For over 37 years, Antoine McKay has been among the leading actors, writers, producers and directors to hail from the Midwest. He developed his passion for acting at a young age and honed his skills at Eastern Michigan University’s prestigious forensics and theatre arts programs and by studying under world-famous acting coach, Uta Hagen. In 2023, Mr McKay was honored by receiving a spot in the EMU Forensics Department’s Hall of Fame.
McKay began his professional acting career at the Second City’s Main Stages in Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in over 20 critically acclaimed shows. His credits include starring roles in countless commercials and television appearances on programs, including Detroit 187 (ABC), ER (NBC), Prison Break (FOX), and Sports Action Team (NBC). He has appeared in such feature films as The Weatherman with Nicholas Cage, Someone to Eat Cheese With, alongside Jeff Garland, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, Osso Bucco with Mike Starr, and All Happy Families with Josh Radnor. His most recent appearances have included FOX’s breakout hit show Empire, Patriot on Prime, Comedy Central’s Review, HBO Max’s South Side, and Chicago Med. He has starred in Fatal Witness, and also directed and starred in Roman, both of which can be seen on Tubi and NBC’s Peacock.
McKay has returned to the stage the last few years at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, starring as Seth in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Brian in Annabella in July, Russel in Alamo Shoes, and Cutler in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He is currently playing William King Broke-ology at Tipping Point Theatre in Northville. He flexed his directing muscles with the opening production for the 69th Season at the Rep with Eboni Booth’s Primary Trust. He has been awarded Best Supporting Actor by the Detroit Free Press, nominated for Best Song by the Oakland Press, nominated for Best Actor by Chicago’s equivalent of the Tony Awards, the Joseph Jefferson Board, and received the Distinguished Alumni from Wayne Memorial High School, and awarded the Spirit of Detroit Award. He recently received the 2024 Wilde Award for Best Actor.
He and his beautiful wife established their production company, Chelletoine Productions in 2020, when they wrote and shot their first pilot, Michelle S. Bitts, PhD and most recently Black Box Comedy (2023). They have many other projects in the works along with the various Performance Studies Acting Classes they offer. They are committed to building the theater and film community in SE Michigan and are focusing on bringing the film incentives back to the state. Antoine had been a long-time resident of Chicago and has recently relocated to SE Michigan, where he lives with his wife Michelle and their children.
