On this day in comedy on January 7, 1970, Comedian, Actor, Producer, Filmmaker, Doug E. Doug (Douglas Bourne) was born in Brooklyn, New York
Doug got started in comedy at age 17 as a stand-up. His initial break came when he was spotted performing at the Apollo Theater by Russell Simmons. Next thing he knew Doug was writing and starring in The New Music Report, a Simmons production. The exposure led to a string of projects.
Doug did movies. His first line on film was in Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. From there the laughs just kept coming: 1991 – Hangin’ With the Homeboys, Jungle Fever; 1992 – Class Act; 1995 – Operation Dumbo Drop; 1997 – That Darn Cat; 2002 – Eight Legged Freaks. The most prominent of these was his role as the happy-go-lucky bobsled racer, Sanka Coffie in 1993s Cool Runnings.
ABC aired Doug’s sitcom, Where I Live in 1993. It was loosely based on his life and he co-produced it, but unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Fortunately, it got the attention of Bill Cosby which got Doug a featured role on Cosby’s CBS sitcom, Cosby. That lasted for four seasons.
Doug played a number of cards from the deck of comedy. He did animation (the voice of Bernie the jellyfish in Shark Tale; Turbo the turtle on Rusty: A Dog’s Tale; Percy the pet store owner on Nickelodeon’s Little Bill). He co-wrote, produced, starred in and directed, Citizen James for Starz Encore/ BET Movies. He kicked off his YouTube comedy channel, The Doug Life Show in 2012.
Doug E. Doug received multiple acting nominations throughout his career. His work in Hangin’ with the Homeboys was recognized by the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Male Lead in 1992 as well as Supporting Actor for Cosby in 1998, ’99 and 2000 by the NAACP. In 1994 he got Best Youth Comedian from Young Artist Award for Where I Live.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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