Dean Edwards
American comedian, actor and musician (born 1970)
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Dean Edwards (born July 30, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and singer.[1] His work as a voice actor includes Scottie Pippen and Spike Lee in Celebrity Deathmatch, a robot in Robotomy and Donkey in Scared Shrekless after Eddie Murphy was unable to reprise the role (Edwards had impersonated Murphy on stage), along with a couple of other projects. He also appeared in Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special as Savion Glover and Don Cheadle, in Tony n' Tina's Wedding as Father Mark, and The Sopranos.
Donkey on Scared Shrekless
Dean Edwards | |
|---|---|
Edwards in 2007 | |
| Born | July 30, 1970 New York City, U.S. |
| Notable work | Saturday Night Live Donkey on Scared Shrekless |
| Spouse | Tracy Walters |
| Children | 3 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
| Genres | Comedy, sketch comedy |
| Website | deanedwards |
Edwards has a YouTube channel, "deanedwardscomedy". He was also the host of the critically acclaimed TV show "Vidiots" on TVone.
Career
Dean Edwards developed a reputation for working clean[clarification needed] and taught classes in stand-up comedy technique. Edwards is also a voice artist, having done voice work for Celebrity Deathmatch and Robotomy. He also did voice work for the audiobook version of Max Brooks' World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.
In the 2010 Halloween special Scared Shrekless, he provided the voice of Donkey after Eddie Murphy couldn’t return. Murphy returned to play Donkey in the 2010 Christmas special Donkey's Christmas Shrektacular. Edwards was hired as a staff writer for Daily Comedy, a website where professional and amateur stand-up comedians would post new jokes frequently.[2] Edwards has also appeared in commercials for Snickers and Ford.
Saturday Night Live
Edwards joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2001. He developed several impressions, including Michael Jackson, Wayne Brady, Chris Tucker, Don Cheadle, Colin Powell, Serena Williams, Nipsey Russell, Grace Jones, Randy Jackson, Redman, Denzel Washington and Billy Ocean.[3] Despite his penchant for impressions, Edwards didn't get much screen time in his brief tenure on the show. He left after the show's 28th season (2003), citing creative differences.
In Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special, he did his impressions of Savion Glover and Don Cheadle.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Marci X | Audience Member | |
| 2004 | Tony n' Tina's Wedding | Father Mark | |
| 2006 | A New Wave | Rupert | |
| 2007 | Universal Remote | Serious Black Man | |
| Spider-Man 3 | Newsstand Patron | ||
| 2008 | Goyband | Ty | |
| 2010 | April's Fools | Now Later | |
| 2011 | Swap | Bartender | Short film |
| Thriller Night | Donkey | Voice; short film | |
| 2014 | Top Five | Himself | |
| 2020 | Write It Black | Morris "Punchline" Blackmon | |
| 2024 | Con Job | Tim |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Melrose Place | Process Server | Episode: "Sole Sister" |
| 1998 | Celebrity Deathmatch | Scottie Pippen / Spike Lee | Voice; 2 episodes |
| 2001–2003 | Saturday Night Live | Various | Main cast; 40 episode |
| 2003 | Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special | Savion Glover / Don Cheadle | TV special |
| 2004 | The Sopranos | Charles | Episode: "Where's Johnny?" |
| 2005 | Weekends at the D.L. | Sweetmouth | Episode: "1.24" |
| 2006 | Where My Dogs At? | Various Celebrities | Voice; 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Scared Shrekless | Donkey | Voice; TV special |
| Robotomy | Robot | Voice; episode: "Mean Green" | |
| 2014 | Deadbeat | Gucci Man | Episode: "The Knockoff" |
| 2019–2020 | Our Cartoon President | Cory Booker / Various | Voice; 8 episodes |
| 2021 | Let's Be Real | O. J. Simpson / Stephen A. Smith | Voice; 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special | Himself | TV special |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing | Donkey | [4] |
As himself
| Himself | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Heroes of Comedy: Women on Top | Himself | |
| 2007 | Comedy Colosseum | Himself - Host | |
| P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy | Himself - Comedian | Also writer | |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Himself / Himself - Guest | ||
| 2008 | Clean Mic: Laughing Until It Hurts | Himself | |
| The Movie Preview Awards | Himself - Presenter | ||
| Last Call with Carson Daly | Himself | ||
| Comics Without Borders | Himself | ||
| Comics Unleashed | Himself - Comedian | ||
| 2009 | Souled Out Comedy | Himself | |
| Black to the Future | Himself | ||
| 2020 | Funny You Should Ask | Himself - Panelist | |