Cornelius was born in Detroit, MI. He graduated from Cass Technical High School, a magnet school in Detroit, in 2000. He then went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and majored in Theater. While at SMU, he was a finalist in the Mustang Idol singing contest. He was also a part of a singing group called Chapta II in Detroit. He transferred to the University of Texas in Arlington and graduated in the summer of 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Arts.
He also graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2007 with a Master's degree in Arts. While at NYU, he helped to produce their annual Freeplay Festival. He performed in Romeo and Juliet in Central Park in NYC in the summer of 2007. He also performed in Frayed, a play that he wrote, in Wilmington, DE, at the Christina Cultural Arts Center in July 2008.
PLACE OF BIRTH: Detroit, Michigan
DATE OF BIRTH: April 18, 1982