Additional Coverage:
- 20-year-old Miles Caton was the surprise star of breakout hit “Sinners.” Here are 5 things to know about the actor. (businessinsider.com)
Miles Caton: A Rising Star Shines in “Sinners”
Moviegoers are buzzing about Miles Caton, the 20-year-old breakout star of the hit horror film “Sinners.” The Ryan Coogler-directed movie, which topped the box office last week, has garnered an impressive “A” rating on CinemaScore – a first for the horror genre.
While the film boasts big names like Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, it’s Caton’s captivating performance as Sammie, the third lead, that’s generating significant praise.
Caton’s journey to Hollywood began with a strong foundation in music. The son of a gospel singer, he grew up surrounded by music in a deeply religious family.
His grandfather is a Pentecostal pastor, and both his mother and aunt are gospel singers. Caton himself has been singing since the tender age of 3.
His early career highlights include a viral video of him singing Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” at age 11, a clip of which was featured in Jay-Z’s “4:44” music video. He then appeared on NBC’s “Little Big Shots” at 12 and performed alongside Grammy-winner Yolanda Adams in a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on “The View.”
More recently, Caton toured as a background singer with H.E.R., even performing a duet of her hit song “Best Part.” It was this tour that caught the eye of the “Sinners” casting team. H.E.R., who became a mentor to Caton, alerted him to the audition opportunity.
Landing the role in “Sinners” presented a unique challenge: Caton had to learn to play the guitar in just two months. He diligently trained with renowned guitarist Randy Bowland, whose impressive resume includes work with music legends like Sting and Luther Vandross. Director Ryan Coogler praised Caton’s “once in a lifetime voice” as the key factor in his casting.
Now, with a successful film debut under his belt, Caton is pursuing both acting and music. He released his single “This Ain’t It” and co-wrote “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” for the “Sinners” soundtrack with Alice Smith and composer Ludwig Göransson.
Looking ahead, Caton expressed interest in exploring more acting roles, even hinting at a desire to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With talent and determination, this rising star’s future looks bright.