[10][11] Not long after landing that role, he received many offers to remain in New York City for professional acting work, shifting to online courses in order to finish his degree.

During his time in New York, he studied at the HB Studio with Lorraine Serabien, with Susan Batson at Black Nexxus, and with Jennifer Gelfer at the Haymarket Annex Master Class.

[citation needed] One of Coleman's most recognized roles is the portrayal of Billy Winslow in Season 1 of Boardwalk Empire, as well as guest starring on The Good Wife, Gossip Girl, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Kings.

[10] He has had many starring and supporting roles in numerous independent films such as New York City Serenade, Catahoula, One Night Stand, Halloween Season, Grill Check, God Don’t Make the Laws, The Halls of Montezuma, Warehouse Rumble, Mama, 8:46, Roses, Cloak and Dagger, The J Packages, Pop Up, and Love Hunter.

[12] In 2010, Coleman won the Screen Actors Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series," for his role on Boardwalk Empire.

Then, in the summer of 2012, he guest starred as Robert in the pilot of the TV series The Americans, as well as worked on filming Season 2 of In Between Men in autumn of the same year.

After his role of Oliver, Coleman went on to work on more independent films like Recorded Lives, Justice Served, Heaven's Renegade Angel, The Viking and the Pendulum, The Return, and Life's Too Short, to name a few.