Comedian, actor, and playwright Deon Cole was born in the United States on January 9, 1972. Two NAACP Image Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations came his way for his work on the comedy series Black-ish (2014–2022). To Tell the Truth on ABC had its second panellist earn the Dorris Award on June 25, 2020, and he was that man.
Cole has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work as a co-writer on the late-night talk shows The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan, as well as three Writers Guild of America Awards for the latter.
Keep reading to learn more about Deon Cole.
1. A Bet Was the Catalyst for The Launch of His Successful Comedy Career
Most comedians spend a great deal of time perfecting their act before releasing it to the public. But Deon Cole’s introduction to comedy was somewhat unique. Until a friend bet him $50 that he wouldn’t perform, he never would have stepped foot on stage to tell jokes. There’s a good chance that taking that gamble was the best thing Deon could have done for himself.
2. He Hopes that By Making Others Laugh, He May Inspire Them
It’s true that the point of humour is to make people laugh, but Deon wants his comedy to accomplish much more than that. Through his writing, he hopes to inspire others and make a positive impact on their lives. In addition, Deon would like his creations to inspire original thought in others.
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3. One of His Primary Sources of Motivation Is Steven Wright
Deon enjoyed humour as an audience member for many years before he ever attempted to perform it himself. He has drawn greatly from the work of many of the great comedians who came before him, including Steven Wright.
Deon said, “So much craft, man. To take something so obvious and turn it into a joke is, quite simply, a stroke of genius. I think that’s brilliant, to take something so insignificant and make a big deal out of it. His personal style is exactly like that. Undoubtedly one of the funniest forms of humour I’ve ever seen, and I do my best to incorporate its principles into my own work. This nuance is something I aim to include.
4. He Was Formally Trained as An Actor
Although acting has always been Deon’s passion, comedy is what got his foot in the door of the entertainment industry. His talent for performing has always been innate in him. He graduated with a degree in acting from Arkansas’s Philander Smith College. In 2013, he gave a shout-out to his alma mater via Twitter.
5. He Urges Aspiring Comedians to Find Their Own Style
One must work hard to break into the competitive world of stand-up comedy. Making an entire audience laugh isn’t as simple as it looks, and the entertainment industry is cutthroat. Deon told Forbes that if he could give any piece of advice to aspiring comedians, it would be this: “Be original. Be you. Stop pretending you’re funny. Many of our members are masterful comedians. Your humour is desperately needed. Finally, he said, “Tell us how you really feel about it; we need to hear it from your perspective.”
6. He Is a Merchandiser
Deon has made a lot of words and phrases mainstream, so he decided to start selling merchandise with them on it. He is currently running an online store where you can buy branded t-shirts and hoodies from his company. Photographs of his devoted followers donning his merch are a common sight on his social media accounts.
7. He Has Always Hoped to One Day Be Employed by An Iconic Company Like Old Spice
To fulfil a lifelong ambition, Deon landed a role in Old Spice commercials. He enjoys his time at the company and values the variety of their endeavours.
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8. His Life Was Transformed By His Time On Black-Ish
Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, Deon has worked tirelessly, but he hasn’t always enjoyed the same level of fame as other comedians. He credits being transported to Black-Ish with completely altering his life. Being on Black-Ish, he told Shadow and Act, has completely altered his outlook on life.