Leonard Robinson is an American actor, comedian, writer and performer.

Leonard Robinson
Born
EducationHoward University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • performer
Years active2004–present

Early life

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Leonard Robinson was born in Cleveland, Ohio,[1] and raised in Danbury, Connecticut. He is a 1994 graduate of Danbury High School, where he was a Class LL state champion wrestler. Robinson gained early inspiration to pursue acting from watching Sesame Street.[2]

Education

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Robinson attended Howard University, where he graduated with a business degree in Management Information Systems.[3] He took his first formal acting courses while attending Howard.[4]

Career

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After graduating from Howard University, Robinson worked as a tech consultant, and later moved to New York City to pursue roles in theater and stand-up. In the mid-2000s he moved to Los Angeles. His television debut was on the MTV’s improv game show, Wild ‘n Out, where he would perform over the course of four seasons as an original cast member with comedians such as Katt Williams and Randall Park.[4][3]

Robinson also appeared in theaters nationwide including "The Exonerated" at The Culture Project (Off-Broadway), Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He later studied improv at the world-famous Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre and IO West and was a participant in the NBC Stand-Up for Diversity.[1]

As a writer, Leonard developed the treatment for Lil Jon and LMFAO’s “Drink” music video, which has over 7 million views on YouTube alone. In 2019, Leonard was selected to participate in the prestigious CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase as part of their first writer’s room. Today, Leonard is a main company member at The Groundlings where he writes, directs, and performs. He is also a regular at The World Famous Comedy Store, and has performed his stand-up abroad throughout the U.K.

In 2018, Robinson joined the cast of Insecure in its third season as Taurean, a role he would continue into the show's final season. Robinson had auditioned for multiple roles in Insecure, including Lawrence in the show's pilot, before being cast as Taurean. He was chosen directly by show runner Prentice Penny for the role.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Au Pair Chocolat Deputy John TV movie
2005 Filmic Achievement Xavier Robert Reynolds
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Watchguard
2008 American Crude Cop No. 4 TV movie
2009 Repunzel Prince Charming Short
2010 Dumb Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Short
Speed-Dating Beaver
2011 The Return of King Hippo Doc Short
2012 Freaky Deaky Juicy Mouth
Touching Ourselves Himself Short
2013 Baby Mentalist Ezekiel Jackson Short
Life of Crime Officer Dixon
Project Tennessee Mike Short
2014 Bagels: The Movie Himself Short
Coffee Shop Girl Davis Short
2016 Undefeated Tre Short
2017 Magic '85 Trevor Short
2021 Queenpins Barry
2023 Re-Opening Jackson Foxx'e

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 All That Himself Episode: "American Hi-Fi"
2005-07 Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out Himself/Cast Member Main Cast: Season 1-4
2006 America's Next Top Model Himself Episode: "The Girl with Two Bad Takes"
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Himself/Cast Member Main Cast
The Bronx Is Burning Mickey Rivers Main Cast
2009 The League Leonard Episode: "The Usual Bet"
2010 Criminal Minds Joe Episode: "The Uncanny Valley"
2011 Law & Order: Los Angeles Officer Meade Episode: "East Pasadena"
The Protector Jamal Episode: "Beef"
Death Valley Annoying Dad Episode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!"
Million Dollar Mind Game Video Question Talent Episode: "Episode #1.5"
NCIS Metro Police Officer Jackson Episode: "Sins of the Father"
2012 Parks and Recreation Officer Golis Episode: "Bus Tour"
NCIS: Los Angeles Marine Staff Sergeant Jefferies Episode: "Free Ride"
2013 Wilfred Andre Episode: "Confrontation"
Don't Talk in the Kitchen Presents Casting Assistant Episode: "Harry's Haunted Hayride: The Audition Tapes"
2014-15 CollegeHumor Originals Various Roles Recurring Guest
2015 Keith Broke His Leg Himself Recurring Cast
2016 NCIS Metro Police Officer Jackson Episode: "Déjà Vu"
Bad Internet - Episode: "Uber, But Like for People"
Adam Ruins Everything Officiant/Priest Episode: "Adam Ruins Weddings" & "Adam Ruins Animals"
Rosewood Handsome Chess Player Episode: "Lidocaine and Long-Term Lust"
2017 Colony Alec Episode: "Sublimation"
Young Sheldon FBI Agent #2 Episode: "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System"
2018 Alexa & Katie Bennet Episode: "The Play: Part 2"
Rel Bill the Pedicab Driver Episode: "One Night Stand"
2018-21 Insecure Taurean Jackson Recurring Cast: Season 3-5
2022 Kenan Keith Episode: "Ghosts of Boyfriends Past"
The Blank's YPF Billy Episode: "Week 3 (2022)"
Blockbuster Aaron Walker Recurring Cast
2023 Welcome to Flatch Geoffrey Episode: "Flatch: Churn Here"
American Dad! Dean Barkov (voice) Episode: "The Professor and the Coach"
A Black Lady Sketch Show Craigarious Episode: "What Kind of Medicine Does Dr. King Practice?"
Platonic Lord Rotero Episode: "Let the River Run"

References

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  1. ^ a b "LR". LR. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ^ CT), News-Times, The Danbury (September 2, 2007). "Former Danbury wrestler pins down acting career". NewsTimes. Retrieved May 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Nov 8, Jael RuckerUpdated; 2021 5:00pm. "ONE37pm Talks To Insecure's Leonard Robinson About Season 5". www.one37pm.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b Bosselman, Haley (November 22, 2021). ""Leonard Robinson on 'Insecure' and the Biggest Lesson He Learned From 'Wild 'n Out'"". laconfidentialmag.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  5. ^ Robinson, Leonard (November 9, 2021). ""Everything Leonard Robinson Learned on Five Seasons of 'Insecure'"". backstage.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
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