Dewayne Perkins facts for kids

Dewayne Perkins is a talented American comedian, writer, actor, and producer. He was born on November 5, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois. Dewayne is known for his funny stand-up comedy and for writing and starring in the horror-comedy movie The Blackening.

He got his start in comedy by training at famous places like The Second City and iO Theater. Variety magazine and the Just for Laughs comedy festival have praised his stand-up shows. Dewayne has also appeared on TV shows like Wild 'n Out and The Upshaws. He has worked as a writer for popular shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Amber Ruffin Show.

About Dewayne Perkins

Early Life and Education

Dewayne Perkins grew up in Chicago, Illinois, near Marquette Park. He went to Hearst Elementary School and then Curie High School. He was the first African American boy at his high school to earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma. This is a special certificate showing he completed a challenging academic program.

Dewayne first became interested in performing through musical theater and improv classes in high school. He started at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Later, he switched his focus to film and animation. His friend, Aasia Lashay Bullock, introduced him to The Second City, a famous comedy theater. They both got hired there after a producer saw their show called Uncle Tom & Jerry Curl: A Black History Month Experience. Dewayne earned his bachelor's degree from DePaul University.

Starting His Comedy Career

After college, Dewayne kept working at The Second City and performing at iO theater. He was also part of a comedy group called 3Peat. In 2016, he wrote and performed a show called Black Side of the Moon in Washington, D.C.

In 2017, Dewayne left The Second City to focus on stand-up comedy. He found that using Twitter helped him write better jokes. His comedy often talks about important topics like his background and identity.

From Sketch to Film: The Blackening

In April 2018, Dewayne's comedy group 3Peat released a short sketch online called The Blackening. It was about a group of Black friends being chased by a serial killer. This sketch was so popular that it was later turned into a full-length movie.

Dewayne joined the writing team for The Break with Michelle Wolf in 2018. He then moved to Los Angeles and became a writer for the seventh season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He was often the only Black writer in these TV show writing rooms.

In January 2020, it was announced that The Blackening would become a movie. Dewayne helped write the film with Tracy Oliver. He also starred in it, alongside actors like Antoinette Robertson and Jermaine Fowler. The movie was released at the TIFF in September 2022. It then came out in theaters across the country in June 2023. The film was very successful, earning $17.7 million with a small budget of $5 million. In November 2023, it was announced that Dewayne and Tracy Oliver are working on a sequel.

Other TV Work and Advocacy

Dewayne has also been a writer for The Amber Ruffin Show and the Saved By the Bell reboot, both released on Peacock in 2020.

In June 2020, Dewayne shared his experiences at The Second City on Twitter. He spoke about issues he faced there, which led to changes in the leadership of the company.

Dewayne is also writing and producing new TV shows. He is working on a sitcom called Chopped & Screwed for ABC. This show is about a Black barbershop and beauty salon. He is also writing and producing an animated TV series based on the 1985 movie Clue. Dewayne is also a recurring character in Seth Rogen's Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio.

Achievements and Awards

Dewayne Perkins has received several awards and recognitions for his work:

• 2017 – Best Short-Form Digital Project, New York Television Festival - for Starving Artists
• 2019 – New Faces of Comedy, Just for Laughs
• 2020 – 10 Comics to Watch, Variety
• 2024 – Editorial Eye on the Future Award, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards - for The Blackening

He has also been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his writing on The Amber Ruffin Show.

Dewayne Perkins: Film and TV Roles

Television Appearances

Film Appearances

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Dewayne Perkins para niños