Desi Banks

Desi Banks
Banks in 2020
Birth nameDesi Terrell Banks Jr.[1]
Born (1993-05-09) May 9, 1993 (age 31)[2]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S,
MediumSocial media, stand-up
Years active2012–present
WebsiteOfficial website
College football career
PositionWide receiver
Personal information
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight187 lb (85 kg)
Career history
CollegeMorehead State (2011–2012)
High schoolCedar Grove (Ellenwood, Georgia)

Desi Terrell Banks Jr. (born May 9, 1993) is an American comedian and actor. He played two seasons of college football for Morehead State as a wide receiver.

Early life and education

Banks was born and raised in the Eastside of Atlanta, Georgia.[3] He said he was "always the funny kid growing up" and influenced by comedians Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.[3][4] He went to Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia, where he competed in track, baseball, and football.[3]

Banks played football in college for the Morehead State Eagles. As a freshman and sophomore in 2011 and 2012, he recorded fourteen receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns in fifteen games.[5] He transferred and joined the Georgia State Panthers football team but did not get any playing time.[6] He graduated from Georgia State in December 2015 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.[3]

Career

Banks began posting comedy sketches to Vine in 2012.[7] As his videos went viral, he decided after graduation in 2015 to build a career in comedy because "football didn't work out".[3] He expanded to other platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and posted three or four videos daily.[3][7] As of 2023, he has over 8 million followers on Instagram, and his YouTube channel has accumulated over 2 million subscribers and over 750 million views.[8][9] The Hollywood Reporter has ranked him at least as high as No. 3 on its Top Comedians list.[10]

Banks started doing stand-up comedy in 2017.[3][4] In 2018, he founded a production company, Desi Banks Productions, that makes online videos.[3][7] He has acted in films such as Will Packer's Little (2018).[11]

Filmography

Year(s) Title Role Notes
2016 Cream X Coffee Groomsman #1 TV series; episode: "Black Love Matters"
2017 Love by Chance Dante Film
2017 La Vie Magnifique De Charlie Record Store Customer Film
2019 Little Postmates Delivery Guy Film
2021 Haunted Trail Zay Film
2022 Sherman's Showcase Fonk the Freak TV series; episode: "Murder at the Shrind"

References

  1. ^ "Desi Banks". NAACP. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Banks, Desi [@iamdesibanks] (May 9, 2022). "Blessed To See 29! Happy Bday To Me Yessir!!! #Blessed" – via Instagram.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Solomon, Adina (May 14, 2019). "Make 'Em Laugh". news.gsu.org. Georgia State University. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Parker, Najja (December 2, 2021). "Atlanta comic Desi Banks sets unique path with authenticity and originality". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Desi Banks". msueagles.com. Morehead State Eagles. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "Individual Career History - Banks, Desi". static.msueagles.com. Morehead State Eagles. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Desi Banks". georgiastatesports.com. Georgia State Panthers. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Booker, Lauren (April 8, 2019). "Atlanta-Native Comedian Desi Banks Talks About The Power Of Social Media". wabe.org. WABE. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Desi Banks (@iamdesibanks)". Instagram. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "About Desi Banks". YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (January 4, 2020). "Social Climbers Charts: Kevin Hart Nets 100th Week at No. 1 on Top Comedians Chart". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (October 11, 2021). "Actor, Comedian, YouTube Star Desi Banks Inks With CAA". Deadline. Retrieved May 24, 2023.