Daryl Mitchell
About
Biography
Biography
The son of a Queens, NY bus driver, Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell grew up on Long Island and first came to public attention as a member of the three-man rap group Groove B. Chill. Making the video to promote their debut album, "Starting from Zero," introduced them to the Hudlin Brothers and led to their feature debut in "House Party" (1990), written and directed by Reginald Hudlin. Finding the experience particularly enjoyable, Mitchell decided to focus on an acting career and, after appearances in "House Party 2" (1991) and "Boomerang" (1992), landed a co-starring role as the rapper Kayam in Steve Gomer's "Fly By Night" (1993), winner of the Filmmaker's Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival. His other feature credits include the by-the-book private in "Sgt. Bilko" (1996) and supporting roles in the comedies "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate" (also 1996) and "Home Fries" (1998).
Mitchell has enjoyed his greatest success, however, on the small screen, working first as a regular on the short-lived NBC series "Here and Now" (1992-93), starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner before landing the regular role of lunch counter operator Dexter Walker on "The John Larroquette Show" (NBC, 1993-97). While filming "Toothless" (1997) for ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney," he met Kirstie Alley, and the two got on so famously that Mitchell ended up as Leo, the harried marketing executive, on Alley's sitcom "Veronica's Closet" (NBC, 1997-2000). Among his other TV projects were an appearance in the CBS miniseries "Queen" (1993), based on the Alex Haley story of his paternal grandmother, a reunion with Warrington Hudlin for "The First Commandment" segment of the HBO anthology "Cosmic Slop" (1994) and a portrayal of basketball player (and later coach) Dean 'The Dream' Memminger in the biopic "Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault" (HBO, 1996).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1986
Groove B. Chill featured on Uptown-MCA Records compilation recording titled "Uptown is Kickin' It"
1990
Made feature debut as part of Groove B. Chill in "House Party", directed by Reginald Hudlin
1991
Back with the 'Groove' for "House Party 2"
1992
Played street photographer in "Boomerang"
1992
Regular role as 'T' on short-lived NBC sitcom "Here and Now", with Malcolm-Jamal Warner
1993
Co-starred as rapper Kayam in "Fly By Night", winner of the Filmmaker's Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival
1993
Appeared in CBS miniseries "Queen"
1994
Acted in Warrington Hudlin's "The First Commandment" segment of the HBO anthology "Cosmic Slop" (HBO)
1996
Portrayed by-the-book private Wally Holbrook in the feature "Sgt. Bilko"
1996
Acted in Martin Lawrence's directorial debut, "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate"
1997
Played Dean 'The Dream' Memminger in the HBO biopic "Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault"
1997
Met Kirstie Alley while filming "Toothless", a movie for ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney"
2000
Appeared with John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow in "Lucky Numbers"
2001
Appeared in the Martin Lawrence vehicle "Black Knight"
2001
While visiting relatives in South Carolina, Mitchell got into a motorcycle accident and was paralyzed from the mid-chest down; Mitchell was extremely vocal about the outpouring of support he received from the Hollywood community during his recovery
2002
Cast as a season regular on the hit NBC show "Ed," marking his first role as a paraplegic
