Acting
Matthew Elam
Matthew James Elam is an American stage, film, and television actor originally from Southern California. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from DePaul University's Theatre School in Chicago, class of 2018, where he appeared in productions such as Native Son, Wig Out!, Lord of the Flies, and Romeo and Juliet. Elam began building his screen résumé with an appearance on Chicago P.D. in 2018, followed by a lead role in the digital short Good Genes in 2019. That same year, he earned critical praise onstage in Dominique Morisseau's play Pipeline at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre. This performance showcased his ability to portray complex and rebellious youth. In 2020, Elam was cast as Lemuel Cannon, the eldest son of Chris Rock's character in Season 4 of FX's anthology series Fargo. His portrayal of a young man torn between familial loyalty and personal aspiration caught his attention for its nuanced depth. He expanded his television presence in 2022 by joining the cast of AMC's 61st Street and made his feature-film debut as Ray Ray in HBO Max's The Many Saints of Newark. Elam is also a series regular of the Marvel Studios' Disney+ TV series Ironheart (2025).
Acting credits
6.3Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark, N.J., history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters start to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, whose influence over his nephew will help shape the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss, Tony Soprano.
The Many Saints of Newark
2021
NRAfter a well-meaning intervention, a brilliant but guarded architect is forced to confront her past alongside the vacant lot where her childhood home once stood. As buried memories resurface and new connections threaten her carefully controlled world, she must decide whether to keep building walls or step outside of her comfort zone by letting someone in. An imaginative exploration of vulnerability and community, FACADE explores the courage it takes to open yourself up before everything you’ve built comes crashing down.
Facade
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5.9A Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they struggle and learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
Exhibiting Forgiveness
2024
