Travante Rhodes was born on February 10, 1990, in Louisiana. He’s an Aquarius, and boy does it show! He grew up without a relationship with his father, looking up to black male celebrities like Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson to learn how to navigate the world as a black man. Mike Tyson? The guy who went to prison and bit off someone’s ear? Talk about unconventional role models!
Travante told the Texas Observer that when he was six, he moved with his mom and brother to Little Elm, Texas. In an interview with Interview Magazine, he opened up about being bullied for being lanky and skinny, and for his skin color. Other kids called him names like “Blackie” and “Tar Baby.” He shared, “I related to not knowing who I was, being picked on for who I was, and not having a good relationship, if any relationship at all, with my father. Growing up without a father makes you seek out that male companionship in other ways.”
He also admitted to having anger issues and frequently flipping people off. Can you blame him? He told Rolling Stone that he got his first job at ten years old and by thirteen, he was helping his mom pay the light bill.
In middle school, Nickelodeon filmed a commercial at Travante’s school. One of his friends got a role in the commercial and eventually landed several acting gigs, including a part in “Friday Night Lights.” Watching his friend’s success, Travante thought, “If he can do it, I can do it.” But life had other plans.
“Hold on, girl! You forgot to mention our snacks again! This is like the third or fourth time now. Are you okay?”
“Oh, you’re right, my bad. Can I sing a little karaoke before we continue?”
“Do you really have to sing in every video?”
“Of course! My singing is why people watch these videos. It’s all about me! Forget about you!”
“Okay, can it be my turn now? Can I promote the snacks?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“This video is sponsored by RGsnacks.com, our online store with a variety of treats like beef and bacon jerky, toasted corn nuts, and gummy sour peach rings.”
“You know I love those sour peach rings! I’ve been adding them to my margaritas, but for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, they go great in lemonade too!”
Back to Travante: In high school, he excelled in football and was on track to become a top athlete. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during the first game of his senior year, shattering his dreams of a football scholarship. Instead, he earned a track and field scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin.
“Oh, he runs track? That explains those rock-hard cheeks! Track stars always have those nice, tight booties!”
Travante moved to Austin in 2008 to study corporate communications, aiming to become a petroleum landman. He told the Texas Observer that he always attracted attention on campus, whether for sports or dancing. He eagerly took any chance to be in front of cameras and around attractive people.
During his senior year of college, Travante was out jogging around campus when a casting director stopped him and invited him to audition for a role. Although he didn’t get the part, that moment sparked a passion for acting in him. He decided to put his corporate dreams on hold and give acting a shot. After graduating in 2012, he packed up and moved to Los Angeles. He told Texas Monthly that he gave himself two years to get settled. He wasn’t in a hurry to become a big star because he knew he could always go back to Texas and start a corporate career if acting didn’t work out. But just two months after arriving in LA, he started booking auditions and landing roles.
In 2015, he got cast in Tyler Perry’s TV series “If Loving You Is Wrong.” However, Travante later admitted to Texas Monthly that the experience wasn’t as fulfilling as he’d hoped, saying Perry’s writing, producing, and directing left much to be desired.
Just as he was figuring out his next move, he came across the script for “Moonlight” and was immediately drawn to it. The film, which tells the story of a gay black boy growing up in Miami and follows him into adulthood, resonated deeply with Travante. He landed the role of the adult version of the main character and prepared for it by reflecting on the experiences of his childhood best friend, who is gay. Travante said, “I knew his struggle. It was a tough life, not accepting yourself. That really spoke to me, and I wanted to make him proud.”
“Moonlight” went on to win several Oscars, including Best Picture. With his first big paycheck, Travante created a scholarship in his grandmother’s honor at his alma mater. As his fame grew, so did the curiosity about his love life from fans and the media.
Sure thing!
Hey, don’t forget about the guys too!
In a chat with HuffPost back in 2017, Travante spilled the beans that he was flying solo and on the lookout for someone genuine, someone who takes care of themselves physically, and someone who’s into vibing to jazz tunes.
But what about someone who can carry a tune? Me, me, me, me, me!
Calm down, girl. Take a seat for a sec.
Seems like he found his match in Mara Wright, a fitness instructor and model. Boom! Come August 2019, the Jasmine Brand dropped the bomb that they were engaged, with Mara flashing her dazzling ring on Instagram. But hold up. Mara spilled the tea that Travante hit the road when she was three months pregnant.
Wait, what? Nah, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Dude’s a track star, huh? Running off when things get tough.
According to her Instagram caption, Mara packed up and left LA. Looks like she’s settled in Chicago now, judging by her Insta feed. Some online sleuths dug up a snap from Mara’s gender reveal party, and Travante was nowhere to be seen. We’re not sure when she gave birth, but they’ve got a little boy now. In one Instagram pic of Mara and her son strolling in Chicago, she spilled some details about their failed relationship.
Here we go again.
She wrote, “Never thought I’d be a mom pushing a stroller outside, especially since my ex promised me a full-time nanny and no work.” So, did she think she was marrying a Hollywood big shot, lounging around, and having his kids without lifting a finger? Is that why she’s mad? She wrapped up her caption by saying that being a single mom has made her step up for herself instead of waiting for someone else. We may never know exactly what went down between them, but whatever it was, it’s left its mark on Mara.
In an Instagram story captured by a user on Lipstick Alley, Mara shared a poem: “He ignored me, I begged for his attention. I gave him a son, he left me.”
In a chat with the Chicago Sun-Times in 2022, Travante revealed that he’d been spending time in Chicago since around 2020. He didn’t mention Mara or their son, but it’s clear he’s there for them. When asked about what he loves about Chicago, he didn’t mention his son, but he did talk about the vibe, the people, the food, and the seasons.
So, is he a deadbeat? Is that what you’re trying to say? If he’s trash, just say it.
Having a place in Chicago came in handy when he scored a role in Tyler Perry’s “Mea Culpa” alongside Kelly Rowland. Parts of it were filmed in Chicago. So, what’s a typical day like for Travante? He told Men’s Health that he’s up at 4:30 a.m. every morning.
Oh no, sweetheart, that’s just too darn early. We need our beauty rest. This schedule isn’t going to cut it for me.
In the morning, he starts with some meditation, then hits the gym for a good couple of hours to lift weights, followed by a refreshing jog. By around 8:00 a.m., he’s ready to dive into work. And before calling it a night, another session of meditation to wind down. He says, “Meditation helps me a lot because my mind is always racing. It helps me sort out my thoughts, boosts my confidence, and keeps me grounded.”
But what about the little one? What’s their routine amidst all this meditation and muscle-building?
In the latest update, Travante has patched things up with his father. It’s funny how dads tend to show up when their kids find success, isn’t it? Things apparently got heated, leading Travante to admit to the Above the Line website that the conversation ended with a slap across his dad’s face.
“Are you a father now?”
Wait a second. This isn’t exactly a red flag situation, but some things are giving me pause here, okay? He’s straight, sure, but he hangs out with a gay best friend, got a girl pregnant without tying the knot, and smacked his old man with an open hand. Now, call me skeptical, but I don’t know many straight guys who have gay pals, you know? And when a guy wants a kid without the whole marriage deal, he tends to, you know, handle things with a woman. And come on, what straight dude slaps another guy with an open palm? Just saying, it’s raising some eyebrows.
Now, let’s talk about his career. He’s starred in some major films like “12 Strong,” “Bird Box,” “The Predator,” and even took on the role of Mike Tyson in a miniseries. Check out the IMDb link for his full filmography. But some fans are a bit worried about where he’s headed, going from an Oscar-winning film like “Moonlight” to something like “Mea Culpa,” with a dismal 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In a candid 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Travante spilled that he’s fully aware people have expectations about his career path. His stint in “Moonlight” actually turned him off certain aspects of the industry. He’s got a clear vision of what he’s about and what he’s not willing to compromise on in Hollywood. No agent, no manager, no publicist—just him, calling the shots and loving every minute of it.
“You know, that’s the thing, you’re kinda flying solo without a compass here. No solid team to have your back, and now you’ve gone and bared it all in a Tyler Perry flick. Seriously, get yourself a crew before you dig your career into a deeper hole with your antics.
In his latest video, he’s dipping his toes into producing. And word has it, he’s eyeing some opportunities over at Marvel, according to his chat with Complex magazine.
Heck, I’ve heard whispers about a spot opening up at Marvel. Just hope whoever snags it doesn’t trip up like the last guy did.”