He’s no stranger to hard work he got his start onBroadway.
He’s pursued his dreams, and now it’s finally paying off.
Here’s what you don’t know about Anthony Mackie.
He did not, however, expect to actually portray one of the heroes.
That was as far as my ambition could take me in that universe."
It was not for lack of ambition, though.
He was just, unfortunately, used to seeing Black people left out of the entertainment industry.
“There are limitations that we place on ourselves because of our surroundings.”
“I hated the idea.
I thought it was gonna be an awful idea,” he said.
Though he ultimately landed the part, he didn’t initially get the news from Marvel directly.
Mackie, for one, heard the news while at a grocery store.
They didn’t call me and tell me."
“It’s always a surprise,” Mackie added.
“I found out in the grocery store, buying redbeansandrice.”
It’s no secret that they are the best of friends, and fans adore their relationship.
What most might not know is that the two didn’t bond immediately when they first met.
There was no instant connection or good-natured banter they simply shook hands (perMen’s Health).
This might be because Stan is the exact opposite of Mackie, who is a lively extrovert.
He also told Men’s Health that Stan has nailed the famous “resting bitch face.”
I just hang on."
Mackie explained how he had come to a fork in the road in his career.
He couldn’t decide between them, so he went to Freeman for advice.
Freeman told Mackie to “do the play.”
“‘When Hollywood wants you they’ll come get you.
“[Freeman has] been a huge influence on me,” the actor said.
Amazon’s Solos was one of his most challenging projects
Anthony Mackie is afraid of comfort zones.
This is why he took on a challenging role in “Solos,” an Amazon miniseries.
It turns out that “Solos” was the perfect show to help him accomplish this goal.
He told Chow that, when he first read the script, it terrified him.
Interestingly, this is what made Mackie decide to take on the role.
Unsurprisingly, he delivered a stellar performance.
“8 Mile” saw Anthony Mackie working alongside Eminem, portraying the role of rapper Papa Doc.
The film’s success landed Mackie more job opportunities than he could count.
Mackie had big aspirations, too.
Mackie also loved Shakespeare because the themes in his plays are still relevant today.
He honed his craft by studying at Juilliard
Anthony Mackie was destined to be a star.
He studied at Juilliard and went on to perform in severalBroadway productionsbefore embarking on the film industry.
He credits his time at the prestigious school for many of his accomplishments.
That work served him well: He basically built his entire bar himself, apart for the chairs.
Even though he owned the place, he worked just as hard as his employees.
“Besides, I consider myself to be a man’s man.
The bar also wasn’t aimed at attracting high-profile clientele.
Unfortunately, the bar closed its doors in 2015 (perMeaww) for unknown reasons.
And off he went to the dismay of some of his cast members.
The only partner he’s had during his time in the spotlight is his ex-wife, Sheletta Chapital.
Even though the pair is no longer together, their story started as a classic fairytale.
The exact reason for their split is unknown.
Instead, Mackie says, they have a love for video games (viaPeople).
Are they impressed with their dad’s superhero shenanigans on TV?
I was like, ‘I know.'”
She died shortly after her diagnosis specifically, the day before Mackie would celebrate his ninth-grade graduation.
As the youngest of six siblings, his mother’s death hit him pretty hard.
Despite the pain her death caused, Mackie says it helped him shape his life for the better.
“Everything I did, I did for my mama … She was my best friend.
Losing her gave me a kind of strength, and a desire to succeed.”
