Elijah Rashad Reed is a Los Angeles-born actor, writer, and filmmaker whose career spans feature films, short films, commercials, and television.
A true local, born and raised in Silverlake, many refer to him as a “Silverlake unicorn”—one of the few native Angelenos still capable of finding success in the ever-evolving entertainment industry.
Initially, Reed pursued a different dream. Recruited to play college basketball, his athletic career ended abruptly following a premature cut. After his attempts to rejoin the team failed, he bounced back by falling into acting, taking classes and sharpening his skills. Shortly after graduating from Loyola Marymount University, he landed his first co-star role for the hit show “Grown-ish.”
From there, Reed’s career gained momentum. He appeared in the acclaimed TV series “Snowfall” and “This Is Us,” eventually securing roles in “Doom Patrol” and other notable projects. He has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Ava DuVernay in Netflix’s “Colin Black & White” and Vanessa Bell Calloway in the award-winning short film “Baby.” While television and film have expanded his reach, theater remains at the core of his artistic foundation.
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Reed’s love for theater dates back to elementary school, where he first stepped onto the stage. In 2020, he starred as the lead in LaDarrion Williams’ play “Umoja” at the Willie Aggie Theater in Inglewood, a venue that has become a recurring home for his stage work.
This week, Reed returns to the Willie Aggie Theater as Shane Owens in Paris Crayton III’s “Brothers of Affliction.” Unlike the polished, clean-cut roles he often portrays on screen, Shane is raw, unpredictable, and emotionally unfiltered.
“The guy is just throwing his emotions,” Reed explains. “Shane doesn’t know how to properly deal with the things he’s experienced. He’s throwing a bunch of pain and different things all over the place.”
The role demands raw vulnerability, requiring Reed to dig deep into emotions that are not easily accessible.
“It’s been constantly pushing me to find more true and honest reactions,” he says. “It’s been a challenge—but I love it.”
Beyond the stage, Reed understands that success in Hollywood is as much about endurance as talent. The industry is volatile, with no guarantees.
“The industry is open, then it’s closed. Then it’s shut down. Then you’re striking. Then there’s COVID,” he reflects. “So many things can happen. Shows get filmed and never come out, movies are completed and then canceled.”
Through it all, he relies on what he calls his “perseverance muscles”—the strength to keep moving forward despite setbacks.
“To still get back up and act like, ‘Hey, I’ve got another opportunity,’ that takes a level of resilience that’s second to none,” he says.
As Reed, the Silverlake Unicorn, who transitioned from a hopeful athlete to a working actor, returns to the stage, he carries the wisdom of a mentor: ‘If you’re not on set, be in class. If you’re not in class, be in therapy.'”
To catch up with Elijah, get your tickets for “Brothers of Affliction” at brothersofaffliction.com and follow his journey on Instagram @elijahrashad_.
