Check out the most anticipated movies and shows premiering during the summer season, from [i]Jurassic World Rebirth[/i] to [i]Fantastic Four: First Steps[/i].

IMDb Summer Watch Guide

Check out the most anticipated movies and shows premiering during the summer season, from <em>Jurassic World Rebirth</em> to <em>Fantastic Four: First Steps</em>.

See these famous faces in some of their first breakout roles in Hollywood.

Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles

Hall H panels, activations, and more can't-miss moments from Comic-Con 2025.

Photos We Love: San Diego Comic-Con 2025

Hall H panels, activations, and more can&#39;t-miss moments from Comic-Con 2025.

Dexter Tillis as Keith Henry in "Your Worst Nightmare"

Keisha Tillis,Joy Pervis, Dexter Tillis,Marc Lintz

Dexter Tillis in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (2024)

Dexter Tillis in The Other Black Girl (2023)

Melissa McBride and Dexter Tillis in The Walking Dead (2010)

Dexter Tillis and Cooper Andrews in The Walking Dead (2010)

Dexter Tillis and Nadia Hilker in The Walking Dead (2010)

Khary Payton, Lauren Cohan, Dexter Tillis, and Ross Marquand in The Walking Dead (2010)

Dexter Tillis at Tribeca for "Aurinko In Adagio"

Dexter Tillis as Fin in the film "Aurinko in Adagio"

Dexter Tillis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised solely by a mother of three, who was supported primarily by government assistance. Tillis grew up in Greensburg, LA. There he determined that he would be an artist in some form at an early age. He was noted as a focused and goal-driven child; even at age 7, he could be found intently drawing for hours free-handedly capturing images on paper precisely as they appeared before him. At age 10, he decided that this was a means to generate income. To perfect his art, he created designs in the back of his relatives' heads. This outstanding work gave him a positive reputation throughout Greensburg. He was known as "the artist-barber drawing everything on ya' head."

Like many teenagers, Tillis became distracted by guns, drugs, and automobiles; thereby, neglecting his long-term goals. This led him to the emergency room suffering from a gunshot wound. Tillis learned from his errors and quickly turned his life around. He retired the guns and drugs and fell in love with automobile mechanics. It did not take him long to reach expertise in both building engines and drag racing. Tillis built his first engine, of 550 raw horsepower, before he was age 18. This accomplishment inspired him to open his own hotrod shop, DT Customs.

Fueled with both excitement and apprehension in leaving his close family and small community for the first time, Tillis moved to Atlanta, GA to pursue his dreams. It was then Tillis realized that opportunities for him were limitless. He returned to school and graduated from Stone Mountain High. He continued his education at Georgia Community College endeavoring to become an architectural engineer. One of Tillis' instructors saw a gift in him and suggested he enroll in a drama course. This shifted his focus to performing arts.

Tillis left Georgia Community College and enrolled in the Alliance Theater. After two years, Tillis sought out and received intensive, private coaching. He gained inspiration from actors such as: Don Cheadle, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, and director Antoine Fuqua. His passion for acting rendered him roles on Lifetime's "Army Wives" (2009) and the National Broadcasting Company's (NBC) science fiction series "Surface" (2005). He also appeared in films such as "Bolden," (2011) "Remember the Titans," (2000) and was featured in the video game "Midnight Club 3" (2005). In addition, he held various roles in independent films.

He went on to star, direct, and produce two independent films: "Domestic Silence," (2009) and "For the Love of You" (2010).

Tillis attributes his growing talent and success to several people. Above all Tillis thanks God, through whom he has accomplished all things.

Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story

Photos

Dexter Tillis

More from this person

More to explore

Recently viewed