Miles Caton

Miles Caton
Caton in 2025
Background information
Born	(2005-03-03) March 3, 2005 (age 20) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Black gospel R&B blues
Occupations	Musician singer actor
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	2017–present

Miles Caton (born March 3, 2005)^[1] is an American musician and actor. He gained recognition for his role as Sammie in Ryan Coogler's horror film Sinners (2025), for which he received various accolades, including the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer and nominations for two Actor Awards and the BAFTA Rising Star Award.

Early life

Miles Caton was born in Brooklyn, New York City.^[2] He has stated that he came from an "extremely musical family" where every member "can sing or play some type of instrument."^[3] Both his mother, pastor Timiney Figueroa, and aunt, Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper, are successful and lifelong gospel singers.^[4][5] Caton began singing at the age of two, and performed a Sam Cooke song at the Lakeview, New York branch of the NAACP's 24th Annual Freedom Fund Awards Gala in October 2010.^[6]

Caton graduated high school in 2023, after returning from touring with the artist H.E.R.^[7]

Career

Music

Caton gained fame in 2017 after a video of him singing Nina Simone's 1964 hit "Feeling Good" went viral and was sampled in the opening montage video for rapper Jay-Z's song "4:44".^[8] In March 2018, Caton appeared on the season three premiere of the NBC variety show Little Big Shots, performing Kurt Carr's "For Every Mountain."^[9] Caton was popular enough to return for the Little Big Shots holiday special in December, where he performed "O Holy Night".^[10] On Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2019, Caton performed live on The View alongside gospel singer Yolanda Adams, singing her song "Never Give Up".^[11]

In 2022, Caton toured with H.E.R.^[12] In 2023, Caton released his debut single "This Ain't It", which Zach Simmons of Enspire described as "[giving] the world just a taste of what they had been waiting on" featuring "a clean vocal performance reminiscent of legends Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway".^[13]

He released his single, "Somethin", on July 31, 2025.^[14]

Film

In 2025, Caton made his film debut in the Ryan Coogler supernatural horror film Sinners, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack O'Connell, and Delroy Lindo. Caton's musical past played a large role as his character, Sammie, possesses a musical ability that transcends time and leads to the supernatural. Caton performed a number of songs within the film and on the soundtrack, as well as co-wrote the song "Last Time (I Seen the Sun)." He also learned how to play the guitar for the film, performing a substantial amount of acoustic guitar on the soundtrack.^[15][3] The film was met with critical acclaim and grossed over $360 million worldwide.^[16][17] The film achieved a number of box-office records and milestones, including having the biggest opening weekend for an original R-rated film of the decade and becoming the fifth highest-grossing horror movie of all time.^[18][19] Caton's performance was also met with praise and was featured on Variety and Time's Actors to Watch.^[20][21][22] He was awarded the Best Young Performer award at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards for this role.^[23] The film set a record by receiving 16 Academy Award nominations, the highest number in Oscar history.^[24]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2025	Sinners	Samuel "Sammie" Moore / "Preacherboy"

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	Little Big Shots	Self

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist	Notes	Ref.
2017	4:44	Jay-Z		[7]

Discography

Singles

• "This Ain't It" (2023)^[13]
• "Somethin" (2025)^[25]

Soundtrack performances

Year	Title	Soundtrack album	Ref.
2025	"This Little Light of Mine"	Sinners	[26]
	"Travelin'"
	"Juke"
	"I Lied to You"
	"Last Time (I Seen the Sun)"

Awards and nominations

Film

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2025	Actor Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture	Sinners	Pending	[27]
		Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role		Pending
	Astra Midseason Movie Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Won	[28]
	Austin Film Critics Association	Best Ensemble		Won	[29]
	Critics' Choice Awards	Best Young Actor/Actress		Won	[30]
	Gotham Film Awards	Ensemble Tribute		Won	[31]
	Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best Supporting Performance		Nominated	[32][33]
	Indiana Film Journalists Association	Best Supporting Performance		Nominated	[34]
		Best Ensemble Acting		Won
		Breakout of the Year		Runner-up
	Michigan Movie Critics Guild	Best Supporting Actor		Won	[35]
		Best Ensemble		Won
		Breakthrough		Won
	New York Film Critics Online	Best Ensemble Cast		Won	[36]
		Breakthrough Performer		Runner-up
	SCAD Savannah Film Festival	Rising Star		Won	[37]
	St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards	Best Ensemble		Nominated	[38]
	Toronto Film Critics Association	Best Breakthrough Performance		Runner-up	[39]
	Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association	Best Youth Performance		Won	[40]
		Best Ensemble		Won

Music

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref
2025	World Soundtrack Awards	Best Original Song	"I Lied to You" (Sinners, written by Ludwig Göransson, Raphael Saadiq; performed by Miles Caton)	Nominated	[41][42]

References

Citations

1. Adekaiyero, Ayomikun (April 24, 2025). "20-year-old Miles Caton was the surprise star of breakout hit "Sinners." Here are 5 things to know about the actor". Business Insider. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
2. Jenkins 2025.
3. Sandwell & Silvers 2025.
4. Soto, Valerie (April 18, 2025). "Who Is Miles Caton? Meet the Actor, R&B Singer From Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' Movie". L'Officiel USA. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
5. Uwumarogie, Victoria (April 29, 2025). "This 'Sinners' Star Is The Son Of A Gospel Great". Essence. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
6. Grieco 2010.
7. Adekaiyero, Ayomikun. "20-year-old Miles Caton was the surprise star of breakout hit "Sinners." Here are 5 things to know about the actor". Business Insider. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
8. TRO Essex 2017; 2paragraphs 2018.
9. Towolawi, B.Kadijat (April 23, 2025). "'Sinners' Star Miles Caton First Appeared on 'Little Big Shots'". www.theroot.com. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
10. Silva 2018.
11. Jackson 2019.
12. Hall 2022.
13. Simmons, Zach (May 29, 2023). "Rising Star Miles Caton Debuts 'This Ain't It' Live ahead of Headlining Show at SOBs | ENSPIRE Magazine". Retrieved October 31, 2025.
14. Samuels, Keithan (August 1, 2025). "'Sinners' Star Miles Caton Releases Debut Single 'Somethin'". Rated R&B. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
15. Jackson, Angelique (April 3, 2025). "How Ryan Coogler Discovered Musical Prodigy Miles Caton for 'Sinners' and What the New Actor Learned from Michael B. Jordan". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
16. Dargis, Manohla (April 17, 2025). "'Sinners' Review: Ryan Coogler's Southern Horror Fantasia". Retrieved October 31, 2025.
17. Abraham, Mya (July 3, 2025). "'Sinners' Named A Top Oscar Contender". VIBE.com. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
18. Klein, Brennan (May 30, 2025). "Every Sinners Box Office Record & Milestone". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
19. Zee, Michaela; Horst, Carole; Donnelly, Matt; Garcia, Thania; Horowitz, Steven J.; Lee, Abigail; Levy, Giana; Marumoto, Seth; Mazurek, Brooke; Mendoza, Leia; Rossi, Rosemary; Tangcay, Jazz; Willman, Chris (August 6, 2025). "Young Hollywood Impact Report 2025: Milly Alcock, Simone Biles, Sombr, Miles Caton and More Talent Riding the Next Wave in Showbiz". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
20. Mendoza, Leia; Riley, Jenelle; Tangcay, Jazz; Debruge, Peter (October 8, 2025). "Variety's 10 Actors to Watch 2025: Chase Infiniti, Miles Caton, Mari Yamamoto and More". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
21. Ford, Rebecca (April 21, 2025). "'Sinners' Breakout Miles Caton Didn't Know He'd Signed On for a Vampire Movie". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
22. Coogler, Ryan (September 30, 2025). "The World's Most Influential Rising Stars". TIME. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
23. Winter, Kevin (January 4, 2026). "Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' Scores a Casting Win First at Critics Choice Awards". Ebony. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
24. "Sinners Breaks All-Time Oscar Nominations Record". ScreenRant. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
25. Somethin by Miles Caton on Apple Music, July 31, 2025, retrieved October 31, 2025
26. Davis, Clayton (October 21, 2025). "'Sinners' Submits Two Original Songs for Oscars, Including Miles Caton Duet (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
27. Davis, Clayton; Moreau, Jordan (January 7, 2026). "Actor Awards Nominations 2026: 'One Battle After Another' Earns Record-Breaking 7 Nods, 'The Studio' Leads TV With 5 Noms". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
28. "The 2025 Astra Midseason Movie Awards Nominations". The Astra Awards Presented by The Hollywood Creative Alliance. June 30, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
29. Neglia, Matt (December 10, 2025). "The 2025 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
30. "NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 31ST ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS HOSTED BY CHELSEA HANDLER". criticschoice.com. December 5, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
31. Lewis, Hilary (October 28, 2025). "Gotham Film Awards Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads With a Record Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
32. Levy, Giana (July 9, 2025). "Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' and Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance' Lead Fangoria's 2025 Chainsaw Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
33. Sullivan, Kevin P. (July 9, 2025). "The horror! 'Sinners' and 'The Substance' lead Fangoria Chainsaw Awards nominations of year's scariest offerings". Gold Derby. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
34. Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2025). "The 2025 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
35. Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2025). "The 2025 Michigan Movie Critics Guild (MMCG) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
36. Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2025). "The 2025 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
37. "Spike Lee, Tessa Thompson, Miles Caton, and Hannah Beachler Among 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees". Blex Mediaa. October 5, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
38. Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2025). "The 2025 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
39. Neglia, Matt (December 7, 2025). "The 2025 Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
40. Neglia, Matt (December 6, 2025). "The 2025 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
41. Grein, Paul (September 4, 2025). "'Sinners' Song Nominated at 2025 World Soundtrack Awards: Full Nominations List". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
42. "Volker Bertelmann and Daniel Blumberg honored at the 25th World Soundtrack Awards". World Soundtrack Awards. Retrieved October 31, 2025.

Bibliography

• Caton, Miles (April 3, 2025). "How Ryan Coogler Discovered Musical Prodigy Miles Caton for 'Sinners' and What the New Actor Learned from Michael B. Jordan". Variety (Interview). Interviewed by Jackson, Angelique. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Caton, Miles (April 21, 2025). "Sinners Breakout Miles Caton Didn't Know He'd Signed On for a Vampire Movie". Vanity Fair (Interview). Interviewed by Ford, Rebecca. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Grieco, Susan (October 27, 2010). "Lakeview NAACP branch holds annual awards gala, honors local heroes". LI Herald. Richner Communications. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Hall, David Brendan (April 22, 2022). "H.E.R. Schools Austin Fans in Music History and Instrumental Mastery During Stunning Moody Amphitheater Show". The Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas: Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Jackson, Cheryl (January 21, 2019). "Yolanda Adams And 13 Year Old Miles Caton Sings On The View". Praise 104.1. Waldorf, Maryland: Urban One. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• "Jay Z's 4:44 video opens with FEELING GOOD!". TRO Essex Music Group. July 7, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Jenkins, Justin (April 14, 2025). "Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' Introduces a Breakout Star: Miles Caton". The Quintessential Gentleman. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Kaloi, Stephanie (April 19, 2025). "Who Is Miles Caton? Meet the R&B Singer Making His Acting Debut in 'Sinners'". TheWrap. The Wrap News Inc. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Konwar, Nibir (April 21, 2025). "How did H.E.R. motivate Miles Caton to audition for his role in Sinners? Details explored". Soap Central. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• "Little Big Shots: Watch Gospel Singer Miles in Jay-Z's '4:44' Video". 2paragraphs. March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Sandwell, Ian; Silvers, Isabella (April 14, 2025). "Exclusive: Sinners break-out star Miles Caton learned guitar for his role in 100%-rated horror". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Silva, Tiffany (December 14, 2018). "Miles Caton Returns to Little Big Shots". BCK Online. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
• Simmons, Zach (May 29, 2023). "Rising Star Miles Caton Debuts 'This Ain't It' Live ahead of Headlining Show at SOBs". Enspire Magazine. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

External links

• Miles Caton at IMDb