Biography
David Douglas has appeared in numerous productions over his more than twenty-year acting career, including La La Land, Terminator Salvation, Westworld, and SWAT. Born David Henley Douglas in San Jose, California, he is the youngest of eight children of Henley and Doreen Douglas. Raised in Sunnyvale, David was an energetic child whose parents, recognizing his enthusiasm for the film The Last Dragon, enrolled him in gymnastics and karate classes at age nine—a decision that ultimately shaped his career.
Excelling in martial arts, David became an instructor for both children and adults by the age of 15. He began competing in 1995 as part of the Paul Mitchell Karate and Ernie Reyes "Next Generation" action teams. That year, he earned the title of National Black Belt League World Champion. His accolades include winning the ISKA International Forms Championship, securing the most National Grand Championships in 1996, and triumphing at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Classic. David continues to conduct seminars and demonstrations both nationally and internationally. During one such competition, he met Betty McCormick from Midwest Talent Management, a meeting that would change his life.
Encouraged by Betty, David moved to Los Angeles at age 20. Within weeks, he was filming commercials for major brands like Pepsi, Ford, and McDonald's. Casting directors Kim Davis and Justine Baddeley soon cast him as "Rasta" in the Drew Barrymore film Never Been Kissed, a role that opened further opportunities. Since then, David has appeared in numerous commercials and acted in projects such as The Last Ride opposite Dennis Hopper, The Fosters, New Girl, Fresh Off the Boat, American Crime Story, VEEP, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, Scorpion, and more. Having recently completed work on an episode of Here and Now and the feature film The Return of Mike and Ike, David Douglas' longstanding dream of becoming an actor has clearly been realized. Whether on the big or small screen, his presence is set to endure for years to come.
