Coleman was born in Richmond, Virginia. After being removed from neglectful parents in the Creighton Court public housing project (one source says [[Creighton Court]Creighton Court is correct source his older brother Donald L. Coleman), he was raised by a grandmother on Richmond's south side after some time in a foster home. As a youth, he participated in track and field, but turned his attention to drama after a leg injury.[1] He attended Virginia Commonwealth University on a scholarship for his freshman year, before dropping out to serve in the U.S. Army.[2] During his service, from 1985 to 1989, he worked as a video cameraman.[3]
From late 2012 to early 2015, Coleman played Tyreese on AMC's post-apocalyptic horror series The Walking Dead.[11] In the third season, Tyreese was a recurring character. Coleman was upgraded to series regular and main cast member at the start of the fourth season and retained this status for its fifth season until his character was killed off in the mid-season premiere.[12] On November 20, 2014, he was announced to play Fred Johnson, a.k.a. "The Butcher of Anderson Station", a former Marine caught in a power struggle between Earth and Mars on the science-fiction series The Expanse.[13]
Coleman also played Mingo in the 2016 re-imagining of Roots, on the History Channel.[14] Mingo is a stern, no-nonsense slave/cock trainer for Tom Lea, who keeps the Lea plantation afloat. He befriends Chicken George and they bond like father and son.[15]
Additionally, Coleman is executive producer, as well as visual inspiration for the character Mr. Osi of the futuristic graphic novel series Treadwater.
In 2016, he played the role of Tobias Church on Arrow. Currently, he is playing the recurring role of Klyden, Second Officer Bortus's mate, on The Orville, which debuted in the fall of 2017 and entered its second season at the end of 2018.
In 2019, Coleman recurred in the first two seasons of All American as Corey James.
Personal life
Coleman was married to Sally Stewart from 1999 to 2010.
Later that year, he created a PSA with the non-profit organization Living Advantage where fostering children is promoted as a fulfilling complement to adoption.[17]
