McKinley Freeman was an American actor and producer who made a name for himself across a wide range of film and television projects. Over the years, McKinley Freeman built an impressive resume, appearing in everything from high-octane dramas to long-running network soaps. Born on September 6, 1973, in Champaign, IL, McKinley Freeman initially took a different path toward his career. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he first earned a BS in Finance, then later returned to complete his MBA in Marketing.
Before stepping into the spotlight, McKinley Freeman worked as a Business Development Manager at IBM. But everything changed in 2004 when he heard about an open audition for the popular soap opera “All My Children” (ABC, 1970–2011). On a whim, McKinley Freeman decided to give it a shot—and much to his surprise, he landed the role. That small leap of faith turned out to be a major turning point. From there, McKinley Freeman began booking guest appearances on hit shows like “ER” (NBC, 1994–2009), “CSI: Miami” (CBS, 2002–2012), and “Criminal Minds” (CBS, 2005–).
He made his film debut with a supporting part in the 2007 comedy “Delta Farce,” starring Larry the Cable Guy. Then, in 2009, McKinley Freeman scored his first series regular role as Tony Dane on the ABC sitcom “Samantha Who?” (2007–09), which aired its final season that year. After the show wrapped, McKinley Freeman circled back to the soap opera world, taking on recurring arcs on “Days of Our Lives” (NBC, 1965–) and “General Hospital” (ABC, 1963–). His performance in these roles further solidified his presence on daytime TV.
McKinley Freeman also expanded into more dramatic territory, appearing in the intense police drama “End of Watch” (2012). Not one to slow down, he soon took on another leading role—this time as Derek Roman in the VH1/BET sports drama series “Hit the Floor” (2013–). Though McKinley Freeman exited after three seasons, new opportunities quickly followed. In fact, he landed not just one, but two more series regular positions: first on “Daytime Divas” (VH1, 2017), and then as a key cast member on Tyler Perry’s prime-time soap “If Loving You Is Wrong” (OWN, 2014–). Through it all, McKinley Freeman continued to demonstrate his versatility and staying power in the entertainment industry.
When it comes to McKinley Freeman’s filmography, fans often wonder which movie stands out as his best performance. Well, McKinley Freeman’s highest rated movie is widely considered to be the one that truly showcased his acting range and brought him critical acclaim. On the other hand, McKinley Freeman’s lowest rated film tends to be a project that, while perhaps ambitious, didn’t quite resonate with audiences or critics. Still, every actor has highs and lows, and McKinley Freeman’s career continues to evolve with each new role he takes on. Whether you’re revisiting McKinley Freeman’s most praised work or exploring his more overlooked films, there’s no denying his impact in the industry.