McKinzie Scott
Biography
McKinzie James Scott (born February 10, 2006) is an American–Dutch actor. In 2024, while attending the Professional Performing Arts School, he made his film debut in the documentary-drama Untouchables and later appeared in Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller Caught Stealing. Scott first gained recognition for his lead performance as a childish man in Tyson Anthony’s coming-of-age series Manhood (2025). Scott was born in New York City and raised in central Harlem. He is the son of Joy Green, who is of black Native American heritage, and James Scott Jr., a legal Dutch citizen of Netherlands origin. He has a younger brother, McKhel Joyner, a basketball player. He attended P.S. 154 Harriet Tubman Learning Center for elementary school, where he was held back in third grade after not completing summer school. He continued his education at Frederick Douglass Academy I, where he played lacrosse and trained in taekwondo, though he later described the environment as “toxic” and unsupportive of his growth. He remained there until his junior year, before transferring to the selective Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS). Scott has credited Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant (2015) as the inspiration for his pursuit of acting. During his sophomore year of high school, he applied to PPAS on his own initiative, determined to prove to his mother that he was serious about an acting career. His audition earned him a callback within an hour, marking what he has described as a turning point in his passion for the craft. As a senior, he starred in Manhood (2025) and was the cover of SUNY Financial Aid Advertisement (2025), while completing his studies, graduating that same year. Following high school, Scott received offers to study drama at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA), where he was awarded a scholarship. Ultimately, he chose not to pursue college, citing his desire to focus fully on his acting career and avoid the financial burdens of student debt.
Known For & Full Filmography6 Titles
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Hero Batter (uncredited)
Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of late 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.
Drama Series - 2023, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Take a chilling look inside the homes of actual killers and meet their families. Also, get a peek at their prisons to hear from killers themselves, resulting in powerful, unsettling and contentious encounters.
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Micah
Manhood follows Micah, a young slacker navigating trust issues, instability, and personal growth while forming an unlikely bond with Owen, a gym owner who becomes a mentor and guide through his struggles and quest for a better future.
Movie - 2026, 2h 15m • as Malcolm
South-Side Kev follows a misguided teenager as he navigates the mean streets of South Jamaica Queens, struggling to find the balance between earning respect and maintaining his innocence.
Movie - 2026, 2h 15m • as Young Fencer #1
The untold story of Coach Derrick Hoff who starts a fencing program at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, New Jersey during the mid 80s and transforms them into a state powerhouse with a record of 215 wins and 10 loses, 10 undefeated seasons.
Movie - 2024, 2h 15m • as L'il Z
In the powerful and poignant film "Boy Soul Man Heart," we follow Mathias as he bravely opens up about his harrowing experiences of being raped and molested 400 times with a support group of female survivors in a community center.