Tory Kittles

Biography

Tory Kittles (born in Lawtey, Florida, in 1975) is an American actor, writer and director best known for television work, including Sons of Anarchy, The Equalizer and True Detective. His career has moved between studio films and a substantial run of roles on the small screen.

He grew up in a rural part of northern Florida, where his grandmother, a strong influence on him, had him and his cousins pick vegetables as children. His first notable film work came early, with supporting parts in Tigerland (2000), directed by Joel Schumacher, who credited him as a co-writer of the song "Looking for Charlie". He then appeared in Phone Booth (2002) and Malibu's Most Wanted (2003), followed by Next (2007) and Miracle at St. Anna (2008). His role as Laroy in Sons of Anarchy (2008-2011) raised his profile, and he later starred in Colony (2016-2018). After further series, including The Equalizer (2021-2025), he also played Frederick Douglass in Harriet (2019).

In 2024 he joined the cast of a Broadway revival of Samm-Art Williams's Home, a play that earned a Tony nomination. His career shows a versatile performer who has moved between independent cinema, thrillers and television.

Key films

• Tigerland (2000): a supporting role in an early big-screen project directed by Joel Schumacher.
• Phone Booth (2002): a part that helped open the way to larger television roles.
• Next (2007): a appearance in a science-fiction thriller starring Nicolas Cage.
• Harriet (2019): his portrayal of Frederick Douglass in the biopic about Harriet Tubman.
• Olympus Has Fallen (2013): a role in the action thriller that launched a franchise.