Dean Edwards

Dean Edwards, born on July 30, 1970, in New York City, U.S., has established a career in stand-up comedy, acting, writing, and singing. His versatile talents have been showcased across various mediums, including film and television. Edwards gained significant recognition during his two-year tenure as a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which began in 2001. During this period, he developed a reputation for a wide array of celebrity impressions, including Michael Jackson, Wayne Brady, Chris Tucker, Don Cheadle, and Colin Powell, among others. Although his time on the show was relatively brief, ending in 2003 due to creative differences, he left a notable mark with impressions and contributions to the sketch comedy series.

Following his departure from Saturday Night Live, Edwards continued to build his career through various projects. He lent his voice to Scottie Pippen and Spike Lee in “Celebrity Deathmatch,” a robot in “Robotomy,” and notably provided the voice for Donkey in “Scared Shrekless” (2010), stepping in for Eddie Murphy and impersonating his vocal style. His filmography also includes roles in “Top Five,” “Spider-Man 3” (2007), and “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding” (2004). On television, he made guest appearances on HBO’s “The Sopranos” (2004) as Charles and Hulu’s “Deadbeat.” Edwards also contributed to the development of the Donkey character for “SHREK THE MUSICAL” on Broadway.

In recent years, Edwards has maintained an active presence in comedy and entertainment. He released his comedy special, “Tiffany Haddish Presents: THEY READY, Season 2,” on Netflix. He also took on voice roles as Corey Booker and Common in Showtime’s “Our Cartoon President” (Season 2 and 3) and appeared on multiple episodes of Robert Smigel’s FOX series, “Let’s Be Real.” As a stand-up comedian, he regularly headlines clubs nationally and internationally, with a 2019 tour including stops in Qatar, China, and Saudi Arabia, and a highlight performance at The Dubai Comedy Festival in May 2021. Edwards also hosts “The Dean Edwards Show” podcast, which launched in February 2020.