Dwayne Barnes

Dwayne Barnes was born and reared in Detroit, Michigan where he witnessed some of life's harsh realities, which has consequently affected and transformed him as an artist and human being in the most divine of ways. In his senior year 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 saw the movie “Dead Poet’s Society” starring Robin Williams, and learning of the seize the day “carpe diem” phrase via the movie, he heard the call of his destiny and chose to immediately set his sights on moving to Los Angeles and a life of success and fortune as an artist.

Not just an actor, Barnes is also blessed with vocal talent and just two years after moving to Los Angeles, his performance in Robert Townsend's, "The Five Heartbeats: The Musical," was nominated BEST ACTOR for an NAACP Theater Award. Barnes also starred in the musicals, "Letters from Nam", which was written and produced by Emmy award-winning director and Director Guild of America President, Paris Barclay, and "Dorian," which The Denver Daily New said, Barnes "gave a knockout performance." Barnes' musical talents also led to a contract with Capitol Records, where he recorded an album with the group H20. The group disbanded before the album was released.

Barnes has guest-starred in over 60 different episodic shows, and has appeared in countless national commercials. Barnes' haunting portrayal of the cheeseburger loving crack addict in the urban classic feature film, MENACE II SOCIETY has garnered him critical acclaim throughout the world which gave rise to t-shirts with his character depicted on it that are still being worn and produced to this day. Barnes became a paid guest columnist for the prestigious industry trade, “Deadline” magazine when he was asked to pen an article on his MENACE II SOCIETY experience. Based off of the success of that article Barnes was hired by the film editor of Deadline to pen two more articles on Juneteenth and the Oscars for the magazine.

Dwayne has shared the silver screen with Richard Gere in the feature film THE FLOCK.  He can also be seen in a supporting role as Dick Sadler in the 2023 Sony Pictures release, BIG GEORGE FOREMAN directed by George Tillman Jr., starring Khris Davis, Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker, and other powerhouse actors. Barnes stars as Rydell in the $4 billion dollar franchise “Need For Speed” 2022 hit video game “Need for Speed: Unbound” w/ A$AP Rocky. 

Dwayne Barnes is a dedicated and focused man on a mission to celebrate freedom, equality, self love and acceptance through expression of his deep artistry, and inspiring personal life's healing journey.