Wilson Cleveland (born July 4, 1974) is an American actor, producer and writer. He is known as the creator, producer and co-star of Leap Year and The Temp Life.
Career
In 2006, Cleveland created and starred as the character Nick Chiapetta in The Temp Life, a comedy web series[1] which debuted on YouTube on November 29, 2006 and ended January 24, 2011 after 5 seasons. In 2012, The Temp Life won the Webby Award for Best Comedy Series.[2]
In 2011, Cleveland executive produced an 8 episode web series called Bestsellers.[3] Cleveland created,[4] executive produced and starred in[5]Suite 7, a seven-episode branded web series sponsored by the Better Sleep Council and distributed by Lifetime.[6]
Cleveland is the co-creator, executive producer and co-star of Leap Year,[7] a comedy-drama series about five former co-workers starting a tech company in Silicon Valley, that aired for two seasons on Hulu from 2011 to 2012.[8] It was revealed during the second season that Cleveland's character, Derek Morrison is gay. Cleveland, himself openly gay, explained in a June 28, 2013 NewMediaRockstars interview, "I wanted Derek’s sexuality to be a subtle layer to the character" and "not make it some big plot twist or its own storyline."[9] In 2013, Leap Year won the Webby Award for Best Branded Entertainment (Scripted),[10] the Streamy Award for Best Branded Series[11] and the IAWTV Award for Best Dramatic Series.[12]
Other works
Cleveland produces content through Unboxd Media, which he founded.[13] In 2010, Cleveland produced The Webventures of Justin and Alden, a five-episode comedy web series sponsored by Trident and produced in association with the 2010 Streamy Awards.[14] In 2014, Cleveland starred in the season five premiere of BlackBoxTV.[15] Also in 2014, Cleveland starred opposite Hartley Sawyer in the short films Kept Man and Spin.[16] Cleveland and Sawyer shared a 2015 Webby Award for Best Drama for Kept Man[17] while SPiN was named Best Drama by the Webbys in 2016.[18] Also in 2016 Cleveland created and starred in Intricate Vengeance.[19] Cleveland has also appeared in 3 episodes of Annoying Orange, has been a guest host for DNews,[20] and is the creator and executive producer of Courageous Leaders.
