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Deon Richmond

Deon Richmond has built a screen career that moves easily between television comedy, teen movies and horror. Born in New York City on April 2, 1978, he began appearing on screen as a child, with early work including the music video for Kool & the Gang’s “Cherish” and commercials for Burger King and McDonald’s. In 1986, Richmond made his sitcom debut as Kenny—better known as Buuud—on The Cosby Show. First appearing in “Theo’s Flight,” he went from occasional appearances in the third season to a recurring role, ultimately featuring in 32 episodes before the series ended in 1992. Richmond and the show’s other child actors received the 1989 Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble Performance. His early film work included playing a young Eddie Murphy in the opening of Eddie Murphy Raw, appearing as Chet in Enemy Territory and taking a small role in Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. On television, he later played Darren Dixon in Getting By before joining Sister, Sister as Jordan Bennett, Tamera Campbell’s boyfriend. Introduced during the fifth season, Jordan became a regular in the sixth and final season, and the role brought Richmond another Young Artist Award nomination in 1999. Richmond took the lead in Trippin’ as Gregory Reed, a high school senior whose daydreaming keeps getting in the way of his life. The 2000s then showed the range of his movie choices: Tyson in Scream 3, Malik in the teen-movie spoof Not Another Teen Movie, Mini Cochran in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder and Marcus in the independent horror film Hatchet. He also returned to sitcom territory as teacher Calvin Babbitt in Teachers. Although his acting became less frequent during the 2010s, he appeared in FDR: American Badass! and guest-starred in the 2014 series finale of Psych. Across those roles, Richmond’s career reflects the versatility of a performer who grew up on television and remained willing to shift genres.