Tristan Wilds is growing up fast.
And that's turning out to be a good thing.
The 18-year-old actor we've watched for the past two years as young drug runner Michael Lee on HBO's critically acclaimed drama series, 'The Wire,' is now a part of the cast of the forthcoming new generation version of 'Beverly Hills 90210.'
For the new show -- based on Aaron Spelling's sudsy 1990s hit series -- the Staten Island native takes on the role of Dixon Mills, a transplant from the Midwest who moves to sunny Los Angeles when his father takes a job as the principal of the fictitious West Beverly High School.
Already considered a male lead on '90210' -- as it is officially titled -- Wilds is the only African-American cast on the show, at presstime. Dixon is the adopted son of The Mills clan, whose patriarch will be played by 'Melrose Place' hunk Rob Estes. Lori Loughlin plays his wife, Shenae Grimes plays the daughter.
According to published reports, producers of the series are bringing a contemporary flavor to the show with a storyline that consists of a teacher sleeping with his students and a gossip "guy" roaming the halls the school.
It's a far cry from shilling narcotics on the rough and tumble streets of Baltimore for Wilds, who also appeared in the star-studded Jay-Z music video 'Roc Boys' from the 'American Gangster' soundtrack, and Alicia Keys' new 'Skool Daze' inspired music video for 'Teenage Love Affair,' along with Derek Luke, Jackie Long, and Giancarlo Esposito.
One of the newest and freshest faces on the scene, the 5'11 actor (real name: Tristan Paul Mack Wilds) is also featured in the Roc-A-Wear "I Will Not Lose" campaign, and has upcoming role in the movies 'The Secret Lives of Bees' and 'Indelible.'
There's also unconfirmed reports that Wilds is being tapped to star in an untitled New Edition biopic.
'90210' is expected to premiere this fall on The CW network.
The Wire Season 5
- The Wire Season 5
Felicia Snoop Pearson
Snoop (Felicia Pearson), who goes by the same name on 'The Wire' is the muscle for drug dealer Marlo Stanfield. Snoop put in her first work for the crew by gunning down a rival drug dealer on the back of a motorbike. Pearson's memoir, 'Grace After Midnight' speaks of finding peace after a life filled with violence and turmoil. Deborah Feingold - The Wire Season 5
Detective William Moreland
"The Bunk" (Wendell Pierce), is a cigar-toting veteran homicide detective who has a low threshold for BS and is an interrogator you don't want to cross if you pulled that trigger. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Michael Lee
Young Michael (Tristan Wilds) was first introduced to 'The Wire' in last year's focus on schools, following four young boys as they negotiated innocence and manhood. Michael unequivocally went to the dark side with no hope of return. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
The Newsroom
With every season giving another slice of Baltimore life (Streets & Cops, Docks, Politics, Schools), 'The Wire's' final season focuses on the press. Baltimore Sun City Editor Gus Haynes (Clark Johnson) (seated) leads the charge ofjournalists who cover all segments of this complicated urban metropolis. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Omar Little
Omar (Michael K. Williams) keeps his shotty close as a serious stick-up kid who robs drug dealers and has exacted his revenge on those who have crossed him. Omar is also gay, giving face to the ubiquitous "homo thug" persona.Nicole Rivellli, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Detective Kima Greggs
Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn), who began her police career in narcotics and moved to the wiretap unit, is one of few women on the force; Greggs must negotiate her home life with the dangers of the streets she polices. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
"Proposition Joe" Stewart & Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff
Proposition Joe (Robert Chew) and his nephew Cheese (Method Man) run the eastside of Baltimore running major narcotics out of an unassuming repair shop. Prop Joe established the New Day Co-Op, a "commission" of Baltimore's drug kingpins including rivals. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Chris Partlow
A man of few words, Chris Partlow (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is a lieutenant and enforcer for drug ruler Marlo Stanfield. Chris, literal partner in crime to Snoop, is exacting and ruthless in protecting Marlo and assets at all costs. Usually the price swift death to those determined to be enemies. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Major Cedric Daniels and Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell
Major Daniels (Lance Reddick) (right), a cop with a law degree, was on the fast track to becoming top dog in the Baltimore police force, yet his renegade spirit for true police work provedtoo rebellious for PD brass. Conversely, Commissioner Burrell (Frankie R. Faison) is all about the politics of the job, even putting the kibosh on the wiretap program when corrupt officials got caught in its web. Paul Schiraldi, HBO - The Wire Season 5
Bubbles
Bubbles (Andre Royo), a drug addict who reps West Baltimore, was introduced to 'The Wire' as an informant for Det. Kima Greggs. Bubbles has seen and experienced tragedy on the streets as a fiend and is struggling to stay clean. Paul Schiraldi, HBO
Comments: (18)
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By: Kimberly on 5/19/2008 6:33PM
SAVE OUR TEENS!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://TipTopWebsite.com/BrownWilliams
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By: nomohaight on 5/20/2008 11:40AM
That's so funny. They somehow decided they needed a black person in the cast. Of course they didn't want to overdo it so they made him the adopted son of white parents.
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By: D H on 5/21/2008 7:23AM
So typical of the WB. Continuing on in Norman Lears footsteps of having no wealthy black families.
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By: chas jr on 5/23/2008 8:49AM
too bad Flav already has a show, I'm glad the young brother is working . TV is so stuypid
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By: Uriah Jordan on 5/23/2008 10:23AM
Aren't they ashamed to even hire someone to be an obvious Token? I didn't watch the first series and I have even less interest in watching this one. Hey why not go all out and have him wear Blackface so he'd really stand out? Now this is Blackexploitation!
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By: Uriah Jordan on 5/23/2008 10:38AM
I can imagine how proud he must feel being picked to be the only Token. Maybe they can name him something really ethnic like 'Darkie' 'Sambo' or 'Jiggaboo'? Adopted huh? This is like 90210 Different Strokes and Webster roled into one. Well I'm glad that this article came out this way I'll be sure to miss this latest hot steaming load of BS from the WB. #3 may not be old enough to remember when Norman Lear said that the Cosby show was not a true representative of a black family. This was the man that made Good Times one of the most depressing shows ever. The Waltons was supposed to be about a Depression era family but they had it better than the Evans family. After watching that show it made you wonder why they never took turns sucking bullets out the wrong end of a gun?
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By: al on 5/23/2008 1:48PM
this----- there's so much i want to say....i'm so glad this young brother is working.and although he played a drug dealer in his last big project---(let's be real here...as great as the show was.and all the other characters in it---hell,the show was damn near flawless in it's protrayal of "the life" why is it black folks are PRODOMINENTLY cast in street life roles or gotta be saved by white folk roles?)i think he'll do well...still,i can't blame him for taking the role..the exposure i'm sure it will get..but,with all the HEAT 90210 got with no people of color 1st time around (NOT EVEN A MEXICAN OR AN ASIAN PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!) you'd think they'd learn the 2nd time around....NOT!!!!!
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By: UGUESSWHO on 5/24/2008 5:41AM
Is it just me or is it people are wanting to weed out black people on sitcoms and REVAMP OLD S***. Where in the hell are the creative minds gone? The cartoon turned-movies and some mo' OLD A$$ S***. Everywhere you turn it's some S^^^ that are being shoved down people throats. I know they say the world turns on its axis but damn....is this it? Is this what it's come too, PRESERVING OLD WRINKLE WHITE WOMEN AND MEN TO KEEP OUT TALENTED BLACKS. TELL ME I'M WRONG, GO AHEAD.
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By: peni on 5/24/2008 9:45AM
Believe it or not, there are "white families" who open their homes to black underprivledge youth.One that may come to mind, Dennis Rodman story. So, this is a reality and not a token story as some may think it to be.
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By: Dani Baby on 5/24/2008 3:28PM
I agree with earlier posts...this "new" 90210 is HERESY! Seriously, we need to start a letter writing campaign to blast the makers of this stereotypical, exclusionary, Jim Crow bull sh*t!
Just looking at the cast picture makes my blood boil! Oh, I guess there aren't any young, attractive, BLACK women that could've been added to this group either? Now correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have REAL African-American teens and young adults that live among the upper class?
I get soooo damn tired of rich, classy, attractive and educated individuals being white-washed as "caucasian only" on television! Today, shows like "The Hills", "The Bachelor", "One Tree Hill", "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" among others almost NEVER show attractive, rich and/or educated blacks.
And on the rare occasion that you DO get to see a sexy black on The Bachelor/Bachelorette or whateva, his/her ass is almost ALWAYS among the 1st to be eliminated! But on the flip, on our so-called reality shows, we always have some COONISH man or woman busting slob with a white person! (Can somebody say Flavor of Love and I love New York?) DISGRACE!
It's such an obvious double standard in TV land (and on the big screen) it's ridiculous! The media is putting out a subliminal message that black folks aren't desired OR wealthy! That's why they only put BIG or homely women on "The View". Anybody ever heard of a BLACK Charlie's Angel? The answer is Hell No!
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