Born: June 22, 1974
Age: 50
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Donald Adeosun Faison (/feɪˈzɒn/; born June 22, 1974) is an American actor and voice actor best known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC (formerly NBC) comedy-drama Scrubs (2001-2010), and a minor role as Murray in the film Clueless (1995) (subsequently reprised in the television series of the same name). He also starred as Phil Chase in the TV Land sitcom The Exes (2011-2015).
Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans (2000), Uptown Girls (2003), Something New (2006), Next Day Air (2009) and Kick-Ass 2 (2013).
Faison was born in Harlem in New York City, the son of Shirley, a talent agent, and Donald Faison, a building manager. He is the elder brother of actor Olamide Faison. His middle name stems from the words "ade," meaning "crown," and "osun," meaning "river of life” in Yoruba. His parents were active with the National Black Theater in Harlem.
Before his debuts on Scrubs and Clueless, Faison appeared in a 1991 commercial for Folgers coffee at the age of 17, in which he played the younger brother of a soldier returning from war. The following year, he appeared with Malik Yoba in the ABC News special Prejudice: Answering Children's Questions, hosted by Peter Jennings. He then became famous for his role as Murray Lawrence Duvall in the 1995 film Clueless and the subsequent television series, which ran from 1996 to 1999. In 1995, he also appeared in Waiting to Exhale as Tarik, the son of Loretta Devine's character, Gloria. He was featured in New Jersey Drive. He also starred in Big Fat Liar alongside Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti, and Amanda Bynes. He had a recurring role as Tracy on Felicity, appeared in Remember the Titans as the running-back turned corner-back Petey Jones, and provided voice work for various characters in the MTV animated series Clone High. He had minor roles in the sitcoms Sister, Sister and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and in the film Josie and the Pussycats. In 2005, Faison produced one episode of MTV's Punk'd involving his Scrubs co-star Zach Braff. He also appeared in the music videos for Brandy's "Sittin' Up in My Room," Fall Out Boy's cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," and Gavin Degraw's "Chariot."
On February 13, 2009, Faison participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game. Other celebrities participating included NBA Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins, NFL wide-receiver Terrell Owens, actor Chris Tucker, and four Harlem Globetrotters.
In 2010, Faison starred alongside Scottie Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Eric Balfour, Laz Alonso, and Crystal Reed in the Brothers Strause science fiction thriller Skyline.
Faison was in the 2010 CBS comedy pilot The Odds.
As of March 2011, Faison appeared in commercials for The Sims Medieval. In 2012, he made a cameo appearance in the movie Pitch Perfect. He is currently the host for the TBS comedy sketch show Who Gets the Last Laugh.
Faison was married to Lisa Askey from 2001 to 2005. After six years of dating, Faison married his second wife, CaCee Cobb, on December 15, 2012. The wedding was held at the home of Faison's former Scrubs co-star and best friend Zach Braff, who also served as a groomsman. Serving as a bridesmaid was singer Jessica Simpson, for whom Cobb formerly worked as a personal assistant.
Faison has six children: son Sean (born 1997), from a previous relationship; son Dade and daughter Kaya (fraternal twins, born 1999) and son Kobe (born 2001), with Askey; and son Rocco (born 2013) and daughter Wilder Frances (born 2015), with Cobb.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Glory | Soldier | |
1992 | Juice | Student | |
1994 | Sugar Hill | Kymie Damiels | |
1995 | New Jersey Drive | Tiny Dime | Credited as Donald Adeosun Faison |
Clueless | Murray Lawrence Duvall | ||
Waiting to Exhale | Tarik Matthews | ||
1996 | The Quest | Robber | Uncredited |
1997 | Academy Boyz | Glen Lewis | |
1998 | Butter | Khaleed | |
Can't Hardly Wait | Dan | ||
1999 | Trippin' | June Nelson | |
2000 | Remember the Titans | Petey Jones | |
2001 | Double Whammy | Cletis | |
Josie and the Pussycats | D.J. | Uncredited | |
2002 | Big Fat Liar | Frank Jackson | |
2003 | Ravedactyl: Project Evolution | Gunner | Short film |
Uptown Girls | Huey | ||
Good Boy! | Wilson | Voice only | |
2005 | King's Ransom | Andre | |
2006 | Something New | Nelson McQueen | |
Bachelor Party Vegas | Ash | ||
Homie Spumoni | Renato/Leroy | ||
2007 | Venus & Vegas | Stu | |
2009 | Next Day Air | Leo | |
2010 | Skyline | Terry | |
2011 | Stag | Ken | |
2012 | Pitch Perfect | Older Acapella Man | |
2013 | Kick-Ass 2 | Doctor Gravity | |
2013 | A Snow Globe Christmas | Ted | |
2014 | Wish I Was Here | Anthony | |
2014 | Let's Kill Ward's Wife | Ward | |
2014 | Wonderland | Ted | |
2016 | Hot Bot |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Sesame Street | Duane | Episode: "23.58" |
1996 | New York Undercover | James | Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil" |
1996-2000 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Justin Dashiell Calzone |
(Justin) Episode: S1 Ep. 8 "Magic Joel" (Dashiell) 7 episodes |
1996-1999 | Clueless | Murray Lawrence Duvall | 62 episodes |
1998 | Sister, Sister | Darryl | Episode: "Greek to Me" |
1999 | Supreme Sanction | Marcus | Television movie |
2000-2002 | Felicity | Tracy | 23 episodes |
2002-2003 | Clone High | Toots Various characters |
Voice only 12 episodes |
2001-2010 | Scrubs | Christopher Turk | 179 episodes Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series |
2004-2005 | Higglytown Heroes | Firefighter Hero | Voice only 2 episodes |
2005-2014 | Robot Chicken | Various characters | Voice only 9 episodes |
2006 | The Playbook | Host | 3 episodes |
2007 | Saturday Night Live | Christopher Turk | Episode: "Zach Braff/Maroon 5" |
Robot Chicken: Star Wars | Dr. Cornelius Evazan/Mace Windu | Voice only Television special |
|
Kim Possible | Ricky Rotiffle | Voice only Episode: "Homecoming Upset" |
|
2008 | The Boondocks | Catcher Freeman/Tobias/Wedgie Rudlin | Voice only 3 episodes |
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II | Gary/Darth Maul/Imperial Pilot | Voice only Television special |
|
2009 | Scrubs: Interns | Christopher Turk | Episode: "Our Meeting with Turk and Todd" |
American Dad! | Christopher Turk | Voice only Episode: "G-String Circus" |
|
Titan Maximum | Martian Fleet Commander | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2010 | Fact Checkers Unit | Donald | 9 episodes |
Cubed | Himself | Episode: "2.12" | |
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III | Gary | Voice only Television special |
|
The Odds | Tyler | Television movie | |
2011 | Love Bites | Ricky | 2 episodes |
2011-2015 | The Exes | Phil Chase | Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series |
2012 | Tron: Uprising | Bartik | Voice only 5 episodes |
Adventure Time | Princess Cookie | Voice only Episode: "Princess Cookie" |
|
2013 | Wedding Band | Moses | Episode: "99 Problems" |
Who Gets the Last Laugh? | Host | 9 Episodes | |
A Snow Globe Christmas | Ted | Television movie | |
2014 | Hollywood Game Night | Himself | 3 episodes |
Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge | Wizard | Episode: "Head's Up" | |
2015 | Undateable | Donald | 2 episodes |
Supermansion | Quiplash | Voice only Episode: "Brad Medicine" |
|
Drunk History | Joe Louis | Episode: "Las Vegas" |
Year | Award | Result | Category | Series |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | BET Comedy Awards | Won | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs |
2002 | Won | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs | |
2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Nominated | Choice TV Sidekick | Scrubs |
2005 | Nominated | Choice TV Sidekick | Scrubs | |
2006 | Nominated | Choice TV Sidekick | Scrubs | |
2007 | Nominated | Choice TV Sidekick | Scrubs | |
2005 | NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs |
2006 | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs | |
2007 | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs | |
2008 | Nominated | Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series | Scrubs |