Who is Solomon Hughes?
Solomon is an American actor, former basketball player, and an educator who rose to stardom as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the TV series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (2022).
Solomon Hughes will star as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers center who’s been described as the greatest basketball player of all time. In the series, Abdul-Jabbar's character’s intelligence, talent, and political activism have made him a living legend. https://t.co/0On7IqtRLS pic.twitter.com/cYqiYPd3nc
— Variety (@Variety) March 25, 2021
Solomon Hughes Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Solomon Hughes was born on 28 February 1979, in Orange County, California, USA, the son of Ronald E. Hughes and his wife, Barbara Hughes; he has two siblings, Kisa and Kilee.
His father was a basketball player at California State University, Fullerton, and later became a professor of sociology at the university. This inspired young Solomon to pursue basketball from an early age. While at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California, Solomon played basketball successfully on the high school’s team.
He matriculated in 1997, but a year before he matriculated, he signed a letter of intent to play for Tulane University, however, he opted out of the deal, and automatically received a two-year ban from playing NCAA basketball.
During 1997-1998 he attended Fort Union Military Academy, and eventually enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley.He appealed to lift the ban, which was a success, and he got permission to play on 3 November 1998. Before this, he practiced with the California Golden Bears and made his debut the same night he got his license, remaining with the Golden Bears for the next four years, captaining the team, and earning a number of awards and honors.
He graduated with a BA in Sociology, then an MA in Education from the same university. Moreover, he received Ph.D. in Higher Education and Policy Studies from the University of Georgia Institute of Higher Education.
Sports Career
After university, he declared for the 2002 NBA Draft, however, he was undrafted, after which Solomon spent years playing in Mexico and US lower leagues, including the United States Basketball League and the American Basketball Association.
His athleticism and basketball skills were best used by the Harlem Globetrotters, for which he played in 13 games.
Work as a Professor
Solomon has worked at several educational facilities in various positions. He currently works as an instructor and faculty affiliate at Duke University in the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity. Before this, he was the Assistant Director of the EDGE Doctoral Fellowship Program at Stanford University.
Solomon previously served as a Lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education. Moreover, he was behind designs for undergraduate courses that examine the intersections of race, college athletics, and college achievement.
How He Became an HBO Star from a Low-Success Basketball Player
Hughes’ fascination with acting began at a young age, as he grew up in Los Angeles with exposure to the arts, including through his relative Ethel Ayler, a well-known actress – he believes that theater performances, movies and TV have had a profound impact on him personally.
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After college, Hughes pursued basketball, but also looked for acting opportunities with the help of his college teammate Robbie Jones, who became a successful actor himself. However, he put acting on hold to pursue a career in education, which he saw as interconnected with sports. Hughes studied the interaction of college sports, class, race, and culture, and earned a Ph.D., which led to teaching positions at Stanford and Duke. While Hughes found fulfillment in academia, he still felt the urge to act.
In 2019, a casting agency contacted the actor and former basketball player Hughes to audition for the role of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in an upcoming series. Being a huge fan of Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers, Hughes eagerly accepted the opportunity and worked with a former teammate to prepare for the audition. Despite feeling nervous, Hughes delivered a strong performance and was eventually offered the role. He delved deep into researching Abdul-Jabbar’s life, watching his documentaries, and speaking with his former teammates and jazz musicians. Although Abdul-Jabbar’s manager declined a meeting with Hughes, the actor was still excited about playing the role of one of the most prominent advocates for racial equality and equity in sports.
In April 2021, Hughes started filming for the series while still teaching a course at Duke University. As a newcomer to acting, he felt nervous among well-known actors and actresses on set, but they made him feel welcome. Hughes has a memorable scene in the first episode, recreating Abdul-Jabbar’s cameo in the movie “Airplane!” with ease, and the cockpit is an exact replica of the original movie’s.
He has starred in all 10 episodes of the Primetime Emmy nominated series alongside such acting stars as John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, and Jason Clarke, among many other Hollywood stars.
So far, this is his only acting credit, but he does seem interested in furthering his acting career.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Solomon Hughes’s net worth is estimated at $1.5 million, as of early 2023.
Personal Life, Dating, Single, Married, Children
Solomon is a very private man and has rarely talked about his personal life. As a result, there is no information about it; he’s more focused on his professional accomplishments rather than talking about his personal life.
Appearance and Body Measurements
Solomon Hughes has black hair and brown eyes. He stands at a height of 6ft 11ins (2.11m), while he weighs approximately 240lbs (110kgs). His vital statistics are unknown, while he has an athletic figure.
