He Was a 'Teenage Crush' for Many in the '90s and Starred in a Movie with 2Pac – His Transformation in 30+ Pics

 

From an East Village kid to a Showtime lead, martial artist, and teacher — this '90s crush's story spans survival, stardom, and a movie that helped launch 2Pac's legacy.

He was a familiar face in one of the most iconic films of the 1990s and later charmed viewers on hit TV shows. Though his name may not immediately come to mind, his roles — and those unforgettable looks — left a lasting impression.

For many, he was a teenage heartthrob, the kind who inspired crushes, fan mail, and swooning glances. Decades later, he's still turning heads — and a recent collection of photos shows just how little he's changed. But beneath the youthful glow lies a story steeped in grit, growth, and survival.

Sixteen Homes Before Sixteen: A Life on the Run

Raised in a single-parent household, his family had relocated a shocking 16 times before his 16th birthday. Born in New York City, he came of age in the chaotic East Village, where every day was a battle against instability, hunger, and the terrifying possibility of not making it to the next one.

"I wanted to stay out of jail, I wanted to stay alive," he once shared, reflecting on those early years. As the oldest of three siblings, responsibility came early — and heavy. His mother was just 24 when she had three children, and when she went to work, he was the one in charge.

A Grandfather's Discipline and a Black Belt Path

He didn't know what he wanted to become as a child — only what he didn't want: to die young. The path he eventually found was shaped by survival instincts, accidental opportunities, and one powerful figure: his maternal grandfather, a Chinese martial artist.

Martial arts became his lifeline — both a physical discipline and a tool for emotional survival. He earned a first-degree black belt in Hapkido, training under Grand Master Ho Jin Song.

"It gives a wonderful outlet to attain self-confidence and self-awareness," he stated. "I've learned my own body and rhythms from an emotional, physical, and mental standpoint."

Fame Found Him, and He Said Yes

He didn't attend acting school. He didn't grow up doing theater. In fact, he had no career goals at all when the unexpected world of acting came knocking.

After catching attention in a few commercials, someone asked him if he'd be interested in trying out for something more serious. "I didn't even know what that meant at the time," he recalled. Still, he said yes — and that one word changed his life forever.

'Juice' Made Him a Star and a Teenage Dream

At age 27, he landed his first film role in a project that would become a genre-defining cultural landmark: "Juice" (1992). He played Raheem, the calm and rational member of a Harlem friend group — alongside a then-rising star, Tupac Shakur.

The audition process was no joke — six callbacks in total. But that long road helped form a bond among the final cast before filming ever began.

His performance as Raheem transformed him into a recognizable face — and for many, a crush. "Raheem from Juice...my teenage crush 🇿🇦," one fan commented on his photo just months ago. Another swooned, "My Childhood Crush 🥰🥰🥰🥰."

Still Recognized and Still Loved

The admiration never really stopped. "Across the country, you're still getting clubs free?" he was once asked. His answer? "Any hood in America, like I'm still safe."

He embraced the film's legacy with pride, calling it "a hood classic." But for him, it was also a key moment in Tupac's transformation.

"Tupac was socially conscious, was responsible for the images that he was portraying," he said. "And you saw what he did. And there was power in it, man."

Asked whether the role of Bishop stayed with Tupac, he answered, "I think that character was always in him, but the movie was able to turn the volume up to 10."

Beyond 'Juice': A Career That Kept Evolving

After "Juice," he kept working — and growing. His favorite role, he once said, was in "Zooman," a Showtime film based on Charles Fuller's "Zooman and the Sign."

More roles followed: "Renaissance Man," "Bones," "For Colored Girls," and "The Tiger Woods Story," in which he portrayed the iconic athlete himself.

Then came television stardom again — this time on the small screen as Darnell in the hit sitcom "Girlfriends." Other TV credits included appearances on "Sister, Sister," "CSI," and "Blue Bloods."

From Black Belt to Blackboard: Teaching the Next Generation

Even as his screen credits piled up, his martial arts training never stopped. He became a senior student in his Hapkido school and even taught classes. That discipline naturally bled into teaching acting.

He began instructing at the Harlem School of the Arts, and later taught at City College, where he led a course called The Responsibility of Imagery.

"I've been saying yes a lot more," he once said. "You never know what is going to happen from that."

When asked if he always felt so strongly about an artist's responsibilities, he admitted, "Honestly, no. I just wanted to book the job. I wanted to eat, you know, do my thing."

A Revolutionary Legacy and His Own Words

Outside of acting and martial arts, he's also a writer. He's penned several screenplays and plays — and even stepped into spoken-word poetry.

It began with a play that included poems. After collaborating with Thomás Doncker, he started recording the pieces, merging poetry with music in a deeply personal process.

It runs in the family. His father, Gaylen Kain, was a member of the revolutionary poetry group The Last Poets — and it's clear the fire was passed down.

Fatherhood Above All

Despite everything — the fame, the teaching, the creative work — fatherhood comes first. He has three children, including a daughter, Noa, now 27, and Luka, who has followed him into acting. He is married to Elise Lyon.

John Travolta Shares Rare Clip of Son Ben, 14, Who Looks All Grown Up During Family Adventure

As a parent, he's direct. "I struggled, I had to deal with it — you too," he said of his no-nonsense parenting style. But he cherishes the rare moments he can offer his children what he never had.

One memory stands out: "To be able to do something for your kids so they have it better than you...feels good," he recalled, after taking his family to Maui.

'You Don't Age!': Fans in Total Shock

His fans have never stopped watching — and they've taken to social media to voice their awe.

"No chance you're 60😮. Aging incredibly🙌🏾," one wrote. Another exclaimed, "Brah you don't age!!" A third added, "Wow! You still look soooo young! You look great!"

One fan joked, "And here I am thinking he's in his 40's... I used to have the biggest crush on him when I was younger 😂"

And now, for those still wondering who the man behind Raheem was — It's Khalil Kain.