movie Database