Dwayne Barnes was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where he witnessed the harsh realities of life, which profoundly impacted him as an artist and human being. As a senior in high school, Barnes, voted "Most Likely to Succeed," won a citywide acting competition and was awarded a scholarship to attend Eastern Michigan University.
However, after a few years of collegiate life, Barnes felt an irresistible call of destiny and decided to immediately set his sights on moving to Los Angeles and pursuing stardom.
Not only is Barnes a talented actor, but he is also blessed with vocal abilities. Just two years after relocating to Los Angeles, his performance in Robert Townsend's "The Five Heartbeats: The Musical" earned him a nomination for BEST ACTOR at the NAACP Theater Awards. Barnes also starred in the musicals "Letters from Nam," written and produced by Emmy award-winning director Paris Barclay, and "Dorian," for which The Denver Daily News praised his "knockout performance." His musical talents also led to a contract with Capitol Records, where he recorded an album with the group H20, although the group disbanded before the album's release.
Barnes has guest-starred in over 30 different episodic shows, including hit series such as C.S.I, E.R, and Cold Case. Other network guest appearances include "Without a Trace," "Angel," "Judging Amy," "Numbers," "The Shield," and "Six Feet Under." Following in the footsteps of greats such as Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, and Chris Rock, Barnes' haunting portrayal of the cheeseburger-loving crack addict in the urban classic Menace II Society garnered him critical acclaim throughout Hollywood.
Barnes' next project, set to release in the Fall of 2006, is a suspense thriller titled "The Flock," starring Richard Gere and Claire Danes.
In addition to his acting career, Barnes co-wrote and starred in "Memorial Street" (2003),a short film inspired by his real-life relationship with his mother. The film is a touching portrayal of a mother and son's broken relationship and the challenges they are forced to overcome, while sustaining the undying love innate between the two. "Memorial Street" was chosen by the A.F.I.'s Women in Film Program and also starred April Grace from "Magnolia."
Dwayne Barnes is destined to become one of the greats of our time. He is a dedicated and focused individual on a mission to change lives for the better through the expression of his art and life's journey. His passion, drive, and mission to succeed will undoubtedly lead him to achieving his goals.
