Leonard Robinson

Last updated

Leonard Robinson
Born
Education Howard University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • performer
Years active2004–present

Leonard Robinson is an American actor, comedian, writer and performer.

Contents

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

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Au Pair ChocolatDeputy JohnTV movie
2005Filmic AchievementXavier Robert Reynolds
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Watchguard
2008American CrudeCop No. 4TV movie
2009RepunzelPrince CharmingShort
2010Dumb ProfessorHenry Louis Gates Jr.Short
Speed-Dating Beaver
2011The Return of King HippoDocShort
2012Freaky DeakyJuicy Mouth
Touching OurselvesHimselfShort
2013Baby MentalistEzekiel JacksonShort
Life of Crime Officer Dixon
Project TennesseeMikeShort
2014Bagels: The MovieHimselfShort
Coffee Shop GirlDavisShort
2016UndefeatedTreShort
2017Magic '85TrevorShort
2021 Queenpins Barry
2023Re-OpeningJackson Foxx'e

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 All That HimselfEpisode: "American Hi-Fi"
2005–07 Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out Himself/Cast MemberMain Cast: seasons 1–4
2006 America's Next Top Model HimselfEpisode: "The Girl with Two Bad Takes"
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Himself/Cast MemberMain Cast
The Bronx Is Burning Mickey Rivers Main Cast
2009 The League LeonardEpisode: "The Usual Bet"
2010 Criminal Minds JoeEpisode: "The Uncanny Valley"
2011 Law & Order: Los Angeles Officer MeadeEpisode: "East Pasadena"
The Protector JamalEpisode: "Beef"
Death Valley Annoying DadEpisode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!"
Million Dollar Mind Game Video Question TalentEpisode: "Episode #1.5"
NCIS Metro Police Officer JacksonEpisode: "Sins of the Father"
2012 Parks and Recreation Officer GolisEpisode: "Bus Tour"
NCIS: Los Angeles Marine Staff Sergeant JefferiesEpisode: "Free Ride"
2013 Wilfred AndreEpisode: "Confrontation"
Don't Talk in the Kitchen PresentsCasting AssistantEpisode: "Harry's Haunted Hayride: The Audition Tapes"
2014–15CollegeHumor OriginalsVarious RolesRecurring Guest
2015 Keith Broke His Leg HimselfRecurring Cast
2016 NCIS Metro Police Officer JacksonEpisode: "Déjà Vu"
Bad Internet -Episode: "Uber, But Like for People"
Adam Ruins Everything Officiant/PriestEpisode: "Adam Ruins Weddings" & "Adam Ruins Animals"
Rosewood Handsome Chess PlayerEpisode: "Lidocaine and Long-Term Lust"
2017 Colony AlecEpisode: "Sublimation"
Young Sheldon FBI Agent #2Episode: "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System"
2018 Alexa & Katie BennetEpisode: "The Play: Part 2"
Rel Bill the Pedicab DriverEpisode: "One Night Stand"
2018–21 Insecure Taurean JacksonRecurring Cast: seasons 3–5
2022 Kenan KeithEpisode: "Ghosts of Boyfriends Past"
The Blank's YPFBillyEpisode: "Week 3 (2022)"
Blockbuster Aaron WalkerRecurring Cast
2023 Welcome to Flatch GeoffreyEpisode: "Flatch: Churn Here"
American Dad! Dean Barkov (voice)Episode: "The Professor and the Coach"
A Black Lady Sketch Show CraigariousEpisode: "What Kind of Medicine Does Dr. King Practice?"
Platonic Lord RoteroEpisode: "Let the River Run"
2025 Side Quest JaredEpisode: "Pull List"

References

  1. 1 2 "LR". LR. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. 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)
  3. 1 2 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)
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. Robinson, Leonard (November 9, 2021). ""Everything Leonard Robinson Learned on Five Seasons of 'Insecure'"". backstage.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.