Leonard Clifton is an American actor, author, lecturer, environmental storyteller, and cultural preservationist whose multidimensional career spans film, fashion, literature, global travel, humanitarian work, and the preservation of African Diaspora memory.

Clifton made his feature-film debut in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, produced by Debbie Allen, and later appeared in the cult classic Bring It On. His screen work also includes a role in Mutiny, the Morgan Freeman–produced World War II drama, where he trained under renowned military advisor Captain Dale Dye. Earlier in his career, Clifton appeared in Tupac Shakur’s “Temptations” music video alongside Coolio, Isaac Hayes, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Marcus Chong—firmly rooting him within the visual legacy of 1990s hip-hop culture. He went on to appear in Top Model Magazine, international campaigns, and runway/editorial modeling for Karl Kani, the pioneering streetwear brand that defined an era. Clifton also appeared on MTV’s Singled Out with Jenny McCarthy and Chris Hardwick, starred as Young MC’s best friend in “On and Poppin’,” and filmed an international Nestea commercial for the Israeli market.

As an author, Clifton is best known for his Afrofuturism and fantasy-adventure series The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles, which is featured in the Africana Studies curriculum at California State University, Northridge. His worldwide travels—including experiences in South Africa, Brazil, Greece, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, and diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with marine biologists to observe coral bleaching—inform both his world-building and his nonfiction book, Leonard Clifton’s World Travel Guide for Inspirational Writing. His writing blends cultural identity, global heritage, environmental awareness, and empowerment for youth and emerging storytellers.

Clifton was selected as a Semifinalist on the national television series America’s Next Great Author, hosted by New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander. His manuscript for The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles was a ScreenCraft Quarterfinalist, placing in the top 1% of over 66,000 submissions. His work has also been highlighted on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM, KPFK Radio, multiple podcasts, and television platforms.

Through his creative brand ShopTLPA.com, Clifton merges literature, art, and fashion with officially licensed merchandise inspired by The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles and his YA Gothic fantasy series Eve The Soul Reaper.

A dedicated advocate for cultural history and preservation, Clifton donated rare Amistad production stills and artifacts—including an Andrew Cooper DreamWorks production photograph—to the California African American Museum’s permanent collection, later catalogued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library. Additional materials were submitted for curatorial review at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. His rare U.S. Marine Corps SOI Tobacco Cessation 2 PSA—identified as a missing component in the museum’s existing holdings—is currently under review by the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Clifton is also a sought-after lecturer and public speaker. He has presented at UCLA Anderson School of Management, American Jewish University, and California State University, Northridge—sharing insights on branding, marketing, Afrofuturism, diaspora identity, environmental storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship. His lecture work includes a historic CSUN–Tanzania STEM collaboration, where students in Los Angeles and Arusha participated in the Real Black Men Read program, reading excerpts from his novel and discussing climate change, bullying, friendship, and global citizenship through the lens of The Last Prince of Atlantis Chronicles.

He was recognized by LA Weekly at Comic-Con International’s 50th Anniversary, where award-winning photographer Star Foreman selected him as a standout cosplayer for his portrayal of King Leon. His additional comic-con appearances include documentary features, press photography, and global fan engagement.

Beyond his artistic work, Clifton has run marathons for Not Today Cancer, donated books to A Sense of Home for former foster youth, provided ShopTLPA merchandise to LA Dream Center fire-relief efforts, read to children at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and publicly supports the humanitarian work of the GEANCO Foundation.

Through his writing, lectures, global travel, philanthropy, and museum preservation work, Leonard Clifton continues to champion African Diaspora heritage, promote environmental awareness, and inspire new generations through imaginative storytelling that celebrates freedom, resilience, and the human spirit.