# Nicco Annan
**Nicco Annan** (born 1976) is an American actor, dancer, and choreographer best known for portraying Uncle Clifford, the non-binary owner of the Pynk strip club, on the Starz drama series *[P-Valley](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-valley)*, a role he originated on stage in Katori Hall's play *Pussy Valley* more than a decade before the television adaptation.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4968973/) • [2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford) He won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for the performance.[3](https://www.bet.com/article/xgilbh/2023-naacp-image-awards-five-things-about-nicco-annan-pvalley/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Detroit, Michigan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4968973/) |
| Signature role | Uncle Clifford, non-binary owner of The Pynk, on Starz's *P-Valley* (premiered July 2020)[4](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a40267381/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview/) |
| Stage origin | First read the role in 2009; full theatrical debut in the 2015 *Pussy Valley* production at Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford) • [5](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98) |
| Major award | NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, 2023 (winner); 2021 nominee[3](https://www.bet.com/article/xgilbh/2023-naacp-image-awards-five-things-about-nicco-annan-pvalley/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nicco-annan/bio/3000723873/) |
| Other nomination | 2021 Independent Spirit Award, Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nicco-annan/bio/3000723873/) |
| Training | BFA, Conservatory of Acting, Purchase College (SUNY), class of 1998[5](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98) |
| Other work | Off-Broadway lead in Katori Hall's *The Hot Wing King* (2020); host and executive producer of the docuseries *Down in the Valley* (2024)[7](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nicco-Annan/) • [8](https://www.abff.com/miami/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-ABFF-Festival-Schedule-052224.pdf) |
## Early life and training
Annan was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and has described the city as "up South," a destination of the Great Migration; his father is from Ghana.[9](https://awardsradar.com/2021/05/23/interview-nicco-annan-on-becoming-uncle-clifford-in-p-valley/) He left Detroit to study at the [State University of New York at Purchase](https://www.edgepedia.org/state-university-of-new-york-at-purchase), pursuing musical theater, and earned a BFA from the Conservatory of Acting there in 1998.[10](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-uncle-clifford-whos-giving-us-life/) • [5](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98) At Purchase he studied under the director Israel Hicks, who served as dean of theater arts and film from 1987 to 2001; Annan has credited Hicks with helping to shape him as an artist.[5](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98) He also trained under George Faison and Marilyn McCormick.[11](https://www.alliancetheatre.org/person/nicco-annan/)
His career began with an appointment as choreographer in residence at the [Yale School of Drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-school-of-drama) while he performed in off-Broadway theater, and he joined a dance troupe at seventeen.[12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan) He moved to Los Angeles in 2014, taking guest roles on series such as *Shameless* and working as a choreographer on *All American*, for which he and Rhapsody James choreographed the cotillion piece in the episode "Protect Ya Neck."[12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan) • [11](https://www.alliancetheatre.org/person/nicco-annan/)
## Uncle Clifford and P-Valley
**A decade on stage.** In 2009, on the recommendation of the writer Dominique Morisseau, Annan read early pages of Katori Hall's play *Pussy Valley* for Hall, who was then looking for a performer who could embody both masculinity and femininity authentically; at that point the character existed in only about four pages.[13](https://www.them.us/story/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview) Annan originated the role of Clifford in a 2009 reading and brought her to life at every subsequent festival and stage performance, developing an in-depth backstory along the way.[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford) The character's full theatrical debut came in the 2015 production at Minneapolis's Mixed Blood Theatre.[5](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98) • [12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan)
When Starz ordered the television adaptation, retitled *P-Valley*, Annan auditioned again for the role he had originated and was recast, ensuring what one profile calls a faithful translation from stage to screen.[12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan) The series premiered in July 2020, with Annan as Uncle Clifford, the non-binary owner of The Pynk who uses she/her pronouns, opposite Brandee Evans and Shannon Thornton.[4](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a40267381/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview/) • [14](https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/p-valley/46156?irgwc=1) His performance was named to *The Hollywood Reporter*'s list of the Best TV Performances of 2020.[12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan)
**Building the character.** Annan's choices anchored Uncle Clifford in a specific sense of place. He insisted on keeping facial hair, saying patrons were not coming to a drag club or a gay club but to an oasis that also signaled to hypermasculine men "Don't try me."[15](https://www.tvguide.com/news/p-valley-uncle-clifford/) The beard was written to cover a scar from an abusive relationship and to serve as protection against the club's largely cisgender, heterosexual male clientele.[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford) Each episode's wardrobe pays homage to famous women from [Frida Kahlo](https://www.edgepedia.org/frida-kahlo) to [Kelly Rowland](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelly-rowland), and Annan drew on his father's Ghanaian marketplace heritage for the communal way looks were created on the show.[2](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford) • [9](https://awardsradar.com/2021/05/23/interview-nicco-annan-on-becoming-uncle-clifford-in-p-valley/) The character's decision to use she/her pronouns emerged during development conversations with Hall rather than from the first drafts.[10](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-uncle-clifford-whos-giving-us-life/)
Hall has said that historically Black queer characters were presented as peripheral, "the sassy best friend," but that with Uncle Clifford, "she is the show," a figure who is auntie, therapist, enforcer, and pimp at once.[16](https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/nicco-annan-uncle-clifford-on-p-valley) Annan, who is openly gay, has said he is not non-binary himself but drew on observation of non-binary people and on a deceased uncle, Uncle Bill, in building the role.[15](https://www.tvguide.com/news/p-valley-uncle-clifford/) • [17](https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1141214-cs-interview-nicco-annan-on-empowering-challenging-role-in-p-valley)
**Recognition and reach.** Annan received 2021 nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Performance in a New Scripted Series and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, plus a Queerty nomination for TV Performance.[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nicco-annan/bio/3000723873/) At the 54th [NAACP Image Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/naacp-image-awards) in 2023, hosted by [Queen Latifah](https://www.edgepedia.org/queen-latifah), he won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, beating nominees including [Damson Idris](https://www.edgepedia.org/damson-idris), Jabari Banks, Kofi Siriboe, and Sterling K. Brown.[3](https://www.bet.com/article/xgilbh/2023-naacp-image-awards-five-things-about-nicco-annan-pvalley/) He received a further Image Award nomination in 2024 and a 2025 Pride Award nomination for Best Actor in a Series/Mini Series.[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nicco-annan/bio/3000723873/)
Annan has described the role's effect on audiences as extending beyond the LGBTQ community. He has recounted men who previously committed violence against [LGBTQ people](https://www.edgepedia.org/lgbtq-people) approaching him to say the character changed how they thought about their victims, and he called that response rare.[18](https://www.thewrap.com/p-valley-nicco-annan-interview-impact-lgbtq/) In his own words, Uncle Clifford matters because the character is not ancillary: "we haven't had a story that featured a non-binary person as one of the leads in any show's story."[19](https://www.queerty.com/how-nicco-annan-created-the-cult-character-of-p-valleys-revolutionary-uncle-clifford-20240920/)
## Other work
In March 2020, just before pandemic shutdowns, Annan originated the lead role of Big Charles in Katori Hall's Off-Broadway play *The Hot Wing King* at Signature Theatre in New York; the play later won the 2021 [Pulitzer Prize for Drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/pulitzer-prize-for-drama), and Annan earned a 2020 Antonyo Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in an Off-Broadway Play for the role.[12](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan) • [7](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nicco-Annan/) His other theater credits include Hall's *Pussy Valley* world premiere, *Lady Killer's Love Story*, *Smokey Joe's Café*, *Five Guys Named Moe*, and *Storyville*.[11](https://www.alliancetheatre.org/person/nicco-annan/)
On television beyond *P-Valley*, he has appeared in recurring and guest roles on *Shameless* (as Deacon Cook), *This Is Us* (as Mr. Davis), *[Snowfall](https://www.edgepedia.org/snowfall-tv-series)* (as Laurent de Laurent), *Claws* (as Nico), and *[Family Reunion](https://www.edgepedia.org/family-reunion-tv-series)* (as Barron).[11](https://www.alliancetheatre.org/person/nicco-annan/) • [20](https://www.metacritic.com/person/nicco-annan/)
His documentary series *Down in the Valley*, inspired by the world of *P-Valley*, is a six-episode, half-hour series hosted and executive produced by Annan that tours the [Deep South](https://www.edgepedia.org/deep-south); it was set to air in 2024, and Metacritic lists him as its producer and writer.[8](https://www.abff.com/miami/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-ABFF-Festival-Schedule-052224.pdf) • [20](https://www.metacritic.com/person/nicco-annan/) He has also hosted industry events, including the 5th Annual AAFCA TV Honors in December 2023.[21](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4968973/news/)
## References
1. [Nicco Annan, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4968973/)
2. [P-Valley: Nicco Annan Has Been Perfecting Uncle Clifford for Years, Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/p-valley-nicco-annan-uncle-clifford)
3. [2023 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Things to Know About Actor and Choreographer Nicco Annan, BET](https://www.bet.com/article/xgilbh/2023-naacp-image-awards-five-things-about-nicco-annan-pvalley/)
4. [P-Valley's Nicco Annan on Uncle Clifford's 'Corona Couture', ELLE](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a40267381/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview/)
5. [Nicco Annan '98, Conservatory of Theatre Arts, SUNY Purchase](https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/5720-nicco-annan-98)
6. [Nicco Annan Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/nicco-annan/bio/3000723873/)
7. [Nicco Annan, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nicco-Annan/)
8. [2024 ABFF Festival Schedule](https://www.abff.com/miami/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-ABFF-Festival-Schedule-052224.pdf)
9. [Interview: Nicco Annan on Becoming Uncle Clifford in 'P-Valley', Awards Radar](https://awardsradar.com/2021/05/23/interview-nicco-annan-on-becoming-uncle-clifford-in-p-valley/)
10. [Meet Nicco Annan: 'P-Valley's' Uncle Clifford Who's Giving Us Life, Essence](https://www.essence.com/entertainment/meet-nicco-annan-p-valleys-uncle-clifford-whos-giving-us-life/)
11. [Nicco Annan, Alliance Theatre](https://www.alliancetheatre.org/person/nicco-annan/)
12. [Nicco Annan, Notable People Project](https://notablepeopleproject.org/nicco_annan)
13. [How Nicco Annan Approached Playing Uncle Clifford, Them](https://www.them.us/story/nicco-annan-p-valley-interview)
14. [Watch P-Valley Online, Starz](https://www.starz.com/us/en/series/p-valley/46156?irgwc=1)
15. [P-Valley's Creator Explains How the Non-Binary Uncle Clifford Character Came to Be, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/p-valley-uncle-clifford/)
16. ['P-Valley's' Nicco Annan On Bringing Uncle Clifford To Life, NYLON](https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/nicco-annan-uncle-clifford-on-p-valley)
17. [CS Interview: Nicco Annan on Empowering & Challenging Role in P-Valley, ComingSoon.net](https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1141214-cs-interview-nicco-annan-on-empowering-challenging-role-in-p-valley)
18. ['P-Valley' Star Nicco Annan Unpacks the Importance of Uncle Clifford, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/p-valley-nicco-annan-interview-impact-lgbtq/)
19. [How Nicco Annan created the cult character of P-Valley's revolutionary Uncle Clifford, Queerty](https://www.queerty.com/how-nicco-annan-created-the-cult-character-of-p-valleys-revolutionary-uncle-clifford-20240920/)
20. [Nicco Annan, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/nicco-annan/)
21. [Nicco Annan News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4968973/news/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames A to At*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license