{{Short description|American actor}} {{Infobox person | name = Merrick McCartha | image = Merrick McCartha at San Diego Film Week 2019 (cropped).jpg | caption = McCartha in 2019 | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | birth_date = | alma_mater = {{hlist|Cass Technical High School|University of Michigan|University of California, San Diego}} | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2008–present | known_for = {{Plainlist| *''Failure!'' (2023) *''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea'' (2023) *''If You Should Leave Before Me'' (2025) }} | credits = {{Plainlist| *''The Playground'' (2017) *''Senior Year'' (2022) }} | television = {{hlist|''All American''|''Countdown''|''Criminal Minds''|''General Hospital''|''Unstable''}} | awards = List of Awards | website = {{url|merrickmccartha.com}} }}
'''Merrick McCartha''' is an American actor who appeared on television shows such as ''All American'' (2020–2021)'', Countdown'' (2025), ''Criminal Minds'' (2012–2015), ''Rebel'' (2017) and ''Unstable'' (2023). His film credits include ''Failure!'' (2023), ''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea'' (2023), ''If You Should Leave Before Me'' (2025), and ''The Playground'' (2017).
==Personal life== McCartha grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He discovered he had a knack for performance in elementary school but his parents, who were police officers, did not want him to take on acting as a career.<ref name=":0" /> In 1990, McCartha was a student and part-time waiter when he helped judge a meatloaf cook-off.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abraham |first=Molly |date=1990-12-27 |title=Meatloaf: When Humble Pie Costs $14.50, Someone's Gotta Check It Out |page=13 |work=Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-meatloaf-when-humbl/136924957/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-12-05 |title=Cook-off makes humble meat loaf a star |page=58 |work=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-cook-off-makes-humble/136924841/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He attended Cass Technical High School and pursued an engineering career after college. He later took acting classes and signed with an agency in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=April |date=15 January 2021 |title=Detroit Actor Making A Name For Himself In Hollywood, Appearing In Season Premiere Of CW's 'All American' |url=https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2021/01/15/detroit-actor-making-a-name-for-himself-in-hollywood-appearing-in-season-premiere-of-cws-all-american/ |work=WWJ-TV}}</ref>
== Career == In 2011, McCartha was runner-up in a Backstage actors pitch contest that received over 100 submissions.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Pitch Contest Results |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/868724180/F171ADD7D8214106PQ/ |journal=Backstage |volume=52 |issue=16 |pages=16, 46 |id={{ProQuest|868724180}} }}</ref> In 2017, he was cast in the San Diego International Fringe Festival<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kragen |first=Pam |date=2017-07-04 |title=Review: One last dispatch from the Fringe: 8 shows close annual festival |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/sd-et-fringe-reviews3-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704164506/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/theater/sd-et-fringe-reviews3-story.html |archive-date=2017-07-04 |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> and portrayed Deacon Avery Silver in ''Rebel'' by producer John Singleton for the BET Network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rawles |first=Timothy |date=2017-02-13 |title=Inaugural San Diego Film Week begins with old Hollywood style {{!}} San Diego Gay and Lesbian News |url=https://sdlgbtn.com/news/2017/02/13/inaugural-san-diego-film-week-begins-old-hollywood-style |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110081329/https://sdlgbtn.com/news/2017/02/13/inaugural-san-diego-film-week-begins-old-hollywood-style |archive-date=2022-01-10 |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=San Diego Gay and Lesbian News}}</ref> McCartha was cast in the film ''Anatomy of an Antihero: Redemption'' in 2018<ref name=":5">{{Cite AV media |last=Austell |first=Jason |date=2018-02-10 |title='Anatomy of an Antihero' series features San Diego actors |url=https://www.kusi.com/anatomy-antihero-series-features-san-diego-actors/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=KUSI-TV |language=en-US}}</ref> and as Robert Hicks in ''All American'' in 2021.<ref name=":0" />
In 2023, he became eligible for an Emmy for his role in ''House of Payne'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2023-06-15 |title=Emmys: Guest Actor (Comedy) – Will Pedro Pascal Bring 'Saturday Night Live' Another Guest Performer Statuette? |url=https://variety.com/feature/2023-emmys-guest-comedy-actor-predictions-1235628874/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> co-starred with Ted Raimi in Alex Kahuam's crime comedy film ''Failure!''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2024-05-16 |title=Ted Raimi Thriller 'Failure!' Snapped Up for North American Distribution at Cannes Market by Red Water Entertainment |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/ted-raimi-failure-cannes-red-water-entertainment-1236006105/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kucharski |first=Joe |date=2023-08-28 |title=Movie Review – "Failure!" (2023) |url=https://www.cinefied.com/failuremoviereviewFailure!%20(2023) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830060316/https://www.cinefied.com/failuremoviereview |archive-date=2023-08-30 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Cinefied |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentin |first=Albert |date=2023-09-02 |title=Failure! (USA, 2023) |url=https://worldfilmgeek.com/2023/09/02/failure-usa-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=WorldFilmGeek |language=en}}</ref> which premiered at FrightFest,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zac |date=2023-07-13 |title=UK Genre Event FrightFest Unveils Lineup For 2023 Edition |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/frightfest-line-up-2023-1235436873/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> and appeared in Tony Olmos' microbudget horror satire film ''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zee |first=Michaela |date=2025-01-07 |title='Skinamarink' Studio's $29,000 Horror Satire 'Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea' Debuts Clip Ahead of AVOD Release |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/hemet-or-the-landlady-dont-drink-tea-clip-avod-release-1236263964/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
In 2025, McCartha was cast as the recurring character District Attorney Grayson Valwell in the television show ''Countdown'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |date=2025-06-25 |title=‘Countdown’ Review: Amazon’s Los Angeles-Set Law Enforcement Thriller Offers Ample Action but Zero Urgency or Logic |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/countdown-review-amazon-eric-dane-series-1236298334/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schager |first=Nick |date=2025-06-23 |title=The Year’s Most Insufferable TV Show Is Now Here |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/countdown-review-the-years-most-insufferable-tv-show-is-now-here/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref> and co-starred in the Andersons' debut film ''If You Should Leave Before Me'', which premiered at Raindance Film Festival.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=LePire |first=Bobby |date=2025-06-21 |title=If You Should Leave Before Me |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/if-you-should-leave-before-me/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Film Threat}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Television ! width="55" | Year !! Title !! Role !! Episodes |- |2013 || ''Scandal''|| Defense Lobbyist || "Icarus"<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Merrick McCartha |url=https://www.metacritic.com/person/merrick-mccartha/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}</ref> |- |2012-2015 || ''Criminal Minds''|| Mayor / Anesthesiologist || 2 episodes<ref name=":3" /> |- |2015 || ''The Young and the Restless''|| Doctor ||<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2016 || ''The Fosters''|| Angry Dad || "Trust"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''Goliath''|| Red Emerson || "Pride and Prejudice"<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="4" |2017 || ''Rebel''|| Deacon Avery Silver || "Partners"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''Lethal Weapon''|| IA Agent #2 || "El Gringo Loco"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''Scorpion''|| Jeremy Pratt || "Nuke Kids on the Block"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''The Orville''|| Scientist || "Majority Rule"<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2018 || ''The Bold and the Beautiful''|| Cop #1 ||<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''Dear White People''|| Older Man || "Volume 2: Chapter VII"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''Get Shorty''|| Detective Torann || "And What Have We Learned?"<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2019 || ''One Day at a Time''|| Dean || "Ghosts"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''NCIS''|| Dr. Eugene Pierce || "Perennial"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''This Is Us''|| Lester || "The Club"<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="4" |2020 || ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine''|| Frank Murwin || "Manhunter"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''General Hospital''|| Cliff Simpson || 2 episodes |- | ''Broke''|| Mario Jones || "Jobs" |- | ''Saved by the Bell''|| Angry Reporter #2 || "Pilot"<ref name=":3" /> |- |2020-2021 || ''All American''|| Robert Hicks || 4 episodes<ref name=":0" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2021 || ''B Positive''|| Guy || "Recessive Gina"<ref name=":3" /> |- | ''9-1-1''|| Aldous Pate || "Survivors" |- | ''Curb Your Enthusiasm''|| Cop || "The Five-Foot Fence"<ref name=":3" /> |- |2022 ||''The Villains of Valley View''||Officer Collins ||"Trust No One" |- | rowspan="3" |2023 ||''Act Your Age''||Marcus||"Fire and Desire" |- |''As Luck Would Have It'' |Ken |"Murder 101" |- |''Unstable''||Ted||2 episodes<ref name=":3" /> |- |2023–2025 |''House of Payne''||Frederick||4 episodes<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |''Grey's Anatomy'' |Karl |"Walk on the Ocean" |- |''High Potential'' |Detective Lavolie |"One of Us"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Springate |first=Tegan |date=2025-01-17 |title=Cast Of High Potential: Meet The Faces You'll Be Talking About All Season |url=https://www.boredpanda.com/cast-of-high-potential/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Bored Panda |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |''Countdown'' |District Attorney Grayson Valwell |6 episodes<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=D'Agosta |first=Cassandra |date=2025-05-30 |title=Everything We Know About Jensen Ackles' Countdown |url=https://www.cbr.com/jensen-ackles-countdown-everything-to-know/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> |- |''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' |Judge Gagan |Episode: "Showdown" |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Feature films ! width="55" | Year !! Title !! Role !Notes |- |2010 |''KingBreaker'' |Clean Team | |- |2017 || ''The Playground''|| Grandison |<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Merrick McCartha – Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/merrick_mccartha |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Accomando |first=Beth |author-link=Beth Accomando |date=2017-10-12 |title=San Diego Indie Feature, 'The Playground' Has World Premiere Thursday |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/midday-edition/2017/10/12/san-diego-indie-feature-playground-has-world-premi |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref> |- |2018 || ''Anatomy of an Antihero: Redemption''||Daniel Brown |Featuring Eric Roberts, Catriona MacColl and Robert Wall<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-02 |title=HW Digital Presents Marital Artist, Actor & Producer Alan Delabie in 'Anatomy of an Antihero' by Hollywood Weekly Magazine, LLC – Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/hollywood/docs/4_1_21_hw_digital_ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Hollywood Weekly Magazine |page=7 |language=en |via=Issuu}}</ref> |- |2019 ||''Borrowed Time''||Dr. Daniel Brown |<ref name=":4" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2020 || ''Skin: The Movie''|| Hitchcock |<ref name=":4" /> |- | ''Twisted Twin''||Detective Fisher |<ref name=":4" /> |- |2022 || ''Senior Year''|| Principal Young |<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Merrick McCartha |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/merrick-mccartha/credits/3000947255/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=TV Guide |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2023 |''Failure!'' |Mr. Serge |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bitel |first=Anton |date=2023-08-28 |title=Failure! (2023) |url=https://projectedfigures.com/2023/08/28/failure-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828232049/https://projectedfigures.com/2023/08/28/failure-2023/ |archive-date=2023-08-28 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Projected Figures |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hadcroft |first=Bradley |date=2023-08-29 |title=Pigeon Shrine Frightfest 2023 – Film Review – Failure! (2023) |url=https://thepeoplesmovies.com/2023/08/pigeon-shrine-frightfest-2023-film-review-failure-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829110614/https://thepeoplesmovies.com/2023/08/pigeon-shrine-frightfest-2023-film-review-failure-2023/ |archive-date=2023-08-29 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=The People's Movies |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Emilie |date=2023-08-29 |title=Failure! (2023) [FrightFest 2023] – Cinema Crazed |url=https://www.cinema-crazed.com/blog/2023/08/29/failure-2023-frightfest-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Cinema Crazed |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2023-07-17 |title=Wimbledon Coverage Breaks BBC Records – Global Bulletin |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/wimbledon-bbc-viewership-1235672039/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea'' |Martin |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewer |first=Mac |date=2023-11-15 |title=Charybdis Pictures Releases Trailer for Horror Comedy 'Hemet' Ahead of Premiere |url=https://www.horrorsociety.com/2023/11/15/charybdis-pictures-releases-trailer-for-horror-comedy-hemet-ahead-of-premiere/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Horror Society |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Elling |first=Regina |date=2023-11-16 |title=Filming of indie thriller 'Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea,' in Ramona was a family affair |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ramona-sentinel/news/story/2023-11-16/ramona-home-serves-as-location-for-indie-horror-movie |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Ramona Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bitel |first=Anton |date=2024-01-24 |title=Hemet, Or The Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023) |url=https://projectedfigures.com/2024/01/24/hemet-or-the-landlady-dont-drink-tea-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124123617/https://projectedfigures.com/2024/01/24/hemet-or-the-landlady-dont-drink-tea-2023/ |archive-date=2024-01-24 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Projected Figures |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Devir |first=Ryan |date=2024-03-27 |title=Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea |url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/hemet-or-the-landlady-dont-drink-tea/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Film Threat |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2024 |''The Resellers'' |Roger Martin | |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |''If You Should Leave Before Me'' |Lorne |Raindance Film Festival premiere<ref name=":8" /> |- |''Maddie's Secret'' |Doctor | |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+Short films ! width="55" | Year !! Title !! Role !Notes |- |2008 ||''Just a Man''||Joe Beedle | |- |2010 | ''The Heiress Lethal''|| Johnny Love |selected for 2011 Cannes Film Festival<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-04-17 |title=Brief: Local film crew heads to Cannes |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/862220576/F171ADD7D8214106PQ/ |website=KSWB-TV |id={{ProQuest|862220576}}}}</ref> |- |2011 ||''What's Your Fantasy?'' || Unknown | |- |2014 ||''The Case of Evil''||Deke Williams |<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-12-21 |title='The Case of Evil' Is Film Noir Horror Done Right |url=https://scifi.radio/2015/12/21/case-of-evil-film-noir-horror-done-right/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=SCIFI.radio |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Accomando |first=Beth |author-link=Beth Accomando |date=2015-05-23 |title=San Diego's Film Community Optimistic After City Council Budget Meeting |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2015/05/22/film-community-optimistic-after-city-council-budge |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref> |- |2015 |''Things Happen'' |J.D. |<ref name=":4" /> |- |2021 || ''Ira Aldridge''|| Ira Aldridge |also co-writer and executive producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bianconi |first=Lisa |date=2022-02-02 |title='Ira Aldridge' |url=https://nohoartsdistrict.com/ira-aldridge/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=NoHo Arts District |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2023 |''The Last Butterflies'' |Reporter |<ref>{{Cite web |title=San Diego Film Week: The Last Butterflies – Sunday, November 12, 2023, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. {{!}} San Diego Reader |url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/2023/nov/12/the-last-butterflies-5e689082/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=San Diego Reader |language=en}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |''The Risk Rule'' |Robert Chalk | |- |''My Superhero Roommate'' |Mike | |}
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable" !Event !Year !Film !Award !Result !Ref. |- | rowspan="3" |48 Hour Film Project |2008 |''Just a Man'' |Best Ensemble, San Diego |{{won}} | |- |2010 |''The Heiress Lethal'' |Best Ensemble, San Diego |{{won}} |<ref name=":52">{{Cite web |date=2010-09-17 |title=The 48 Hour Film Project: San Diego |url=http://48hourfilm.com/sandiego/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917071519/http://48hourfilm.com/sandiego/ |archive-date=2010-09-17 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=48 Hour Film Project}}</ref> |- |2011 |''What's Your Fantasy?'' |Best Ensemble, San Diego |{{won}} | |- | rowspan="2" |San Diego Film Awards |2014 |''The Heiress Lethal'' |Best Actor |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-04 |title=First Ever winners of the San Diego Film Awards 2014 – Film Consortium San Diego |url=http://filmconsortiumsd.com/first-ever-winners-san-diego-film-awards-2014.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104140459/http://filmconsortiumsd.com/first-ever-winners-san-diego-film-awards-2014.html |archive-date=2015-01-04 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Film Consortium San Diego}}</ref> |- |2016 |''Assessing Alan'' |Best Supporting Actor |{{nom}} | |- |An Anti-Hero Production Genre Fest |2015 | rowspan="3" |''The Case of Evil'' |Best Actor in a Grindhouse Film |{{won}} | |- |Genre Fest |2015 |Best Actor |{{won}} | |- |Zed Fest Film Festival |2015 |Outstanding Acting Performance |{{won}} | |- |Blast Off Film Festival |2019 | rowspan="2" |''Skin: The Movie'' |Best Acting Ensemble |{{nom}} | |- |Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema |2020 |Best Ensemble |{{nom}} | |}
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/merrick-mccartha Merrick McCartha] at Getty Images * {{IMDb name|3295021}} * [https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/merrick-mccartha/20272924/main/ Merrick McCartha] at Moviefone * [https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200044/https://writer.celebmagazine.com/meeting-all-americans-merrick-mccartha/ Celeb Magazine Interview] * [https://theblkscript.com/conversations/v/merrick-mccartha The BLK Script Interview] * [https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-merrick-mccartha-actor-los-angeles/ Voyage LA Interview] * [https://merrickmccartha.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McCartha, Merrick}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male actors Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Male actors from Detroit Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:Male actors from San Diego Category:Cass Technical High School alumni Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:University of California, San Diego alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)