1. Early Life and Childhood
2. Moving to Louisville
3. Discovering the Dramatic Arts
4. Embracing the Arts
5. "Training Day" and Hollywood Break
6. Personal Life
7. Current Work

Early Life and Childhood

Justin Cornwell was born on November 5, 1988, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. His father, Robin Bodyford, was largely absent from his life after his parents separated when he was just a year old. Justin's mother, Sidney Cornwell, moved with him to her mother's house in a small town outside Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent much of his childhood.

His grandparents owned a video store, giving Justin unlimited access to movies and games. He recounts that his family was the most popular in the town, and his home was always filled with friends who would keep him company as he watched countless films. His mother's open approach to his video viewing allowed him to watch everything from G-rated movies to porn by the age of ten. Though the adult tapes were kept on the top shelves, Justin's curiosity inevitably led him to discover the most inaccessible places.

Moving to Louisville

At nine years old, Justin's life took a turn when his mother remarried and moved him and his stepfather, Jack Herring, to Louisville, Kentucky. Initially, Justin was devastated, missing his friends and the entertainment of his previous home, feeling like an outsider in his new school. However, his relentless childhood energy eventually found an outlet in his school's drama club, where he landed the lead role of Captain Butterworth in a production of "Lagoon." As he progressed through middle school and into high school, Justin found himself without an opportunity to act on stage due to the lack of a drama program. Instead, the focus of his high school shifted to computer science, causing him to dedicate more time to programming.

Discovering the Dramatic Arts

Despite the shift in his academic focus, Justin's creative spirit refused to be extinguished. He pursued music, sang, explored the arts, and actively sought ways to express himself creatively. Ultimately, Justin found an off-campus drama studio where he could continue honing his acting skills. Upon graduating high school, he had no doubt that he would major in theater.

Unfortunately, his parents were unable to afford his tuition, and he lacked the necessary scholarships. However, Justin was granted a tuition reimbursement from his stepfather's work under the condition of maintaining a strong GPA. With this support, Justin secured a place at the University of Louisville, where he excelled as a top student in the theater department.

Justin fondly remembers his time in college and the professors who inspired him. However, after two and a half years, he was forced to leave due to unfortunate circumstances. His stepfather passed away, and with it went Justin's tuition reimbursement. Unwilling to incur the massive student debt required to continue, he entered a period of uncertainty, subsisting on odd jobs.

Embracing the Arts

After saving enough money, Justin moved to Chicago, determined to pursue an acting career. He joined the city's Shakespeare Theater and landed roles in productions like "Othello" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Alongside his theatrical endeavors, Justin also appeared in commercials, voiced video games, and worked as a real estate agent to supplement his income.

Over his five years in Chicago, Justin secured an agent and built a reputation that would prove invaluable when the search began for a young black actor to portray Detective Kyle Craig in the upcoming TV series "Training Day." By this time, Justin had already made brief appearances in films and television shows, including "Chicago P.D.," where he played James Grant in the episode "Prison Ball."

"Training Day" and Hollywood Break

However, Justin's breakthrough role came in the form of "Training Day," which premiered on CBS in 2017 as a modern reimagining of the Oscar-winning film starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. In the crime drama set in the Los Angeles Police Department, Justin acted alongside Bill Paxton, who played his character's morally ambiguous partner, Detective Frank Roarke. Tragically, Paxton passed away from a stroke halfway through the first season's run, leading to the project's cancellation.

In the meantime, Justin relocated to Los Angeles to focus on his Hollywood career. He added projects of various genres to his filmography, ranging from the musical fantasy "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" to the supernatural detective drama "The Sinner," in which he played the lead role of Homicide Detective Damien Asante.

Personal Life

Justin Cornwell's social media accounts shed light on his personal life. According to an Instagram post from the summer of 2018, Justin proposed to his girlfriend, Lindsey Jones, who accepted. They are now happily married, and photos of the couple can be found on Justin's Instagram account.

Current Work

In 2022, Justin joined the cast of the superhero series "The Umbrella Academy," in its third season, which debuted on Netflix on June 22. He portrays Marcus Hargreeves, the unspoken leader of "Sparrow Academy" known as Number One, alongside fellow newcomers Britne Oldford, Jake Epstein, and Cazzie David. Justin also starred in the 2022 film "Havoc," featuring Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker.

Actor