Artist Bio

(Bio as of December 2022)

A.C. Smith (Eli) returns to Goodman Theatre, where he most recently appeared in Gem of the Ocean and Objects in the Mirror. Additional Goodman credits include Two Trains Running, A Christmas Carol, Measure for Measure, Black Star Line and The Visit, as well as many staged readings and workshops. Chicago credits include productions at Victory Gardens Theater, TimeLine Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Center for Performing Arts, the Illinois Theatre Centre, Writers Theatre and The Second City. He has appeared in many productions at Court Theatre, including Jitney, The Invisible Man, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, The First Breeze of Summer, King Hedley II (Jeff Award for Best Performer in a Supporting Role) and Fences (Jeff Award for Best Actor). Smith has also appeared Off-Broadway in Jelly Belly (Audelco Award nomination) and in the Broadway national tour of The Piano Lesson, directed by Lloyd Richards. His regional theater credits include Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Portland Stage Company, Geva Theatre Center, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Black Rep in St. Louis, where he is a company member and nine-time Woodie King, Jr. Award winner. He has also appeared on film, television, radio, commercials and voice-overs, and in Ebony and Jet magazines.