Anthony Mackie’s career is taking flight. Literally. Not only has he made appearances in countless blockbuster films, he will also star in the sequel to Captain America as the hero’s soaring partner in crime, The Falcon.
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the Avenger will have to face the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. Mackie will play The Falcon, a vigilante who began fighting crime on the streets of Harlem, who teams up with Captain America. It’s no secret that Mackie is excited about his role. He was quoted in a Rolling Stone interview emphasizing his take on superhero costumes: “I’m all about the Spandex,” he said.
Born and raised in New Orleans, it was Mackie’s dream to become an engineer like his older brother. As a child, Mackie was troubled with the tragic deaths of both his parents, which some sources say inspired his venture into acting. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and eventually graduated at Juilliard. While at Juilliard, Mackie earned acclaim for his portrayal as rapper Tupac Shakur in the play Up Against the Wind. Little did he know he would depict Tupac once more in the motion picture Notorious. Along the way, Mackie starred in 17 films, including the Oscar winners for Best Picture Million Dollar Baby and The Hurt Locker. In the past three years, the actor has been credited in well-known films such as The Adjustment Bureau, Real Steel, Gangster Squad, Pain & Gain, Runner Runner and Fifth Estate.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on Friday.
Sammi Brennan can be reached at samantha.brennan@spartans.ut.edu