By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
JACKSON – With an appearance in the latest collaboration between Netflix and Marvel, the acting career of a Jackson resident is on the rise.
Elijah Boothe, 20, a resident of Jackson, can be seen on the Netflix series “Luke Cage.” Based on the comic character of the same name, “Luke Cage” is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise and is the third series to appear exclusively on Netflix, following “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones.”
Boothe portrays a young version of Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes, the antagonist of the series, and appears in flashbacks.
Boothe said his role on “Luke Cage” is to show how Cottonmouth became a villainous person. He described Cottonmouth as an innocent person born into violence, which leads to him turning into the person that viewers see throughout most of the series.
Boothe made note of the impact his character’s family has on his transformation into the show’s antagonist. In particular, he described how Cottonmouth is influenced by his grandmother, portrayed by LaTanya Richardson.
Speaking as his character, Boothe said, “Under the direction of my grandmother, I end up killing my uncle.”
Boothe is the son of Clara and Glen Boothe Sr. and the brother of Grammy Award-winning producer and musician Glen “Knxwledge” Boothe.
Elijah said he became involved in acting when he was 10. During his high school years, he attended the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing Arts Academy in Lakehurst. In addition to “Luke Cage,” he has appeared on the television series “Blue Bloods,” “Golden Boy” and “Unforgettable.”