The new legal thriller Presumed Innocent features 19-year-old Kingston Rumi Southwick in a notable role. Sharing the screen with established names such as Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, as well as rising talent Chase Infiniti, Kingston’s work has begun to draw attention.
Southwick first appeared on film in the 2013 independent drama 9 Full Moons, where he received praise for his performance as Josh Stevens. That early turn helped establish him as a promising young actor in a competitive field.
Off camera, he enjoys music and sports — spending downtime playing guitar and taking swings on the baseball field. Currently single, he previously had a relationship with fellow young actress Lily Brooks O’Briant, and the pair were often photographed together at industry events.
Kingston and Lily Brooks O’Briant Remain Friendly After Reported Split
It’s unclear what led to Kingston and Lily Brooks O’Briant going their separate ways. Their relationship began on a high note, with both sharing many affectionate photos and videos on Instagram from late 2022 into early 2023 — see the clip here: their relationship started strong.
On January 15, 2023, Lily shared a birthday message for Kingston that was later removed. She wrote, “Happy birthday to my favorite person, Thank you for always making me smile<3 @kingstonrumisouthwick.”
Kingston responded in kind, posting, “Thank you so much for making me feel so loved. You are the kindest soul on this planet and I can’t believe you’re mine.”
Those exchanges made their bond visible to followers, but over time the pair shared fewer couple moments and shifted attention to individual pursuits and careers. While they’re no longer together, everything points to an amicable parting.
Family Origins and Childhood
Kingston Southwick was born on January 15, 2008, to Shahrnaz Nancy Southwick and Bradley Preston Southwick. He grew up in a bicultural household: his father is white and his mother has Iranian roots.
His maternal grandfather, Ali Bozorgmehr—originally from Neyshabour—is a celebrated Persian-American artist known for merging Persian calligraphy with painting.
Kingston was raised alongside his sister, Soraya Southwick (b. September 20, 2011), in a home described as warm and supportive. Both siblings attended the same public high school in California until Kingston earned a role in Presumed Innocent, after which he transitioned to online schooling.
Soraya, like her father, has a strong interest in the arts and shares Kingston’s enthusiasm for music and instruments. On December 14, 2022, Shahrnaz posted a clip of Soraya playing the cello at the holiday concert. Her caption read, “So proud of Soraya—listening to her play the cello makes my heart sing 🧿🤍🧿 The Holiday Concert 2022 was beautiful.”
Both Shahrnaz and Bradley frequently use social media to celebrate Kingston’s milestones, sharing proud updates and highlights from his career. On May 17, 2024, Shahrnaz posted a short clip promoting Presumed Innocent on her Instagram. Her caption read:
Catch Presumed Innocent for Apple+ on June 12th. So excited for this! Every episode is a masterpiece! Thrilling, intriguing, and riveting. Premiering at Tribeca Film Festival. So proud of you @kingstonrumisouthwick.
The Parents Who Shaped His Artistic Path
In a recent interview, Kingston described the major role his parents played in shaping his career. “My mother is a producer, and my father, formerly an actor and acting coach, introduced me to the arts early on,” he shared.
That upbringing sparked his interest in performance and gave him early access to the wider creative community.
After stepping away from acting and coaching, Kingston’s father, Bradley, reinvented himself as a decorative artist and leads Brad Southwick Design. His portfolio — including detailed murals, mosaic work, faux finishes, and custom furniture — has found its way into homes owned by notable figures in music and film.
Publications such as Elle DECOR and House Beautiful have featured his projects.
Kingston’s mother, Shahrnaz, is an accomplished writer whose work has appeared in Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine and FLAUNT. She currently contributes to Thrive Global and is listed as an Associate Producer on the documentary The Flow.
Beyond her writing, Shahrnaz is active in women’s-rights advocacy and has worked with international organizations including Amnesty International and the United Nations.
Shahrnaz and Bradley married on Valentine’s Day 2005; their relationship began over twenty years earlier when they were neighbors at Villa Carlotta.
