Michael Rainey Jr. (born September 22, 2000) is an American actor and record producer best known for the role of Tariq St. Patrick on Power and Power Book II: Ghost. He also starred as Michael Burset in Orange Is the New Black and Jalen in Barbershop: The Next Cut.[1][2]

Michael Rainey Jr.
Born
Michael Rainey Jr.

(2000-09-22) September 22, 2000 (age 24)
Other namesWhereis22
Occupations
  • Actor
  • record producer
  • rapper
Years active2010–present
Known forportraying Tariq St. Patrick on Power & Book II: Ghost

Early life and education

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Rainey Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Michael Rainey Sr. and Shauna Small. Through his mother, he is of Jamaican descent. His father lives in New York, with Rainey Jr. being raised in Staten Island, New York from the age of one. His mother homeschooled him in his youth. Rainey Jr. supports ‘Find and Feed’, an Indiana based organization that cares for the homeless.[3]

Career

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Rainey Jr. began his career at the age of ten when featured in Un Altro Mundo, and followed it with appearances in a variety of movies and shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Barbershop: The Next Cut, Amateur, 211 and Power.[4][5][6]

Rainey Jr. reprised his role as Tariq St. Patrick in Power Book II: Ghost, where he played the show's leading character.[7][8][9]

In March 2022, Rainey Jr., along with Power co-star Gianni Paolo, launched Twenty Two Entertainment. The first project is the self-hosted podcast, The Crew Has It. Twenty Two Entertainment is fully funded by Artists For Artists, launched in December 2021 by Kenan Thompson and John Ryan Jr.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 Un Altro Mondo Charlie
2010 Waiting Room Wild Child
2010 Sunny & Share Love You Jason
2012 LUV Woody
2013 The Butler Cecil Gaines
2014 Second Chance Christmas Lawrence
2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Jalen
2018 Amateur Terron Forte
2018 211 Kenny Rastell

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020–2024 Power Book II: Ghost Tariq St. Patrick Lead role
2014–2020 Power Tariq St. Patrick Recurring role (seasons 1–2); main role (seasons 3–6)
2013–2015 Orange Is the New Black Michael Burset 7 episodes; recurring role

References

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  1. ^ "Power Book II: Ghost star Michael Rainey Jr reacts to fandom's surprise turnaround". Digital Spy. November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Michael Rainey Jr. Official". Instagram.
  3. ^ "Michael Rainey Jr BiographyMichael Rainey Jr.'s bio: age, height, parents, net worth". Legit.ng. February 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Macaulay, Scott (March 19, 2018). "Trailer Watch: Ryan Koo's Amateur". Filmmaker magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. ^ "See the trailer for York Shackleton's 211, very loosely based on the Battle of North Hollywood". May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Michael Rainey Jr". IMDb.
  7. ^ "'Power Book II: Ghost': David Walton, Monique Curnen & Moriah Brown Join Starz's Spinoff As Series Regulars". Deadline. January 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Michael Rainey Jr. admits Ghost success is 'vindicating,' teases Tariq's season 2 struggles". Entertainment Weekly.
  9. ^ "Michael Rainey, Jr. Talks Making 'Power's Most Hated Character A Well-Liked Antihero In 'Ghost'". Essence. November 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "'Power Book II: Ghost' Stars Gianni Paolo & Michael Rainey Jr. Launch Twenty Two Entertainment". Deadline. March 29, 2022.
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