9 Actors Who Got Their Start On “The Wire” (PHOTOS) was originally published on ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc
1. Idris Elba: Though the actor did an incredible job playing the kingpin Stringer Bell, clearly, he still fell victim to the fashions of the early 2000s.
![Idris Elba: Though the actor did an incredible job playing the kingpin Stringer Bell, clearly, he still fell victim to the fashions of the early 2000s.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/1370428.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
2. All cleaned up, Idris went on to play bad-guy-turned-good in Tyler Perry’s “Daddy’s Little Girls,” as well as anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.
![All cleaned up, Idris went on to play bad-guy-turned-good in Tyler Perry’s “Daddy’s Little Girls,” as well as anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/454232164.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
3. Michael B Jordan: Where’s Wallace? The actor played drug-dealing teenager Wallace, who (SPOILER ALERT) got murdered for snitching.
![Michael B Jordan: Where’s Wallace? The actor played drug-dealing teenager Wallace, who (SPOILER ALERT) got murdered for snitching.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/michael-b-jordan.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
4. All grown up and breaking hearts across the globe, the actor starred in the critically acclaimed “Fruitvale Station” and is set to star as the Human Torch.
![All grown up and breaking hearts across the globe, the actor starred in the critically acclaimed “Fruitvale Station” and is set to star as the Human Torch.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/456492532.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
5. Tristan “Mack” Wilds: Played the ultimate do-gooder, who tried his best to protect his friends and sibling.
![Tristan “Mack” Wilds: Played the ultimate do-gooder, who tried his best to protect his friends and sibling.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/71817587.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
6. Today, the multi-talented actor also doubles as a rapper, going by the name Mack Wilds to differentiate his rapping career from his acting.
![Today, the multi-talented actor also doubles as a rapper, going by the name Mack Wilds to differentiate his rapping career from his acting.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/457330434.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
7. Wendell Pierce: Played the smart Detective William ‘Bunk’ Moreland, who, like his partner, struggled with alcoholism.
![Wendell Pierce: Played the smart Detective William ‘Bunk’ Moreland, who, like his partner, struggled with alcoholism.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/72179437.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
8. Pierce has since made appearances in box office hits such as “Horrible Bosses,” as well as popular TV shows like “Hawthorne.”
![Pierce has since made appearances in box office hits such as “Horrible Bosses,” as well as popular TV shows like “Hawthorne.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/457330456.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
9. Wood Harris: Played Avon Barksdale, the biggest drug dealer in Baltimore.
![Wood Harris: Played Avon Barksdale, the biggest drug dealer in Baltimore.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/57073174.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
10. Harris went on to star in movies such as “Next Day Air” and “The Watsons Go To Birmingham.”
![Harris went on to star in movies such as “Next Day Air” and “The Watsons Go To Birmingham.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/174350157.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
11. Seth Gilliam: Played Detective Ellis Carver, who eventually earned his stripes as a good cop.
![Seth Gilliam: Played Detective Ellis Carver, who eventually earned his stripes as a good cop.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/51764845.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
12. The actor has now made his rounds, starring in hit television shows such as “The Walking Dead” and “Teen Wolf.”
![The actor has now made his rounds, starring in hit television shows such as “The Walking Dead” and “Teen Wolf.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/456556444.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
13. Michael Kenneth Williams: Played the notorious hitman Omar Little.
![Michael Kenneth Williams: Played the notorious hitman Omar Little.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/52244043.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
14. Michael has also made his way to big television shows such as “Boardwalk Empire” and even snagged himself a small role in “12 Years A Slave.”
![Michael has also made his way to big television shows such as “Boardwalk Empire” and even snagged himself a small role in “12 Years A Slave.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/456972482.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
15. Chad L Coleman: Played Dennis “Cutty” Wise, whose nickname came from having spent time in the cut.
![Chad L Coleman: Played Dennis “Cutty” Wise, whose nickname came from having spent time in the cut.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/57477989.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
16. Coleman made his way to big screen hits such as “The Green Hornet” and is currently starring in “The Walking Dead.”
![Coleman made his way to big screen hits such as “The Green Hornet” and is currently starring in “The Walking Dead.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/455762368.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
17. Gbenga Akinnagbe: Plays the no-nonsense drug dealer Chris Partlow.
![Gbenga Akinnagbe: Plays the no-nonsense drug dealer Chris Partlow.](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/71816548.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)
18. The actor went on to star in “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” co-starring Denzel Washington, as well as “Edge of Darkness.”
![The actor went on to star in “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,” co-starring Denzel Washington, as well as “Edge of Darkness.”](https://ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2014/10/455508052.jpg?w=720&quality=80&strip=all)