Elijah Kelley stars as the Scarecrow in NBC's "The Wiz Live!"

Kelley first exploded on the big screen in the New Line musical "Hairspray" in 2007, earning a Critics Choice Award for Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture, as well as a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He starred in the George Lucas-produced film "Red Tails" about the famed Tuskegee Airmen, opposite an all-star cast, including Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr., and was also in "The Boys of Abu Ghraib," a highly acclaimed independent film starring Sean Astin.

More recently, Kelley received widespread praise for his role in Lee Daniels' "The Butler," which was nominated for a SAG Award for Best Ensemble Cast and an NAACP Image Award for best film. He can also be heard voicing a lead in the recent animated Disney hit "Strange Magic."

Kelley's credits also include New Line Cinema's "Take the Lead," "28 Days," "Heaven Falls," "Rome & Jewel" and "Fled." He's attached to star in Cindy Chupack's indie "Whatever Makes You Happy."

Kelley received a test offer for Lee Daniels' "Empire." Other television credits include "Numb3rs," "Everybody Hates Chris," "The Shield," HBO's "A Lesson Before Dying" and CBS' "Mama Flora's Family."

A true triple threat, Kelley is also a professional dancer and singer.