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Tristan Bailey is an American actor, writer, filmmaker, musician, artist, and model of African American and Muscogee descent. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Elisa Bailey Dinkins, a life coach, and Sam Johnson Jr., an auto dealer. He was raised by his parents and stepfather, Byron Dinkins, a former NBA and European basketball player. He is the oldest of four siblings and the grandson of Sam Johnson, a Black pioneer in the U.S. automotive industry, and A. Bailey, who ran an arena concert production company throughout the Southeast.
Tristan grew up backstage, actively attending live concerts every week from a young age due to his grandfather's company. At age 5, he moved to Kitzingen, Germany, where he lived until his preteen years. His time in Europe helped refine his artistic sensibilities and appreciation for storytelling, music, art, architecture, and performance.
Upon returning to the U.S., Tristan attended Hickory Grove Christian School in Charlotte, NC, where he was actively involved in music, acting, and soccer. His passion for acting deepened when he attended a high school summer program at the North Carolina School of the Arts, leading him to pursue acting professionally. He later attended Elon University, where he majored in Theatre, and also studied at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy, further honing his craft before graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre.
Tristan made his film debut playing Leon in the short film Hooped (2009). He subsequently appeared in several independent projects, including portraying Austin Gray in the short film One on One (2013) and Nitro in an episode of the television show Video Game High School (2013). On stage, he performed in shows both professionally and in college, showcasing his versatility as a performer.
In 2017, he was selected for the prestigious Disney/ABC Talent Showcase, an annual industry program highlighting emerging talent. In 2018, he returned to assist as an assistant director in the showcase. Tristan gained further recognition with roles such as Paul Hobbs in the short film Because of You (2018) and Austin Wright in Lost & Found (2019). That same year, he served as an associate producer for the film Ab Negative (2019), which was filmed in Belgium.
He has worked on projects such as Superstore (NBC), Kenan (NBC), and Blockbuster (Netflix), contributing across production, writing, and creative development. He appeared as himself (Dj Tri$tan) on the series Kenan, starring Kenan Thompson.
Alongside his work in film and television, he is also a singer, songwriter, and graphic visual artist, blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, and futuristic sounds into his work while incorporating a strong artistic vision across various mediums. In 2022, he opened his own production company, Bailey Studios in California, where he resides with his wife and children.
