{{short description|American actor, dancer and choreographer}} {{Infobox person | name = Nicco Annan | image = Nicco Annan photo.png | alt = Annan wears a pink button up shirt. He has closely shaven hair and a beard. | caption = Annan in 2020 | birth_date = | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = State University of New York, Purchase (BFA) | occupation = Actor <br /> dancer <br /> choreographer | years_active = 1998–present | known_for = ''P-Valley'' }} '''Nicco Annan''' is an American actor, dancer, and choreographer. He is best known for his portrayal of Uncle Clifford on the Starz drama series ''P-Valley'', an adaptation of the Katori Hall play ''Pussy Valley'', in which Annan originated the role.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cuby|first=Michael|date=2020-09-04|title=How Nicco Annan Crafted One of the Most Gender-Defying, Badass Roles on Television|url=https://www.them.us/story/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-04|website=them.|language=en-us}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Annan was raised on the Westside of Detroit, Michigan.<ref name="vf2020" /> His mother is African American and was raised in the south, and his father is Ghanaian.<ref name="dailybeast2020">{{Cite news|last=Fallon|first=Kevin|date=2020-07-22|title=Meet Uncle Clifford, the Most Fabulous TV Character... Ever?|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-most-fabulous-tv-character-ever-meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-groundbreaking-uncle-clifford|access-date=2021-01-04}}</ref> He wanted to pursue acting from a young age and studied improv and theater from youth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-01|title=NUNN ON ONE TV Nicco Annan makes it rain on 'P-Valley' - Windy City Times News|url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/NUNN-ON-ONE-TV-Nicco-Annan-makes-it-rain-on-P-Valley/69141.html|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Windy City Times}}</ref> When he was 17 he joined a dance troupe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Valentine|first=Claire|title=Nicco Annan On 'P-Valley,' Uncle Clifford And The Power Of The Pynk Posse|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/nicco-annan-uncle-clifford-on-p-valley|access-date=2021-01-04|website=Nylon|date=14 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Annan received his diploma from Cass Technical High School<ref>{{Cite web|author=Cass Tech Alumni Association|date=2020-07-11|title=Technicians, set your calendars to tune in and catch Cass Tech alum Nicco Annan in the premiere of P-Valley|url=https://twitter.com/casstechalumni/status/1282045454491017217?lang=en|website=Twitter}}</ref> and studied theater at State University of New York-Purchase, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.<ref name="dailybeast2020" />
== Career == After college, Annan was hired as the choreographer in residence at the Yale School of Drama.<ref name="dailybeast2020" /> He also performed in theater productions on and off-Broadway. He moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue television acting.<ref name="essence2020">{{Cite web|last=Penrice|first=Ronda Racha|date=2020-07-27|title=Meet Nicco Annan: 'P-Valley's' Uncle Clifford Who's Giving Us Life|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-uncle-clifford-whos-giving-us-life/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-04|website=Essence|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="dailybeast2020" /> Annan has appeared in ''Claws'', ''Shameless'', ''This is Us'', and ''Snowfall''.<ref name="THRbesttv">{{Cite web|title=Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the Best TV Performances of 2020|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hollywood-reporter-critics-pick-the-best-tv-performances-of-2020|access-date=2021-01-04|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=16 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="essence2020" /><ref name="dailybeast2020" /> He is also the choreographer for the series ''All American''.<ref name="essence2020" />
In 2009, Annan's friend recommended him for a role in ''Pussy Valley,'' a play by Katori Hall centered on a strip club in the Mississippi Delta. Annan auditioned for and was cast as Uncle Clifford, the club's non-binary owner.<ref name="vf2020" /> He developed a detailed backstory for the character and portrayed the role in several smaller runs as well as the full production at Mixed Blood Theatre in 2015.<ref name="vf2020" />
When the play was ordered for a television adaptation by Starz, Annan again auditioned for the role of Uncle Clifford and was re-cast.<ref name="vf2020">{{Cite magazine|last=Desta|first=Yohana|date=2020-07-31|title=P-Valley: Nicco Annan Has Been Perfecting Uncle Clifford for Years|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-04|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-us}}</ref> The series, ''P-Valley'', premiered in 2020 and Annan received critical acclaim for his season one performance.<ref name=":0" /> He was named to ''THR''<nowiki/>'s list of Best TV Performances of 2020 and received nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards.<ref name="THRbesttv" />
Annan played a lead role in Hall's play ''The Hot Wing King'', which premiered March 2020 off-Broadway.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Teachout|first=Terry|date=2020-03-05|title=Opinion {{!}} 'The Hot Wing King' Review: Spicy Family Drama|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hot-wing-king-review-spicy-family-drama-11583438274|access-date=2021-01-04|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Brantley|first=Ben|date=2020-03-02|title=Review: In 'The Hot Wing King,' a New Recipe for a Family|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/theater/review-hot-wing-king.html|access-date=2021-01-04|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
He appeared as a guest judge on season 2 of ''Legendary''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.out.com/television/2021/5/06/7-names-hbo-maxs-legendary-season-2-you-already-know|title=7 Names from HBO Max's 'Legendary' Season 2 You Already Know|date=6 May 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life== Annan is openly gay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-uncle-clifford-whos-giving-us-life/|title = Meet Nicco Annan: 'P-Valley's' Uncle Clifford Who's Giving Us Life| date=4 November 2020 }}</ref>
== Accolades == * 2020 – Nominee, Best Featured Actor in a Play Off-Broadway, Antonyo Awards ({{Small|for ''The Hot Wing King''}}) * 2021 – Nominee, Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series, Independent Spirit Awards ({{Small|for ''P-Valley''}})<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walsh|first=Charlotte|date=2021-01-26|title=Never Rarely Sometimes Always Leads 2021 Indie Spirit Nominations|url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/indie-spirit-award-nominations-2021-the-complete-list.html|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref> * 2021 – Nominee, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Awards ({{Small|for ''P-Valley''}})<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carras|first=Christi|date=2021-02-02|title=Netflix, HBO and Beyoncé lead 2021 NAACP Image Award nominations|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-02-02/naacp-image-awards-2021-nominees-nominations-full-list|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> * 2023 – Winner, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Awards ({{Small|for ''P-Valley''}})<ref>{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=2023-02-26 |title=NAACP Image Awards 2023: See the complete list of winners |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/25/entertainment/naacp-image-award-winners-list/index.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://twitter.com/AllDayNicco Official Twitter] * {{IMDb name|id=nm4968973}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Annan, Nicco}} Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:African-American choreographers Category:African-American dancers Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:American gay actors Category:American LGBTQ dancers Category:American people of Ghanaian descent Category:American stage actors Category:Cass Technical High School alumni Category:Entertainers from Michigan Category:Gay dancers Category:LGBTQ people from Michigan Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Detroit Category:Purchase College alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)