DJ Qualls

DJ Qualls Headshot

Actor

Birth Name: Donald Joseph Qualls

Birth Date: June 10, 1978

Age: 46 years old

Birth Place: Nashville, Tennessee

Partners: Ty Olsson

A tall and gangly actor from small-town Tennessee, D J Qualls made his breakthrough with a funny and oddly touching performance as shy, geeky coed Kyle, taken along on a crass college "Road Trip" (2000) as the guy with the car.

A survivor of an adolescent bout with Hodgkin's disease, the academically talented Qualls left Tennessee after high school to attend the University of London, where he studied English language and literature. He later returned to his home state and began working in local theater, appearing on stage in Nashville productions. There he was discovered by photographers David LaChappelle and Steve Klein, who were intrigued by his unusual and rather childlike look. Qualls subsequently landed a print modeling job in a campaign for high end label Prada, landing him in the top fashion and lifestyle magazines. While the modeling job proved a positive and lucrative experience, earning him crucial exposure in addition to money, acting was still the object of the young man's passion.

He made his TV debut as an extra in "Against the Wall," a 1994 HBO movie filmed in Tennessee, and later had a small role in the 1998 Alex Haley miniseries "Mama Flora's Family" (CBS). Qualls followed up with a supporting role in the curious teen horror feature "Cherry Falls," which was shot prior to his breakthrough in "Road Trip" but was released the following fall. His work in "Road Trip" proved far more memorable, with Qualls' portrayal of the awkward and inexperienced Kyle showcasing the actor's likability as well as his precise comic timing. Kyle's fearlessness in humiliating situations was rendered perfectly by the actor, pointing at the character's innocence without a trace of actorly arrogance.

The performer also managed to balance "Road Trip"'s often broad situations with an intuitive and natural performance. Qualls impressed in the role and proved a fresh face but not an amateur, displaying a proficiency on screen that rivaled that of co-star Breckin Meyer, an actor with dozens more roles to his credit. His talent and unusual, unforgettable looks could offer the young performer an extensive career as a character player.

After his breakout role, Qualls played variations on his lovable geek in films such as "Comic Book Villians" (2002), "Big Trouble" (2002), "The New Guy" (2002), and "The Core" (2003). Qualls then delivered an exceptionally winning performance as Shelby, the church organist-turned-rap-producer in the acclaimed indie "Hustle & Flow" (2005).

Credits

CarvedStream

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Bill
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Cabinet of CuriositiesStream

Actor
Series
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93%

Bring on the Dancing Horses

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Show
2022

CreepshowStream

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Series
2019

Bigger

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Michael Steere
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2018

Hollywood Medium With Tyler HenryStream

Guest Star
Reality
2016

Buster's Mal Heart

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Brown
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2016

The Man in the High CastleStream

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Ed McCarthy
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84%

November Rule

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Kareem
Movie
2015

Celebrity Name Game

Contestant
Game Show
2014

Z NationStream

Actor
Citizen Z
Series
2014

FargoStream

Guest Star
Golem
Series
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93%

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

LegitStream

Actor
Billy
Series
2013
94%

Pawn Shop ChroniclesStream

Actor
JJ
Movie
2013
18%

Small ApartmentsStream

Actor
Artie
Movie
2012
30%

Running Mates

Actor
Graham "One Ball" Jones
Movie
2011

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Hawaii Five-0Stream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Memphis Beat

Actor
Davey Sutton
Series
2010
38%

Amigo

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Zeke
Movie
2010

Circle of Eight

Actor
Show
2009

Glenn Martin, DDS

Guest Voice
Show
2009

All About SteveStream

Actor
Howard
Movie
2009
6%

Road Trip: Beer PongStream

Actor
Kyle Edwards
Movie
2009

Last Day of Summer

Actor
Joe
Movie
2009

Last Day of Summer

Executive Producer
Movie
2009

Circle of Eight

Actor
Randall
Movie
2009

Breaking BadStream

Guest Star
Getz
Series
2008
96%

Familiar Strangers

Actor
Kenny Worthington
Movie
2008

The Big Bang TheoryStream

Guest Star
Toby Loobenfeld
Series
2007
81%

Delta Farce

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Everett Shackleford
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2007

I'm Reed Fish

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Andrew
Movie
2007

Criminal MindsStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

My Name Is EarlStream

Guest Star
Ray-Ray
Series
2005
82%

SupernaturalStream

Actor
Garth Fitzgerald IV
Series
2005
93%

SupernaturalStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
93%

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Martin/Fast Talking Kid
Series
2005

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Little Athens

Actor
Corey
Movie
2005

Hustle & FlowStream

Actor
Shelby
Movie
2005
82%

LostStream

Guest Star
Johnny
Series
2004
86%

The CoreStream

Actor
Theodore Donald 'Rat' Finch
Movie
2003
39%

MonkStream

Guest Star
Rufus - Computer Geek
Series
2002
91%

The New Guy

Actor
Dizzy
Movie
2002

Lone Star State of Mind

Actor
Junior
Movie
2002

The New Guy

Actor
Dizzy
Movie
2002

Comic Book Villains

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Archie
Movie
2002

ScrubsStream

Guest Star
Josh
Series
2001
83%

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Chasing Holden

Actor
Neil Lawrence
Movie
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Road TripStream

Actor
Kyle Edwards
Movie
2000
57%

Cherry Falls

Actor
Wally
Movie
2000

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