Woody McClain, whose real name is Edward Woody McClain, is an American actor best known for playing Cane Tejada on Power Book II: Ghost.
He began as a professional dancer and viral comedian before BET cast him as Bobby Brown in 2017.
Who is Woody McClain?
Woody McClain, also known as Woody the Great, is an American actor, dancer, and comedian. He built an early following by posting comedy videos online.
Kevin Hart’s company HartBeat Digital signed him in December 2015.
In 2017, he played Bobby Brown in BET’s The New Edition Story, which became his breakthrough. Later, he starred as Lorenzo “Cane” Tejada Jr. in Power Book II: Ghost from 2020 to 2024.
He played Bobby Brown again in The Bobby Brown Story in 2018.
Since then, his work has spanned television, film, short films, and production. In the fall of 2025, he also became a father to twin daughters.
Early Life of Woody McClain
Woody McClain was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to Edward Allen McClain and Rosetta Robinson. He later moved to Jacksonville, Florida, for his senior year of high school.
He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville in 2008.
His younger sister is Mercedes Cheyanne McClain. After high school, he attended Florida A&M University and joined its Marching 100 band.
In 2012, he left Florida for Los Angeles to work as a dancer.
Dance shaped his first steps in entertainment. Those years in Los Angeles set up his later move into online comedy.
Woody McClain Age / Birthday
Woody McClain is 37 years old as of 2026, born on May 14, 1989. His zodiac sign is Taurus, a sign often linked with determination and loyalty.
Today, he works across acting, producing, and public appearances.
Woody McClain Ethnicity and Nationality
Woody McClain is American. He is African American, and he grew up in the South.
His roots run through Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Woody McClain Height and Weight
Woody McClain stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall.
He weighs about 79 kg (174 lbs). Meanwhile, he has dark brown eyes.
His height helps him command the screen in tense roles like Cane Tejada.
Woody McClain Education
Woody McClain graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2008. Afterward, he enrolled at Florida A&M University.
He marched with the Marching 100 band at FAMU.
That HBCU background links him to the 2026 Circle City Classic in Indianapolis. Organizers of the event named him Grand Marshal of its parade.
The parade was set for Saturday, September 26, 2026, in downtown Indianapolis.
Woody McClain Career
Dance and Online Comedy (2012-2016)
Woody moved to Los Angeles in 2012 and started working as a backup dancer. During that time, he danced for artists including Chris Brown.
Meanwhile, he posted comedy skits online and noticed how well they landed with viewers.
His version of Kevin Hart’s Permission to Cuss skit went viral in 2015 and caught Hart’s eye. As a result, Hart’s production company, HartBeat Digital, signed him in December 2015.
He later executive produced Stories with Kev, a series on Hart’s Laugh Out Loud network.
Breakthrough Role (2017-2018)
In 2017, BET cast McClain as Bobby Brown in The New Edition Story. The miniseries made him a recognizable name with television audiences.
That same year, he also appeared in Training Day and Tales.
His performance earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special. Plus, he won a Black Reel Award for the role.
In 2018, he returned as Bobby Brown in The Bobby Brown Story. Over that year, he also played Jimmy Henchman Rosemund on Unsolved and Rocco on Giants.
He played MayMay in the 2018 film Canal Street.
Power Book II: Ghost and Recent Work (2020-Present)
From 2020 to 2024, McClain starred as Lorenzo “Cane” Tejada Jr., the eldest Tejada sibling, in Power Book II: Ghost on Starz. The series ran four seasons.
He worked alongside Mary J. Blige on the show.
Along with that role, he played Clyde Grimes in The Harder They Fall in 2021. In 2023, he played Boyd in the film Desperation Road.
In March 2023, he signed with the management company M88. Actor Jamie Foxx has also given him career advice that he credits with helping him move beyond the Bobby Brown roles.
On May 31, 2025, he apologized on social media for how he reacted during a podcast appearance with Cam Newton.
Woody McClain Movies and TV Shows
Woody McClain has built a list of credits across short films, features, and television. Most of his early screen work came in 2017 and 2018.
He held a main cast role on Power Book II: Ghost from 2020 to 2024.
His film credits appear below.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Black + Blue | Man | Short |
| 2017 | You’re Sexist | Woody | Short |
| 2018 | Canal Street | MayMay | Feature |
| 2019 | Cabal | Martin | Short |
| 2020 | Death of a Telemarketer | Barry | Feature |
| 2021 | A Little Closure | Woody | Short |
| 2021 | The Harder They Fall | Clyde Grimes | Feature |
| 2023 | Desperation Road | Boyd | Feature |
His television credits include these roles.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The New Edition Story | Bobby Brown | Miniseries |
| 2017 | Training Day | Raw Dogg | Episode: “Bad Day at Aqua Mesa” |
| 2017 | Tales | Slim | Recurring, Season 1 |
| 2018 | Unsolved | Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemund | Recurring |
| 2018 | Giants | Rocco | Episode: “Okay in the Silence” |
| 2018 | The Bobby Brown Story | Bobby Brown | Miniseries |
| 2020-2024 | Power Book II: Ghost | Lorenzo “Cane” Tejada Jr. | Main cast |
| 2021 | S.W.A.T. | Chris | Episode: “Crusade” |
| 2022 | East New York | Demonté Green | Episode: “The Small Things” |
Woody McClain Awards and Recognition
McClain earned awards attention for his portrayal of Bobby Brown. The role led to a nomination from the NAACP Image Awards and a win elsewhere.
- NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
- Black Reel Award for television for his work in The New Edition Story
Both honors came from the same Bobby Brown performance.
In 2026, the Circle City Classic named him Grand Marshal of its parade.
Woody McClain Girlfriend
Woody McClain is in a relationship with Charli B. On April 1, 2025, the couple announced they were expecting twin girls.
People shared exclusive photos from their baby shower on July 1, 2025.
The two keep most details of their relationship private. Even so, they have shared milestones with fans, including the pregnancy news.
Charli B is the mother of his twin daughters.
Woody McClain Children
Woody McClain has twin daughters named Emily and Amaya. They arrived in the fall of 2025.
The girls were born a few months after their July 2025 baby shower.
In June 2025, McClain told theGrio that fatherhood shifted his perspective. He described it as a new chapter in his life.
Today, he balances fatherhood with a full acting schedule.
Woody McClain Net Worth
Woody McClain’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from acting and producing.
Power Book II: Ghost kept him in a main cast role for four seasons.
Along with television work, he earns income from film roles. He also executive produced Stories with Kev for Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud network.
Woody McClain Social Media
Woody McClain is active on Instagram under the handle @woody_thegreat. His account carries the same nickname he uses on screen and online.
He first built his audience through short comedy videos.
Those videos led to his 2015 deal with HartBeat Digital.
Conclusion
Woody McClain moved from backup dancer to viral comedian to a lead role in the Power franchise within about ten years.
His turns as Bobby Brown and Cane Tejada keep him in demand on television and in film.