Class of '09

"Tayo Michaels," portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry, refuses the easy path from the beginning. A former insurance executive, he abandoned a comfortable high paying career, joining the FBI with the hope of implementing radical change within the system. After graduating Quantico, he accepted some of the most dangerous and far-flung field assignments to prove himself. The only person to correctly identify and track down a deadly villain, his career takes him to the very top of the Bureau where he seizes his chance to change it for good.&nbsp;

Career Highlights

Emmy® and Tony Award® nominee Brian Tyree Henry is a versatile actor whose career spans film, television and theater. He starred alongside Donald Glover in the Emmy, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning FX series Atlanta. He has received Emmy, SAG, Critics’ Choice and MTV Movie &amp; TV Award nominations for his work.In November 2022, Henry starred opposite Jennifer Lawrence in A24’s Causeway, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is streaming globally on Apple TV+. For his role, Henry earned an Oscar® nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, as well as a Gotham Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performance.Henry starred as “Lemon” in Sony’s hit feature film Bullet Train alongside Brad Pitt and directed by David Leitch. He recently completed production on several projects, including MGM’s feature film Flint Strong and the Netflix animated feature The Magician’s Elephant. Next up, Henry will headline the Apple TV+ series Sinking Spring, which will be directed by Ridley Scott.In 2021, Henry starred in four feature films including Marvel’s Eternals, directed by Chloe Zhao. Henry starred as “Phastos,” the intelligent weapons and technology inventor. He also starred in Warner Bros.’ blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, in which he portrayed the character of “Bernie,” a truth-seeking podcast host and conspiracy theorist, the indie drama The Outside Story, in which he received rave reviews for his leading role, and in Netflix’s The Woman in the Window opposite Amy Adams and Gary Oldman.In 2018, Henry had a prolific year on the silver screen, starring in a diverse array of feature films. He co-starred in the action thriller Hotel Artemis alongside Jodie Foster and Sterling K. Brown, Sony’s drama White Boy Rick with Matthew McConaughey, director Steve McQueen’s thriller Widows opposite Viola Davis, Sony’s Oscar®-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could&nbsp;Talk, for which he received critical acclaim (NAACP nomination) for his performance as the character “Daniel Carty.” In 2019, Henry starred in MGM’s Child’s Play, Blumhouse’s Don’t Let Go, which premiered at Sundance, and the indie comedy Fam-i-ly.Henry’s additional film credits include his NAACP-nominated role in Netflix’s Vivo, Superintelligence with Melissa McCarthy and the indie films Irreplaceable You, Puerto Ricans in Paris and Crown Heights. On television, he has appeared in numerous shows including HouseBroken, Room 104, Drunk History, BoJack Horseman, How to Get Away with Murder, Vice Principals, Boardwalk Empire, The Knick, The Good Wife and Law &amp; Order. In 2017, he guest-starred as “Ricky” on NBC’s This Is Us, for which he earned an Emmy nomination.Henry originated the role of “The General” in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, for which he received high praise. In Spring 2018, Henry returned to Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan’s&nbsp;Tony-nominated play Lobby Hero. For his role, he received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations. Henry’s wide range of theater credits include The Fortress of Solitude and The Brother/Sister Plays: The Brothers Size (Helen Hayes Best Actor Nomination) at The Public Theater, as well as Romeo and Juliet and Talk About Race at New York Stage and Film and The Public.A graduate of Atlanta’s Morehouse College, Henry received his MFA from Yale’s School of Drama.

Tayo Michaels is a former insurance executive who abandoned a comfortable high paying career to join the FBI with the hope of implementing radical change within the system.

Brian Tyree Henry wearing a suit in red lighting for FX's Class of '09

Brian Tyree Henry as Tayo Michaels in Class of '09

Brian Tyree Henry as Tayo Michaels in Class of '09 | FX

About

Cast and Crew

Video Extras

"Ashley Poet," portrayed by Kate Mara, worked for many years as a psychiatric nurse in one of the country’s toughest hospitals, trying to pay back the debt she owes to her mother, an extraordinary woman who devoted her life looking after Poet, hiding a sickness of her own. But when Poet doesn’t feel close to the spirit of her mother in the hospital, she decides to accept an unexpected invitation to apply to the FBI. Can someone with no experience of law enforcement bring what is special about her character to the profession, or will the rigors of the profession demand that she relinquish some of her empathy and compassion in order to survive?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kate Mara wearing a black suit in green lighting for FX's Class of '09

"Hour," portrayed by Sepideh Moafi, is a socially awkward but brilliant FBI trainee who becomes an agent specializing in data, believing that there must be a fairer way of solving crime. Underneath her brusque exterior are crushing doubts about her sexual identity. Fearful of being shamed by her family, she embarks on a lifelong struggle to come to terms with who she is, channeling that anxiety into her work as she grapples with some of the most intractable problems in law enforcement.&nbsp;

Sepideh Moafi with captured in a red light for FX's Class of '09

In a class of outsiders, "Lennix," portrayed by Brian J. Smith, appears to be the quintessential insider, born to a family of old money with powerful connections. Yet, in spirit, he is as much an outsider as the others, and is determined to find his own path through life, rather than following the one laid down for him. A romantic, he falls in love with Poet from almost the first time they meet. It takes her 20 years to realize what he knew from the first day.&nbsp;

Brian J Smith in a suit and tie for FX's Class of '09

"Gabriel," portrayed by Jon Jon Briones, is one of the Class of ’09 mentors at Quantico. An extraordinarily wise teacher, he accepted early that he could make more of a difference teaching trainees rather than being a field Agent. Someone who has never sought plaudits, or recognition, he’s a man who weighs every decision and who wants to share with his trainees a sense not only of their responsibilities, but the faint possibility that they can make a radical difference to this institution.&nbsp;

Jon Jon Briones sitting with his hands clasped together for FX's Class of '09

"Drew," portrayed by Brooke Smith, is the brightest and best in her class. She was set to be one of the greatest field Agents in the Bureau until she was shot by her own team of Agents while on duty, cutting short what could’ve been a dazzling career. Rather than be defined by bitterness, she became a teacher, hoping to guide the future agents to avoid the mistakes that cost her so dearly. Working with Gabriel, they’re two of the best teachers Quantico has ever seen.&nbsp;

Brooke Smith with blonde curly hair captured in green lighting for FX's Class of '09

"Murphy," portrayed by Jake McDorman, is a sturdy former cop from Salt Lake City. He’s seen as a natural for the FBI, but the truth is that he’s a quirky, sensitive soul, someone who found the chaos and unpredictability of being a cop too much, and who joined the Bureau with the hope of working in an environment that valued thoughtfulness and caution, only to find out that the ride was far more unpredictable than even a life patrolling the streets.&nbsp;

Jake McDorman wearing a sweater and collared shirt captured in red lighting for FX's Class of '09

"Vivienne," portrayed by Rosalind Eleazar, is a civil rights lawyer. Motivated to make a change to law enforcement from both external pressure and working with the people on the inside, she recognizes Tayo’s passion and brilliance almost as quickly as he recognizes hers. They form an unbreakable team, or at least, so they believed.&nbsp;

Rosalind Eleazar wearing a white top and blue jacket for FX's Class of '09

Headshot of Tom Rob Smith in a white striped button down for FX's Class of 09

Nina Jacobson portrait against an orange background for FX's Class of 09

Brad Simpson portrait against an orange background for FX's Class of 09

Headshot of Joe Robert Cole wearing a suit for FX's Class of 09

Brian Tyree Henry as Tayo Michaels in Class of '09 | FX

Career Highlights

Brian Tyree Henry
as Tayo Michaels

Kate Mara
as Ashley Poet

Sepideh Moafi
as Hour Nazari

Brian Tyree Henry as Tayo Michaels in Class of '09 | FX

Brian Tyree Henryas Tayo Michaels

Kate Maraas Ashley Poet

Sepideh Moafias Hour Nazari

Brian Tyree Henry
as Tayo Michaels

Kate Mara
as Ashley Poet

Sepideh Moafi
as Hour Nazari