Leonard Robinson
 |
Leonard Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | Howard University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2004–present |
Leonard Robinson is an American actor, comedian, writer and performer.
Early life
Leonard Robinson was born in Cleveland, Ohio,[1] and raised in Danbury, Connecticut. He is a 1994 graduate of Danbury High School, where he was a Class LL state champion wrestler. Robinson gained early inspiration to pursue acting from watching Sesame Street.[2]
Education
Robinson attended Howard University, where he graduated with a business degree in Management Information Systems.[3] He took his first formal acting courses while attending Howard.[4]
Career
After graduating from Howard University, Robinson worked as a tech consultant, and later moved to New York City to pursue roles in theater and stand-up. In the mid-2000s he moved to Los Angeles. His television debut was on the MTV’s improv game show, Wild ‘n Out, where he would perform over the course of four seasons as an original cast member with comedians such as Katt Williams and Randall Park.[4][3]
Robinson also appeared in theaters nationwide including "The Exonerated" at The Culture Project (Off-Broadway), Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He later studied improv at the world-famous Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre and IO West and was a participant in the NBC Stand-Up for Diversity.[1]
As a writer, Leonard developed the treatment for Lil Jon and LMFAO’s “Drink” music video, which has over 7 million views on YouTube alone. In 2019, Leonard was selected to participate in the prestigious CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase as part of their first writer’s room. Today, Leonard is a main company member at The Groundlings where he writes, directs, and performs. He is also a regular at The World Famous Comedy Store, and has performed his stand-up abroad throughout the U.K.
In 2018, Robinson joined the cast of Insecure in its third season as Taurean, a role he would continue into the show's final season. Robinson had auditioned for multiple roles in Insecure, including Lawrence in the show's pilot, before being cast as Taurean. He was chosen directly by show runner Prentice Penny for the role.[5]
Filmography
Film and TV Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Au Pair Chocolat | Deputy John | TV movie |
| 2005 | Filmic Achievement | Xavier Robert Reynolds | |
| Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Watchguard | ||
| 2008 | American Crude | Cop No. 4 | TV movie |
| 2009 | My Long Distance Relationship | Spencer | TV movie |
| Repunzel | Prince Charming | Short | |
| 2010 | Speed-Dating | Beaver | |
| 2012 | Freaky Deaky | Juicy Mouth | |
| Touching Ourselves | Himself | Short | |
| 2013 | Life of Crime | Officer Dixon | |
| Project Tennessee | Mike | Short | |
| 2014 | Bagels: The Movie | - | Short |
| Coffee Shop Girl | Davis | Short | |
| 2016 | Undefeated | Tre | Short |
| Hustle vs. Heartache | Brian | ||
| 2017 | Magic '85 | Trevor | Short |
| 2021 | Queenpins | Barry |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | All That | Himself | Episode: "American Hi-Fi" |
| 2005-07 | Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out | Himself | Main cast: Seasons 1-4 |
| 2006 | The Tyra Banks Show | Himself | Episode: "I Can Do That" |
| America's Next Top Model | Himself | Episode: "The Girl with Two Bad Takes" | |
| 2007 | Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz | Himself | Main cast |
| The Bronx Is Burning | Mickey Rivers | Main cast | |
| 2009 | The League | Leonard | Episode: "The Usual Bet" |
| 2010 | Criminal Minds | Joe | Episode: "The Uncanny Valley" |
| Dumb Professor | Henry Louis Gates Jr. | TV series short | |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Los Angeles | Officer Meade | Episode: "East Pasadena" |
| The Protector | Jamal | Episode: "Beef" | |
| The Return of King Hippo | Doc | TV mini-series | |
| Death Valley | Annoying Dad | Episode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!" | |
| Million Dollar Mind Game | Video Question Talent | Episode: "Episode #1.5" | |
| NCIS | Metro Police Officer Jackson | Episode: "Sins of the Father" | |
| 2012 | Parks and Recreation | Officer Golis | Episode: "Bus Tour" |
| NCIS: Los Angeles | Marine Staff Sergeant Jefferies | Episode: "Free Ride" | |
| 2013 | Baby Mentalist | Ezekiel Jackson | TV mini-series |
| Wilfred | Andre | Episode: "Confrontation" | |
| Don't Talk in the Kitchen Presents | Casting Assistant | Episode: "Harry's Haunted Hayride: The Audition Tapes" | |
| 2014-15 | CollegeHumor Originals | Various Roles | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Keith Broke His Leg | - | TV series |
| 2016 | NCIS | Metro Police Officer Jackson | Episode: "Déjà Vu" |
| Bad Internet | - | Episode: "Uber, But Like for People" | |
| Adam Ruins Everything | Officiant/Priest | Episode: "Adam Ruins Weddings" & "Adam Ruins Animals" | |
| Rosewood | Handsome Chess Player | Episode: "Lidocaine and Long-Term Lust" | |
| 2017 | Colony | Alec | Episode: "Sublimation" |
| Young Sheldon | FBI Agent #2 | Episode: "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System" | |
| 2018 | Alexa & Katie | Bennet | Episode: "The Play: Part 2" |
| Rel | Bill the Pedicab Driver | Episode: "One Night Stand" | |
| 2018-21 | Insecure | Taurean Jackson | Recurring cast: season 3-4, main cast: season 5 |
References
- ^ a b "LR". LR. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ CT), News-Times, The Danbury (September 2, 2007). "Former Danbury wrestler pins down acting career". NewsTimes. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Nov 8, Jael RuckerUpdated; 2021 5:00pm. "ONE37pm Talks To Insecure's Leonard Robinson About Season 5". www.one37pm.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Bosselman, Haley (November 22, 2021). ""Leonard Robinson on 'Insecure' and the Biggest Lesson He Learned From 'Wild 'n Out'"". laconfidentialmag.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Leonard (November 9, 2021). ""Everything Leonard Robinson Learned on Five Seasons of 'Insecure'"". backstage.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.