Columbus Short is an American actor and choreographer who rose to fame with his performances in several hit films and TV shows.
He is widely recognized for his roles as DJ in Stomp the Yard, Little Walter in Cadillac Records, Ty Hackett in Armored, and Pooch in The Losers.
In the ABC political thriller Scandal, he also gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of Harrison Wright, a loyal and charismatic fixer.
However, his promising career was marred by his troubles and legal issues, which led to his exit from Scandal and his struggles to find work in Hollywood.
Profile
- Full name: Columbus Keith Short Jr.
- Date of birth: September 19, 1982
- Age: 42 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Actor, choreographer
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Parents: Columbus Keith Short Sr. (father), Janette Short (mother)
- Siblings: John Rancipher (brother), Chris Staples (brother)
- Spouse: Brandi Short (m. 2001; div. 2003), Tanee McCall (m. 2005; div. 2013), Aida Abramyan-Short (m. 2016; present)
- Children: Mende Short (son), Ayala Short (daughter), Denzel Short (son), Donavan Short (son)
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $1.5 million
Early Life and Education
Columbus Short, now 42 years old, was born on September 19, 1982, in Kansas City, Missouri.
His father, Columbus Short Sr., was a singer and songwriter, and his mother, Janette Short, ran a talent management company.
He has two brothers, John Rancipher and Chris Staples, who are also involved in the entertainment industry.
Short started dancing at three and performed in several local and national competitions. He also showed interest in acting and singing and joined the youth theater group at five.
He attended Marcos De Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona, El Segundo High School, and the Orange County School of the Arts in California.
He excelled in academics and athletics and was offered a scholarship to attend the Juilliard School of Music.
However, he pursued his passion for performing arts and dropped out of school at 16. He moved to Los Angeles and joined the off-Broadway tour of Stomp, a musical that uses percussion and movement to create rhythms. He toured with the show for four years and traveled to 32 countries.
Personal Life
Columbus Short has been married three times and has four children. His first wife was Brandi Short, whom he married in 2001 and divorced in 2003.
They have a son, Mende Short, who was born in 2002. His second wife was dancer Tanee McCall, whom he married in 2005 and divorced in 2013.
They have a daughter, Ayala Short, who was born in 2006. His third and current wife is Aida Abramyan–Short, whom he married in 2016.
He has two sons, Denzel Short and Donavan Short. Short’s personal life has been plagued by his legal troubles and substance abuse issues.
He has been involved in several incidents of domestic violence, public intoxication, and battery, which resulted in his arrest, imprisonment, probation, and community service.
He also admitted to drinking alcohol excessively and using cocaine, which affected his mental health and professional reputation.
He sought help from rehab and therapy and claimed to have turned his life around. He is working on rebuilding his career and relationships with his family and friends.
Career
Columbus Short began his career as a dancer and choreographer, working with artists such as Britney Spears, Brian McKnight, Ashanti, and Brandy.
He also appeared in commercials and music videos, such as “Yeah!” by Usher, “1, 2 Step” by Ciara, and “Gold Digger” by Kanye West. He made his film debut in 2004 with the drama You Got Served, where he played a dancer.
He then landed his breakthrough role in 2007 with the dance film Stomp the Yard. In it, he played the lead character, DJ, a troubled street dancer who joins a fraternity and competes in a step competition.
The film was a box office success, earning him a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Movie Breakout Male.
Short continued to star in various films, such as This Christmas (2007), Cadillac Records (2008), Armored (2009), The Losers (2010), and The Girl Is in Trouble (2015).
He also ventured into television, appearing in ER, Judging Amy, That’s So Raven and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
He gained his most prominent role in 2012, when he was cast as Harrison Wright, a loyal and charismatic fixer, in the ABC political thriller Scandal, created by Shonda Rhimes.
He received positive reviews for his performance and became a fan favorite. He was part of the main cast for three seasons until he was fired from the show in 2014 due to his legal issues.
After leaving Scandal, Short struggled to find work in Hollywood. He appeared in a few independent films, such as True to the Game (2017), Armed (2018), and American Violence (2019). He also tried his hand at music, releasing his debut album, Columbus, in 2019.
He is currently working on several projects, such as the films The List, The End, and The Last Letter from Your Lover, and the TV series Saints & Sinners and The Family Business.
Awards
Columbus Short has won several awards and nominations for his work in film and television. Some of the notable ones are:
- Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble for Cadillac Records (2009)
- Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Cadillac Records (2009)
- Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Scandal (2013, 2014)
- Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Movie Breakout Male for Stomp the Yard (2007)
- Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Movie Actor: Drama for Stomp the Yard (2007)
Net Worth
Columbus Short has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. He earned most of his wealth from his acting and choreography career and his music and endorsements.
However, his net worth has declined significantly due to his legal fees, fines, settlements, and reduced income from his lack of work opportunities.
Controversy
Columbus Short has been involved in controversies throughout his career, mostly related to his violent and erratic behavior. Some of the most notable ones are:
– In 2008, he was arrested for assaulting a basketball player at a Los Angeles gym. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years of probation and community service.
– In 2010, he was accused of breaking a man’s jaw during a fight at a Los Angeles restaurant. He settled the case out of court for an undisclosed amount.
– In 2014, he was arrested for domestic violence against his second wife, Tanee McCall, who filed for divorce and a restraining order. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years of probation, 30 days of community service, and domestic violence counseling.
– In 2014, he was arrested for battery against a man at a Los Angeles bar. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to three years of probation, 60 days of community service, and anger management counseling.
– In 2016, he was arrested for public intoxication at a Dallas bar. He was released after posting bail.
– In 2017, he was arrested for violating his probation by testing positive for cocaine and marijuana. He was sentenced to one year in jail but was released after six months due to overcrowding.
– In 2018, he was arrested for domestic violence against his third wife, Aida Abramyan–Short, who claimed he hit her during an argument. He pleaded not guilty and was released after posting bail.
– In 2019, he was sued by his former assistant, who alleged that he sexually assaulted her and threatened her with violence. He denied the allegations, and the case is still pending.
Social Media
- Instagram: @officialcshort
- Twitter: @ColumbusShort1
Filmography
- War of the Worlds
- Save the Last Dance 2
- Accepted
- Stomp the Yard
- This Christmas
- Cadillac Records
- Quarantine
- Whiteout
- Armored
- Death at a Funeral
- The Losers
- Stomp the Yard: Homecoming
- The Girl Is in Trouble
