“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” the highly anticipated limited series executive produced by and starring Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson. “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” is based on the novel by best-selling author Walter Mosley, who adapted the story for the screen and serves as executive producer. The six-episode moving series is about family, memory, and legacy.
Hailing from Apple Studios, “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” stars Jackson as Ptolemy Grey, an ailing man forgotten by his family, by his friends, and by even himself. Suddenly left without his trusted caretaker and on the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Ptolemy is assigned to the care of orphaned teenager Robyn, played by BAFTA Award nominee Dominique Fishback (“Judas and the Black Messiah”). When they learn about a treatment that can temporarily restore Ptolemy’s dementia-addled memories, it begins a journey toward shocking truths about the past, present, and future.
In addition to Jackson and Fishback, the Apple Original series features Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (“Coyote,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood”), Damon Gupton (“Black Lightning,” “Bates Motel”), Marsha Stephanie Blake (“I Am Your Woman,” “When They See Us”), Walton Goggins (“Justified,” “The Unicorn”) and Omar Miller (“The Unicorn,” “Ballers”).
Alongside Mosley and Jackson, “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” is executive produced by Mosley’s producing partner Diane Houslin, Ramin Bahrani, Eli Selden, and David Levine for Anonymous Content, and LaTanya Richardson.
Interview with Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Sensia)
Interview with Marsha Stephanie Blake (Niece) & Omar Benson Miller (Reggie)
CYNTHIA KAYE McWILLIAMS
‘Sensia Grey’
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams was born in Berlin, Germany, grew up primarily in Kansas City, Kansas, and graduated from the prestigious Theater School of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois with further training at Steppenwolf Theatre. Just out of college, she booked a supporting role in “The Lake House,” followed by a recurring role on “Prison Break.”
After working in independent films, McWilliams returned to television on another series, “Chicago Code.” Shortly after, she would land as a series regular on the NAACP Award-winning comedy, “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” opposite the hilarious Kevin Hart. During five seasons of filming, she also had recurring roles on “Survivor’s Remorse,” “Nashville” and “Bosch.”
Next up, she would play Regina in the sitcom “Prince of Peoria,” taped in front of a live studio audience. In 2019, McWilliams associate produced and starred in the holiday comedy, “Twas the Chaos Before Christmas,” returned to the stage in Inda Craig Galvan's “Black Super Hero Magic Mama” at the Geffen Playhouse and joined the cast of the Disney Channel original “Upside Down Magic.”
McWilliams last starred opposite Michael Chiklis on the series “Coyote.” She also thoroughly enjoys her voiceover career, having voiced for multiple characters and shows on Cartoon Network, animated feature film, BILAL, and several video games including “League of Legends,” “Far Cry 5 & 6, “State of Decay 2,” Cyberpunk 2077,” “Halo 5, and more.
She champions women and minorities creating their own content, supports arts education, and loves all things food, wine, and travel.
OMAR BENSON MILLER
‘Reggie’
Omar Benson Miller received an NAACP Image Award nomination for his starring role with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the half-hour dramedy series “Ballers,” chronicling the lives of a variety of Miami-based athletes. Coincidentally, this marked Miller’s first return to series television since Jerry Bruckheimer’s “CSI: Miami.” He also had a starring role on “The Unicorn” comedy series with Walton Goggins.
Miller created and hosted Esquire Network’s reality travel series “Weekend Fix,” which he parlayed into #advantageOmar for Tennis Channel’s Grand Slam coverage and created the sports-oriented O-ZONE podcast; all of which were produced by his Big Easy Productions. Additionally, he’s appeared in Phillip Noyce’s thriller “Above Suspicion,” stars as Raphael in Nickelodeon’s Emmy®-nominated series “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” for which Netflix has produced an original film, and lent his voice to Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats” reboot.
He re-teamed with director Gary Fleder to star with James Franco, Jeremy Statham, and Winona Ryder in “Homefront,” the action movie scripted by Sylvester Stallone and also starred in Fleder’s football drama “The Express,” which tells the life story of Syracuse running back and humanitarian Ernie David, alongside Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid. He also appeared in the critically acclaimed film “Things We Lost in The Fire,” shining alongside Halle Berry and Benecio Del Toro.
It was his first drama since performing in Jim Sheridan’s film, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” alongside 50 Cent and Terrence Howard. Miller started his Hollywood acting career in the comedy, “Sorority Boys.” The film was shot while he was still enrolled in film school at San Jose State University, where he subsequently was named best male actor of his graduating class. Immediately following graduation, Miller landed a highly coveted lead role opposite Eminem in the hit feature, “8 Mile.” The ensemble cast featured Mekhi Phifer and Kim Basinger.
Miller next showed his range by appearing in “Undefeated,” directed by and starring John Leguizamo. He then presented a lighter side of his talent in the romantic comedy/drama “Shall We Dance?” starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon.
Miller garnered rave reviews for his work with director Spike Lee in the complex war drama about the historic Buffalo Soldiers in “Miracle at St. Anna” as the deeply spiritual and superstitious soldier Private Sam Train, aka. The Chocolate Giant.
Additional film credits include Michael Bay’s blockbuster “Transformers” and “Blood Done Sign My Name,” Bruckheimer’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” with Nicolas Cage, and the title role of “Gordon Glass,” a film which he also had the distinction of writing, producing and directing. “The Lion of Judah” marked Miller’s first foray into the world of animation voicing Horace, a pig.
MARSHA STEPHANIE BLAKE
‘Niecie’
Marsha Stephanie Blake received a 2019 Emmy Award nomination and a Critics Choice nomination for her role as Linda McCray in Ava Duvernay’s acclaimed miniseries, “When They See Us.” She recently completed shooting the lead in the independent film “Brother,” opposite Aaron Pierre and LeMar Johnson, for director Clement Virgo and BRON Studios. Blake was seen in the feature “I’m Your Woman” for director Julia Hart, starring opposite Rachel Brosnahan. The film received its world premiere as the opening film at the 2020 American Film Institute Festival.
Blake’s other film credits include Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundromat,” “See You Yesterday,” for producer Spike Lee, and Julias Onah’s “Luce.” She's been on and off-Broadway in various performances, including “The Merchant of Venice,” with Al Pacino and Lily Rabe, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” for which she received The Paul Green Award from writer Tony Kushner, and “Othello,” with Daniel Craig, David Oyelowo and Rachel Brosnahan.
On the television side, Blake has also been a part of the award-winning casts of “Orange is the New Black, for which she earned a SAG Ensemble Award, “Girls,” “This is Us” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”
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