Kid Cudi has been tapped to star in Luca Guadagnino’s much-anticipated television debut, We Are Who We Are, which comes to HBO September 14. Ahead of the premiere, we’re taking a brief look at Cudi’s decade-long acting career, as he burst onto the scene in 2010 on another HBO program, How to Make It in America.
Cudi, real name is Scott Mescudi, studied film at the University of Toledo before dropping out after one year. Upon moving to Brooklyn, he met Kanye West and eventually signed to G.O.O.D. Music. His music career took off after he released his debut mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in 2008, leading him to put his acting pursuits on hold, albeit temporarily.
Since his role as Domingo Brown on How to Make It in America, Cudder has gone on to appear in multiple TV shows and feature-length films. Most recently, he featured in the long-awaited Bill & Ted reboot, Bill & Ted Face the Music, alongside Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
So to brush up on Kid Cudi’s theatrical credentials ahead of We Are Who We Are, you can dive into a brief look at his acting career below.
How to Make It in America (2010-2011)
Cudi’s Domingo Brown was one of the highlights of HBO’s short-lived series, How to Make It in America. Playing opposite Bryan Greenberg and Lake Bell, Cudi provided comedic relief to virtually every episode he appeared in. Unfortunately, however, the show got axed after just two seasons.
Goodbye World (2013)
Kid Cudi was thrust into the end times in the apocalyptic film, Goodbye World. Starring Adrian Grenier, who Cudi would meet again for the Entourage movie, Goodbye World finds both friends and strangers searching for answers after the collapse of a power grid led them all to a remote cabin.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
Cudi’s special guest appearance on beloved sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine saw the rapper/actor playing a criminal mastermind by the name of Dustin Whitman. In the episode, Andy Samburg’s Detective Peralta attempts to prove Whitman was involved in a jewelry store heist.
Need for Speed (2014)
Need for Speed catapulted Kid Cudi to the big screen alongside Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, and Rami Malek. Cudder portrays Paul’s best friend in the film, a role that spawned an admitted bromance between the two.
Two Night Stand (2014)
Many of Cudi’s roles draw from his humor. This is certainly the case in romantic comedy Two Night Stand, a movie in which he has a tendency to steal scenes, just like director Max Nichols — who hand-picked Cudi for the role — knew he would.
James White (2015)
James White is another project that finds Kid Cudi playing the best friend of the main character, here portrayed by Christopher Abbott. The intense drama tells the story of a young man named James, who is struggling to deal with the death of his estranged father, in addition to his mother’s cancer treatment. Cudi’s character, Nick, is looked upon as his primary source of comfort.
Entourage (2015)
Kid Cudi replaced Lloyd as Ari Gold’s (Jeremy Pivens) new assistant in the lackluster Entourage movie. Unlike the countless other celebrities who appeared in the film, Cudder was chosen to actually take on a role as opposed to playing himself.
Vincent-N-Roxxy (2016)
Cudi’s portrayal of a revenge-seeking gangster in Vincent-N-Roxxy is quite the step away from his generally comedic roles. He even has a fight scene with Zoë Kravitz in the movie, and let’s just say it doesn’t exactly turn out in his favor.
Westworld (2020)
Earlier this year Kid Cudi appeared in one of the most popular TV shows of the moment, Westworld. The program is one huge mindfuck, and his character, Francis, slid into that vibe pretty seamlessly.
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
Most recently, Cudi was a part of the long-awaited Bill & Ted reboot, Bill & Ted Face the Music. An avid fan of the franchise, he admittedly confronted Alex Winter about being involved in the project years before its inception. Cudi didn’t have to do much research for his role, however, as he portrays an established musician — so — he basically plays himself.