Niles Fitch

Niles  Fitch

***** 

American actor who began his career as a child actor. He gained prominence through his role in the NBC series This Is Us.

 

by Dale Ricardo Shields

“Niles Fitch, an Atlanta native, follows his passion for connecting with others through stage, print, commercials, television, film, and voice-over. He loves to model, sing, dance, act, and make you laugh. 
His late father (a financial advisor) and his mother (an attorney), encouraged his excitement of smiling for the camera by securing his first talent agent at 3 years old. Since then,
[*His father, Frederick, died from lupus when Niles was 12 years old.[1] He has since collaborated with Lupus LA as an ambassador in spreading awareness- contributing to the lives of people who live with lupus.  His father contacted Iforcolor.org when in 2011 for this profile.]
Niles has continuously booked print and commercial advertisements. At 7 years old, he signed with Wilhelmina Models (an international top five agency) and began commuting to New York City with his parents. At 9 years old, Niles signed with J. Pervis Talent in Atlanta and also made his theatrical debut as “Young Martin Luther King, Jr.” in the musical “I Dream.” The musical ran in the summer of 2010 and was directed by the renowned Jasmine Guy.
Ready to take his career to the next stage, Niles relocated with his family to New York City in August 2010. In 2011, he was cast as “Young Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King musical North American Gazelle Tour. While on tour, Niles won the Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Touring Show for his opening night performance and made his prime time television debut in an episode of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne that aired on the same night (11/04/2011). In February 2012 Niles returned to New York and continued the Young Simba role on Broadway. After ending his Broadway run Niles joined the cast of Army Wives in the role of Deuce, the son of Latasha Montclair (played by actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti). After Army Wives ended Niles appeared as a guest star in episodes of Law & Order SVU, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Disney’s Best Friends Whenever, Mistresses and had supporting role appearances in the feature film St. Vincent (Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy) and the newly released feature Roman J. Israel, Esq. with Denzel Washington. He is currently a series regular on the number 1 episodic drama This Is Us on NBC. Watch him on Tuesday nights as Teen Randall!
Despite a rigorous schedule and academic studies, in his spare time, Niles loves playing video games and basketball, drawing and sketching, visiting amusement parks, and is now just as excited being behind the camera as he develops his skills in photography.”

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Niles Fitch, an Atlanta native, follows his passion for connecting with others through stage, print, commercials, television, film, and voice-over. He loves to model, sing, dance, act, and make you laugh.

Niles, first rose to fame portraying Deuce on the television series Army Wives. He has since had recurring roles in Mistresses and This Is Us. 

Filmography

  • House of Payne (2011)
  • Army Wives (2013)
  • St. Vincent (2014)
  • Special Victims Unit (2015)
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2016)
  • Mistresses (2016)
  • This Is Us (2016)
  • Miss Virginia (2019)
  • Secret Society of Second-Born Royals. (2020)
  • Mix-ish (2021)
  • St. Vincent Brooklyn  (2014 )
    Roman J. Israel(2017)
     If Not Now, When?(2019)
    Miss Virginia (2019)
    Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020)
    The Fallout  (2021)
    We Have a Ghost (2023)

 

Television


Tyler Perry’s House of Payne  (2011 )
Army Wives (2013)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit  (2015)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  (2016)
Best Friends Whenever  (2016)
Mistresses  (2016)
This Is Us (2016–2022)
Drunk History  (2019)
Atypical Lacrosse  (2019)
Social Distance (2020)
Mixed-ish  (2021)
That ’90s Show (2024)
Forever (2025)

 

Stage

[2012] The Lion King  – Young Simba (replacement)  – North American tour
[2014] Our Lady of Kibeho  – Emmanuel  – Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway

 

Awards and Nominations

[2010] Suzi Bass Award Nominee for Best Musical (I Dream)

[2011] Denver Post Ovation Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor,
Touring Show

[2012] Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actor Ten and Under Tyler Perry’s House of Payne – Nominated
Best Performance in Live Theater – Young Actor The Lion King, North American Tour – Nominated

[2019] Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series This Is Us Won

His father (a financial advisor) and his mother(an attorney), encouraged his excitement of smiling for the camera by securing his first talent agent at 3 years old. Since then, Niles has continuously booked print and commercial advertisements. At 7 years old, he signed with Wilhelmina Models (an international top five agency) and began commuting to New York City with his parents. At 9 years old, Niles signed with J. Pervis Talent in Atlanta and also made his theatrical debut as “Young Martin Luther King, Jr.” in the musical “I Dream.” The musical ran in the summer of 2010 and was directed by the renowned Jasmine Guy.

Ready to take his career to the next stage, Niles relocated with his family to New York City in August 2010. In 2011, he was cast as “Young Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King musical North American Gazelle Tour. While on tour, Niles won the Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Touring Show for his opening night performance and made his prime time television debut in an episode of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne that aired on the same night (11/04/2011). In February 2012 Niles returned to New York and continued the Young Simba role on Broadway. After ending his Broadway run Niles joined the cast of Army Wives in the role of Deuce, the son of Latasha Montclair (played by actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti).

Despite a rigorous schedule, in his spare time, Niles loves playing video games and basketball, drawing and sketching, visiting amusement parks, enjoying his iPad, and is now just as excited being behind the camera as he develops his skills in photography.

THIS IS US — “The Graduates” Episode 314 — Pictured: Niles Fitch as Randall                                                              (Photo by Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

‘This Is Us’ Star Niles Fitch Reveals Heartwarming Story Of Meeting Denzel Washington.

SHADOW AND ACT – April 6, 2020

This Is Us star Niles Fitch talked about a number of topics, including his experience meeting with Denzel Washington.

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https://shadowandact.com/this-is-us-star-niles-fitch-reveals-heartwarming-story-of-meeting-denzel-washington?fbclid=IwAR1Ff6U77uraja4cc7wAh9PV3VRzFpzpuSV-uH7WvHJtKAH_SvXdBBPM8sk

 

https://www.today.com/popculture/us-star-niles-fitch-breaks-silence-death-cousin-rayshard-brooks-t196628

Niles Fitch has been quoted on the impact of acting in “This Is Us” on his personal life, including the emotional toll and growth it has fostered. He has also spoken about his cousin, Rayshard Brooks, who was shot by police, expressing the desensitization to such events and the need to cope.

Additionally, Fitch has commented on the LA protests, observing how they were sometimes reduced to “a show” with influencers appearing to support Black Lives Matter without sincere intention.

Here are some specific quotes from Niles Fitch:
“It really set on me how bad it has been and how desensitized we are,” reflecting on his cousin’s death and the broader issue of police brutality.

“It was a tough time but we got through it, you have to get through it. That is the only thing you can do,” emphasizing the need to persevere through difficult situations.

“I’m from Atlanta and I haven’t said anything publicly but my cousin was Rayshard Brooks,” acknowledging his connection to the case.

“The LA protests became a show, for me personally,” criticizing the superficiality of some influencers’ involvement in the protests.

“I believe it helped me grow as a person,” regarding the impact of acting in “This Is Us”. 

[on his cousin shot by police) It really set on me how bad it has been and how desensitized we are. It was a tough time but we got through it, you have to get through it. …

“I’m from Atlanta and I haven’t said anything publicly but my cousin was Rayshard Brooks. …”


“The LA protests became a show, for me personally.”

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is a 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award, 2020, 2021, and 2022 ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund and winner of the 2022.

Recently, he won the 2022 Legend Award from his alma mater Ohio University.

He is the 2021 winner of the Paul Robeson Award, presented (jointly) by the Actors Equity Association and the Actors Equity Foundation.

Research Accomplishments:
His extensive professional credits as a Director, Stage manager, and Actor (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and Regional) As an actor he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Cosby Show, and the ITV television series "Special Needs" and commercials and film.

Professor Shields is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Musical Artists performance unions and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

He began his artistic academic career in New York City at Playwrights Horizon, The South Bronx Action Theatre, and Mind Builders, and then was invited to join the teaching staff at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival). He represented the United States for Theatre Young Audiences at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England.

He has been a Professor and Visiting Artist at Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Randolph- Macon College, Susquehanna University, and SUNY Potsdam.

He holds B.F.A and M.F.A, Degrees from Ohio University.

Website(s)

Iforcolor.org [Research]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Ricardo_Shields [Career]