Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius Devontaye Green.
Hi Darius Devontaye, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born on the west side of Chicago and lived there until I was about 6/7 years old, then my mom moved me and my brother to the “Twin Cities” in Minnesota. I grew up in Minnesota and was a sports kid, playing multiple sports a year. I also had a passion for theatre and performing but I would hide it and keep it a secret because I was embarrassed about it for some reason. Throughout grade school and high school, I would secretly perform in plays and modeling events. After high school, I went off to college to pursue my “dream” of playing in the NFL. I played D1 college football, but my “dream” didn’t pan out due to multiple injuries.
After hanging up my football cleats I was approached by a film PA on campus to be an extra in an indie film that was filming locally. I said yes and the rest was history. I caught the ‘acting bug’ and instantly knew that this was my true passion and what I wanted to do for my career. I performed in multiple shorts and low-budget indie films and put together an acting reel.
For some reason, I felt like I was ready for the big leagues, and I moved out to LA. I lived in LA for about three years then moved back home to the Midwest to get my finances and other things more stable. I was looking to move back to LA but at the time I heard a lot of great things about Atlanta, so I decided to move to ATL instead and the rest was history. Since moving to ATL, I’ve booked multiple network tv shows and feature films.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. When I moved out to LA, it increasingly became very tough for me. Mostly financially because I moved out to LA with little money saved and no real plan. I became increasingly homesick, irritable and jaded due to all the “no’s” and stagnation with my career. Funds were running low, and I got sick of the LA scene and working odd jobs to barely get by. I’m not the kind of actor that’s going to ‘live out of my car’ so I decided to move back home, get more stable and make a better game plan before I would move back.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an Actor, writer, and producer. As an actor, my first big project that I booked was called “Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant. I was out in LA when I booked this, and it was the highlight of my journey in LA.
After that, I would be a part of multiple lower-budget independent films, web series and other projects until I moved back home to the Midwest. When I moved to Atlanta is when my career really started to flourish. I’ve been a part of tv shows such as CBS ‘NCIS: New Orleans’, Cedric the Entertainer’s TV show ‘Finding Happy’, Showtime ‘Your Honor’ starring Bryan Cranston and a recurring role in Starz ‘Black Mafia Family’ (BMF) playing the role of Kiabu acting alongside Oscar winner Mo’Nique. On top of that, I booked 2 feature films and 2 lifetime movies.
I’m most proud of myself for just not giving up. Even when I moved back home from LA, I always stayed on the computer networking and working on my craft. I always had one foot in the industry. Having an unrelenting drive and ambition really sets me apart from others. I’m a multi-hyphenate artist that can wear many hats and get many things done if need be. I’m also a team player who loves to see my team win and I do whatever it takes to help them win.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Don’t let the no’s and doubters deter you from your destination. There will be a lot of that throughout your journey. Learn from every experience you have, and it will help you navigate the industry a lot better. Be motivated by the rejection and doubters, don’t let it tear you down. Finally, create your own projects. Learn how to create your own content and put yourself out there, someone will be interested in you and/or your project and you will eventually get opportunities. I like to say, “Don’t wait, create.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4993664/
- Instagram: @dgreenactor
- Facebook: facebook.com/dgreenactor
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dgreenactor/
- Twitter: @dgreenactor
