Deon Cole

Deon Anthony Cole (born January 9, 1972) is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter. He is best known for his role in the sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022), which earned him nominations for two NAACP Image Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. On June 25, 2020, he became the second panelist to win the Doris Award on the ABC version of To Tell the Truth. He stars in Average Joe.

Cole was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for co-writing the late-night talk shows The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and Conan; for the latter, he was also nominated for three Writers Guild of America Awards.

Early life Cole was born on January 9, 1972, in Roseland in Chicago. He was educated at Thornridge High School and earned an acting degree from Philander Smith College.

Career

Cole started his career in comedy after a friend bet him $50 that he would not get up on stage one night in Chicago. Cole was on the writing staff for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien from 2009 to 2010, and he worked as a writer for Conan from 2010 to 2012. He has appeared frequently in comedic bits for both broadcasts, and he has, along with the rest of the staff, received two Primetime Emmy nominations. Cole also performed on Conan O'Brien's "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" in 2010.

In February 2010, Cole performed on Comic Aid Haiti, a comedy performance that benefited victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Cole has performed stand up on other programs such as John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, Mash Up and Lopez Tonight. Cole created his own production company, Cole Blooded, to produce the sketch comedy show Deon Cole's Black Box. It premiered on TBS, on June 10, 2013, but was canceled on October 25, 2013.

Cole had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Black-ish as Charlie Telphy. He was promoted to a main role in season 4. He later made several appearances in Black-ish's spin-off Grown-ish. Cole was cast on Angie Tribeca from 2016 to 2018. Cole hosted the game show Face Value on BET in 2017. That year, he also performed in a half-hour set in the Netflix original series The Standups.

In October 2019, Netflix released a stand-up special called Deon Cole: Cole Hearted. Since 2019, Cole has been a part of a television ad campaign for Old Spice body wash, alongside actress/comedian Gabrielle Dennis.

On June 25, 2020, Cole appeared on To Tell the Truth and won the Doris Award, becoming the second panelist to do so.

On May 6, 2023, Cole received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Personal life Cole has a son, Dylan. Cole is a single parent who keeps things private regarding his son's mother.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Barbershop Dante 2003 A Lover for My Husband Cab Driver 2004 Barbershop 2: Back in Business Dante 2005 The Evil One Dejuan Video A Get2Gether Jesse 2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Dante 2017 The Female Brain Steven 2019 Holiday Rush Marshall Stone 2020 2 Minutes of Fame Nico Friendsgiving Dan 2021 I'm Fine (Thanks for Asking) Chad Welcome Matt Norman The Harder They Fall Wiley Escoe 2023 You People Demetrius A Snowy Day in Oakland Davis The Color Purple Alfonso Harris 2026 Michael Don King Scary Movie Pastor Prime TBA Grown Ups 3 TBA Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Laffapalooza Himself Episode: "Laffapalooza Volume 5" 2005 The World Stands Up Himself Episode: "Episode #2.1" & "#2.11" 2005–09 1st Amendment Stand Up Himself Recurring Guest 2006 Def Comedy Jam Himself Episode: "Episode #7.10" 2007 Comedy Central Presents Himself Episode: "Deon Cole" Wild 'n Out Himself Main Cast: Season 4 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz The Negotiator Sketch Episode: "Episode #1.1" 2008 The Funny Spot Himself Episode: "Episode #1.1"2010John Oliver's New York Stand-Up ShowHimselfEpisode:"Episode #2.2 2010–19 Laugh Factory Himself Recurring Guest 2011 Funny as Hell Himself Episode: "Episode #1.2" New York Stand-Up Show Himself Episode: "Episode #2.2" & "#2.3" The League Mugger Episode: "The Light of Genesis" 2012 Mash Up Himself Episode: "Episode #1.2" ComicView Himself Episode: "Kevin Hart/Deon Cole/Felipe Esparza" 2013 Deon Cole's Black Box Himself/Host Main Host In Bed with Joan Himself Episode: "Deon Cole" 2013–14 @midnight Himself Episode: "Episode #1.4" & "#2.79" 2014 Mind of a Man Himself/Panelist Recurring Panelist Benched Diamond Episode: "Diamond is a Girl's Worst Friend" 2014–22 Black-ish Charlie Telphy Recurring Cast: Season 1-3, Main Cast: Season 4-8 2015 The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Himself/Panelist Episode: "Joe Biden's Rumored Presidential Run" The Soup Himself Episode: "Episode #12.35" 2016–18 Angie Tribeca Det. Daniel "DJ" Tanner Main Cast: Season 1-3, Guest: Season 4 2017 Annual Trumpet Awards Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host The Standups Himself Episode: "With Deon Cole" All Def Comedy Himself Episode: "Episode #1.6" Face Value Himself/Host Main Host 2017–19 Hip Hop Squares Himself/Panelist Recurring Guest 2018 Lip Sync Battle Himself/Competitor Episode: "Karrueche Tran vs. Deon Cole" Wild 'n Out Himself/Co-Team Captain Episode: "Trevor Jackson/Deon Cole" All About the Washingtons Darnell Bell Episode: "You Gots the Chills" 2018–22 Grown-ish Charlie Telphy Main Cast: Season 1-2, Recurring Cast: Season 3-4 2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show Pastor Venmo Stacks Episode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?" 2020 The Cabin with Bert Kreischer Himself Episode: "No Pain, No Gain" I Can See Your Voice Himself/Panelist Episode: "Episode #1.7" Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts Dave (voice) Main Cast 2020–21 To Tell the Truth Himself/Panelist Recurring Guest 2021 Soul of a Nation Himself Recurring Guest: Season 1 Celebrity Family Feud Himself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "Episode #8.7" South Side Malachi Washington-Carter Episode: "Chicago's #1 Party Promoter" 2021–22 To Tell the Truth Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host 2022 So Dumb It's Criminal: Hosted by Snoop Dogg Himself Episode: "Luce Stools" & "Less Than Decent Exposure" Urban Eats and Treats Himself Episode: "Deon Cole" Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom Himself/Host Main Host Celebrity Game Face Himself Episode: "Kevin's BFFs" Uncensored Himself Episode: "Deon Cole" Soul Train Music Awards Himself/Host Main Host 2023 Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture Himself Recurring Guest The $100,000 Pyramid Himself/Celebrity Player Episode: "Episode #6.13" See It Loud: The History of Black Television Himself Recurring Guest Name That Tune Himself/Contestant Episode: "Tunes and the City" Celebrity Squares Himself Episode: "Your Butt, Your Choice America" Average Joe Joe Washington Main Cast 2024 The Madness Kwesi Recurring Cast 2025 Lil Kev Uncle Richard Jr. (voice) Recurring Cast Survival of the Thickest Lamar Recurring Cast: Season 2 Crutch Caleb Episode: "Legal Crutch"

Comedy specials Year Title 2016 Deon Cole: Cole Blooded Seminar 2019 Deon Cole: Cole Hearted 2022 Deon Cole: Charleen's Boy 2024 Deon Cole: Ok, Mister