American actor Tristan Wilds was born on July 15, 1989 in Staten Island, New York. He began acting since he was seven years old, but only began his professional career in 2003. After stints in local theater, he made his screen debut in the six-part television miniseries Miracle‘s Boys, which first aired in 2005.
He gained fame, however, when he joined the cast of the acclaimed drama The Wire in 2006. He played Michael Lee, the soft-spoken middle school student who trusts adult little and eventually becomes the prot?g? of Chris Partlow (Gbenga Akinnagbe). He joined the series in its fourth season and stayed until its finale in 2008.
Wilds’ next regular television role came in 2008, when he joined the cast of 90210. The fourth series in the Beverly Hills 90210 continuity saw him play Dixon Wilson, the adopted son of Harrison Wilson (Rob Estes). He wasn’t warm to his adoptive family’s move to Beverly Hills, but eventually makes friends with the people around him. He is significantly close to his adoptive sister, Annie (Shenae Grimes).
Wilds’ other appearances include several music videos, like Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys,” Lil Flip’s “Ghetto Mindstate” and Alicia Keys’ “Teenage Love Affair.” His first film was Half Nelson, where he appeared opposite Ryan Gosling; it was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006.