Kelvin Harrison Jr. On Portraying Basquiat and Expanding Black Narratives

Over the past three years, actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. has managed to carve a name for himself in Hollywood. His standout performances in the thriller Luce and family drama Waves garnered widespread praise, and his role as activist Fred Hampton in The Trial of the Chicago 7 earned him and the rest of the cast a Screen Actor’s Guild Award.

Currently starring alongside Peter Dinklage in the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated Cyrano, the 27-year-old actor is just getting started. The New Orleans-native has upcoming roles in Baz Luhrmann‘s Elvis and is set to star in the highly-anticipated Basquiat biopic Samo Lives. In addition, the actor has been labeled something of a trendsetter, frequently donning creative runway looks on international red carpets and supporting luxury fashion houses like Gucci at tentpole events.

Cementing his first attendance at this year’s New York Fashion Week – including a front-row appearance at the Fall/Winter 2022 Coach show – Harrison Jr. chatted with HYPEBEAST about his fashion influences, career-defining moments and expanding Black narratives in Hollywood.

HYPEBEAST: How did you first get involved in the entertainment industry?

KELVIN HARRISON JR.: Actually, I started with music. My parents are musicians, and I play the jazz piano and trumpet. When I went to school for marketing, I kind of just stumbled into acting one day when one of my friends asked me, “Hey, do you want to go to an audition with me?!” And I was like, “Sure.” It was for an extra’s job, which led to a one-liner, and then I got an agent and just kept doing it. Eventually, I dropped out of school.

“I try to choose roles that feel like they highlight my story and the stories of my cousins, friends and family.”

Can you describe your experience of being Black in Hollywood and if you’ve ever had to navigate an uneven playing field?

My career trajectory has always included roles that kind of expand what Black existence looks like. And trying to have people understand what that experience is like – how to implement that into the scripts and the story – is always a challenge. But, every day is a process, and I try to choose roles that feel like they highlight my story and the stories of my cousins, friends and family.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty/Gucci

Are there any roles or films that stand out as career-defining moments for you?

Yes! When Julius Onah directed me in Luce. Working with him, Tim Roth, Naomi Watts, and Octavia Spencer was a big moment for me, and I like that the role was very intense and disruptive. Doing a story like that – about being a kind of upper-middle-class Black person – and navigating what life looks like, there, I think that was a big moment.

What are some of your style influences and how do you approach fashion?

A lot of my inspirations come from historical figures that I find interesting, like Julius Eastman, and other composers or artists that don’t get highlighted a lot. In my day-to-day life, I wear sweatpants and T-shirts, but when I go out it’s always a conversation about the overall style story. And I’ve also worked with an incredible fashion stylist, Michael Fisher.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

You recently sat front-row at Coach for New York Fashion Week, how would you describe your first time attending the shows in NYC?

Because it was my first time at New York Fashion Week – but not my first-ever fashion week – I didn’t have any expectations. Everyone looked so great, and it was fun that I got to dress up and play and see what was going on. Wearing a full Coach look to my first Coach show was really exciting, and I wanted to come into it and just take it all in.

How did you get cast for the role of legendary artist Jean Michel Basquiat and what steps did you take to prepare for the part?

Julius [Onah] contacted me last year and asked how I felt about Jean-Michel Basquiat, and I was like, “I love him!” He mentioned that I would be great for the role, and I was like, “Okay! Let’s talk about it!” And so, last year, we began talking about the script and the story, and right now, we’re doing a lot of research. I’m reading almost every book and watching every interview about Basquiat, and it’s a really exciting process.

Coach

What’s next for you?

The Elvis movie is coming out this year, where I portray B.B. King during the ’60s, and that was so much fun. And I just finished filming Chevalier – in Prague – which is about a composer from 18th century France, who was Mozart’s contemporary at the time. I went full rockstar – Jimi Hendrix and Prince style – but within that period. It’s cool to kind of transcend and see what rock stars looked like at that time. Also, being a Black rock star at that time, I hope that it translates for people. I’m also executive producer for the Basquiat film, so, I’m wearing my big-boy pants!