David Henley Douglas was born in San Jose, California, to Henley and Doreen Douglas, and was the youngest of their eight children. Growing up in Sunnyvale, David was a ball of energy in need of direction, and his parents, noticing his love for the film The Last Dragon, signed him up for gymnastics and karate classes when he was just nine years old.
This decision would eventually give David the career he has today. He excelled in martial arts, and at the age of 15, he became an instructor for children and adults. David then began competing in 1995 as a member of the Paul Mitchell Karate and Ernie Reyes "Next Generation" action teams, where he won numerous championships, including the National Black Belt League World Champion title in 1995.
He also won the ISKA International Forms Championship, was named the winner of the most National Grand Championships in 1996, and won the Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Classic. David continued to tour nationally and internationally, doing seminars and demonstrations, until he had a chance meeting with Betty McCormick of Midwest Talent Management at one of those competitions.
Under Betty's advisement, David packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles when he was 20. Within a few weeks, David was filming commercials for Pepsi, Ford, and McDonald's. He received another big break from casting directors Kim Davis and Justine Baddeley, who thought he would be perfect as "Rasta" in the Drew Barrymore film Never Been Kissed.
This appearance opened more doors for David, and he soon found himself on his way as an actor. Since that appearance, David has gone on to do countless commercial spots as well as roles in 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.
Just having wrapped production on an episode of Here and Now and the feature film The Return of Mike and Ike, it's a safe bet that David Douglas' long-time dream of becoming an actor has come true. Whether it's on the big or small screen, his name and face are going to be around for a long time to come.
David has also appeared in numerous productions, including La La Land, Terminator Salvation, Westworld, and SWAT. With a career spanning over twenty years, David has made a name for himself in the acting industry, and his passion for martial arts has led him to become a successful actor, stuntman, and instructor.
