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 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 heard the call of his destiny and chose to immediately set his sights on moving to Los Angeles and stardom.
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, 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 30 different episodic shows, including such hit shows as C.S.I., E.R., and Cold Case. Other network guest appearances include, "Without a Trace", "Angel", "Judging Amy", "Numbers", "The Shield" and "Six Feet Under." Following in the shoes of such greats as, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry (Jungle Fever) and Chris Rock (New Jack City), Barnes' haunting portrayal of the cheeseburger loving crack addict in the urban classic Menace II Society has garnered him critical acclaim throughout Hollywood.
2023
as Dick Sadler
2008
as Jayden Flower
2007
as Vincent Dennison
2007
2005
2005
as Cecil
2005
as Conner Squire
2003
as Clinton
2002
as Stuff
2002
as Andre Jones
2002
as Officer Cooper
2002
as Rashaan
2002
as Link
2001
as Officer Myers
2001
2000
as Gene Jacobs
2000
1999
as Driver
1999
as Lester
1999
as Jared Spruell
1997
as Homer Hayward
1997
as Kenny Nevins
1997
as Prisoner
1997
as Al Larkin (segment "The Subway")
1996
as D-Mac
1996
as Rondell
1995
as Saunders
1994
as Officer Hunt
1994
as Tim
1993
as Rodney
1993
as Darius
1993
as Baby Rage
1993
as Basehead
1989
as Carter