Dwayne Perkins
RETURN TO INDEX
Born Name:
Dwayne Perkins
Born Date: March 21, 1971
Born Place: Brooklyn, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, writer, actor
Brief Biography: Dwayne Perkins is widely respected in the comedy community for his intelligent, insightful, and street-savvy humor. Note that he should not be confused with Dewayne Perkins, a younger Emmy-nominated Chicago-born comedian and writer.
Early Life and Education:
He has noted in his routines that he was the first person in his neighborhood project to own a computer.
Technical Background: He attended the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
The Pivot to Comedy: Nicknamed the "whiz-kid," he originally planned on a career in engineering. He famously vowed to try stand-up comedy if a summer internship interview with Microsoft fell through. After Microsoft passed on hiring him, he fully committed to his passion for the stage.
Career Beginnings:
First Steps: Perkins started out hosting college events and made his official stand-up debut at the Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem.
Boston and Breakthrough: In 1994, he relocated to Boston to further hone his comedy chops. While performing at The Comedy Studio in 1999, talent scouts noticed his set and booked him for his late-night television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Rise to Prominence and Television:
Late-Night Veteran: Following his debut, he went on to make multiple appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Late Show, and Comedy Central's Premium Blend.
Comedy Central Special: His growing reputation earned him his own televised half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents.
The Jay Leno Show: Perkins gained widespread attention as a regular correspondent on The Jay Leno Show, where he wrote and hosted a recurring satirical segment titled "Great White Moments in Black History".
Accolades: In August 2012, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of their "Five Comics to Watch". He also served as the artist-in-residence at the Rotterdam International Comedy Festival in October 2015.
Later Specials, Writing, and Acting:
Comedy Specials: In 2016, his one-hour comedy special, Dwayne Perkins: Take Note, debuted to positive reviews. He has also released popular sets on Dry Bar Comedy and the stand-up special Please Believe It.
Acting and Interstitials: Perkins has made guest appearances on shows like Maron and had a memorable cameo as a lost "stereotype" in the HBO movie The Gristle. He also wrote and starred in the TBS campaign Trends With Benefits.
Author: Beyond the stage, he published a book titled Hot Chocolate For The Mind, which compiles humorous stories and anecdotes from his extensive travels as an international touring comic.
Born Date: March 21, 1971
Born Place: Brooklyn, New York
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, writer, actor
Brief Biography: Dwayne Perkins is widely respected in the comedy community for his intelligent, insightful, and street-savvy humor. Note that he should not be confused with Dewayne Perkins, a younger Emmy-nominated Chicago-born comedian and writer.
Early Life and Education:
He has noted in his routines that he was the first person in his neighborhood project to own a computer.
Technical Background: He attended the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
The Pivot to Comedy: Nicknamed the "whiz-kid," he originally planned on a career in engineering. He famously vowed to try stand-up comedy if a summer internship interview with Microsoft fell through. After Microsoft passed on hiring him, he fully committed to his passion for the stage.
Career Beginnings:
First Steps: Perkins started out hosting college events and made his official stand-up debut at the Uptown Comedy Club in Harlem.
Boston and Breakthrough: In 1994, he relocated to Boston to further hone his comedy chops. While performing at The Comedy Studio in 1999, talent scouts noticed his set and booked him for his late-night television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Rise to Prominence and Television:
Late-Night Veteran: Following his debut, he went on to make multiple appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Late Show, and Comedy Central's Premium Blend.
Comedy Central Special: His growing reputation earned him his own televised half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents.
The Jay Leno Show: Perkins gained widespread attention as a regular correspondent on The Jay Leno Show, where he wrote and hosted a recurring satirical segment titled "Great White Moments in Black History".
Accolades: In August 2012, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of their "Five Comics to Watch". He also served as the artist-in-residence at the Rotterdam International Comedy Festival in October 2015.
Later Specials, Writing, and Acting:
Comedy Specials: In 2016, his one-hour comedy special, Dwayne Perkins: Take Note, debuted to positive reviews. He has also released popular sets on Dry Bar Comedy and the stand-up special Please Believe It.
Acting and Interstitials: Perkins has made guest appearances on shows like Maron and had a memorable cameo as a lost "stereotype" in the HBO movie The Gristle. He also wrote and starred in the TBS campaign Trends With Benefits.
Author: Beyond the stage, he published a book titled Hot Chocolate For The Mind, which compiles humorous stories and anecdotes from his extensive travels as an international touring comic.