Tulane has announced that an award-winning actor will be this year’s commencement speaker.
Sterling K. Brown, known for his roles in the television show “This Is Us” and his Oscar-nominated role in “American Fiction,” will deliver the keynote address at Tulane’s 2026 Unified Commencement.
Tulane’s 2026 Unified Commencement will be held in the Caesars Superdome on Saturday, May 16.
Tulane President Michael A. Fitts voiced his excitement for Brown’s role in the ceremony.
“Across television, film and theater, Sterling’s unforgettable performances have illuminated the richness of the American experience,” Fitts said. “His dedication to his craft is only matched by his exceptional commitment to giving back. He has championed causes from cancer research to food insecurity to domestic violence prevention. I am delighted that Sterling will join us to inspire and challenge our graduates at this year’s Unified Commencement.”
Brown first gained national acclaim in 2016 portraying prosecutor Christopher Darden in FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” earning an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor.
Brown later became a household name as Randall Pearson on NBC’s critically acclaimed series “This Is Us.” For that role, Brown won the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series and a Golden Globe Award for best performance by an actor in a television drama, becoming the first African American actor to win in that category. He also became the first African American actor to receive the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding male actor in a drama series. In 2018 he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts in drama from Stanford University and a Master of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
READ MORE:Award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown will give keynote address at Tulane’s graduation
