Table of Biography
Darrell Dennis is a multi-talented actor, screenwriter, and Radio personality from Canada. Darrell Dennis is widely recognized for his work in the entertainment industry, particularly in addressing Indigenous issues through comedy. He co-created and starred in the television series “The Rez,” which aired in the late 1990s.
Early Life
Darrell Dennis was born in Shuswap Indian Reserve, British Columbia, Canada, in the year 1973. Currently, he is 51 years old and holds Canadian nationality. In addition, he belongs to the Caucasian ethnicity. While his exact birth date and birth sign are still on the dark side.
Similarly, he has not provided information regarding his parent’s identities, and his childhood life. Meanwhile, he has maintained a low profile and avoided talking about his family members in front of the media or the public. However, it is known that he has been interested in acting since his early childhood days.
Education
Although he has not disclosed his academic qualifications, he might have completed his college graduation.
Professional Career
At the age of 17, Darrell Dennis began his acting journey, and his first professional audition and landed the lead role of Brian Potter on the hit CBC drama “Northwood.” He has since been on several Canadian television series, including The Rez, and Open Heart, and as the host of Bingo and a Movie.
Moreover, he has been in several films and television shows, including Universal Pictures’ Leaving Normal, which featured Meg Tilly and Christine Lahti, the TV series Degrassi, and Shania: A Life in Eight Albums, in which he played Shania’s lover.
Darrell has been a prolific artist in Native American theatre, but he has also had mainstream success in classic theatre roles such as Shaw’s Arms and the Man, Strindberg’s Miss Julie, Pinter’s Betrayal, and Lewis Carroll’s Alice Through the Looking-Glass at the National Arts Centre.
Started his comedic journey
His comedic career began in 1998 when he got a scholarship to train at the world-renowned Second City. Two years later, he joined the Second City National Touring Company, becoming the first Indigenous cast member hired by any of the Second City companies.
Darrell then co-founded Tonto’s Nephews, an all-First Nations comedy team that toured North America. In 2014, he co-founded the Los Angeles-based all-Native American comedy company, The Mayflower Welcoming Committee.
He has done stand-up comedy in airing galas for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the Just For Laughs Festival, as well as numerous appearances on CBC radio and television. Darrell provided the comic Native voice for the CBC Radio election series “Spin-Off” and the TV special “The American Empire.”
Besides as an actor and comedian, also known as a writer
He is a writer as well as an actor and comedian, with works published by Playwrights Canada Press and Douglas & McIntyre Publishing. His short stories have appeared in periodicals throughout Canada and the United States. Native Earth Performing Arts staged Darrell’s debut play, “Trickster of Third Avenue East,” and dubbed him “Writer-in-Residence” twice.
He was the head comedy writer for APTN’s talk/variety show “Buffalo Tracks” and later hosted the APTN hit “Bingo and a Movie.” His script Moccasin Flats was chosen as an official selection for the Sundance Film Festival in 2003. The short film was eventually adapted into a television series that aired on Showcase Network and APTN, for which Darrell also wrote.
In March 2009, he delivered a special performance of “Tales” at The Autry Theater in Los Angeles and New York’s famed Public Theatre. He performed Tales of an Urban Indian aboard a local bus passing through Barrie, Ontario in 2009. In early 2011, a second run of performances in Barrie was held in preparation for the show’s tour of other cities.
Recent Projects
His feature film adaptation of “Tales of an Urban Indian” was chosen as one of 13 worldwide screenplays to be considered for the renowned Sundance Screenwriters Lab. APTN also developed a television pilot based on his one-man act “Tales of an Urban Indian” which aired in 2009.
Caption: Darrell Dennis working in the studio set (Source: X.com)
In the summers of 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, he created and hosted the CBC Radio One radio documentary series, ReVision Quest, which investigated and addressed the numerous preconceptions about North American Indigenous peoples.
He began appearing as Detective Goodis on the Teen Nick series Open Heart in 2014. In 2014, he published his book Peace Pipe Dreams: The Truth About Lies About Indians through Douglas and Macintyre Publishing. Moreover, he worked with Daniel Arnold and Medina Hahn on Inheritance: A Pick-the-Path Experience in 2020. He is also a member of the Shuswap Nation in British Columbia.
Net Worth 2024
According to 2023 projections, Dennis’s net worth is expected to be $2 million from his profession. He currently has 31 acting credits. However, his yearly salary and other profits are not yet made public.
Relationship Status
On the 30th March 2007, Darrell Dennis is happily married to actress Katya Gardner. With the marriage, the couple has a son named Sawyer Watson. Presently, the family is living happily and there are no signs of their separation.
Caption: Darrell Dennis with his wife (Source: X.com)
He was previously married to his ex-wife, Tamara Podemski (2001-2006). Till now, this actor has not been involved in any kind of controversy or scandal.
Darrell Dennis – Body Measurements
Caption: Darrell Dennis posing for a photo (Source: IMDb)
Looking at his appearance, he has a pair of light brown eyes with dark brown hair colour. He has an average height and weight but the exact information regarding his body measurement is unknown.
Social Media
On his Instagram page ‘@grinningindian’ there are over 1.3k followers. Likewise, there are over 1.7k followers on his Twitter page ‘@DarrellMDennis’ and he is not present on Facebook.