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Who is DJ Qualls?
DJ Qualls is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Kyle Edwards in the comedy film “Road Trip” (2000). He’s also appeared in movies such as “The New Guy” and “Hustle & Flow”, and made notable television appearances in shows such as “Supernatural” and “The Man in the High Castle”, in addition to many other projects he has worked on so far in his career.
DJ Qualls Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Donald Joseph Qualls was born on 10 June 1978 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, the son of Donnie and Janice Qualls, and went to a school in Tullahoma. He faced a challenging battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 14 – following successful treatment, he achieved remission, however, it affected his development, which explains his slender look. Qualls studied English literature at King’s College London and later enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville, and during this time, he discovered his passion for acting while participating in a local theater company.
Career Beginnings
While actively involved in community theater, DJ Qualls began his acting journey as an extra in the 1994 HBO film “Against the Wall”. His dedication and talent led him to secure the role of Jason in the miniseries “Mama Flora’s Family” in 1998, and with these small but significant roles, Qualls embarked on his acting career.
Rise to Stardom
Following his audition for a minor role in “Road Trip” (2000), DJ impressed the producers to such an extent that he was invited to meet producer Ivan Reitman in California, despite originally auditioning in Atlanta. This opportunity led to his debut as the timid virgin Kyle Edwards in the film, which follows Kyle as he embarks on a hilarious cross-country adventure with his college friends, portrayed by co-stars Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, Amy Smart, and Tom Green.
That same year, he appeared in “Cherry Falls” as Wally, a student in a small town plagued by a serial killer targeting virgins, alongside Brittany Murphy, Jay Mohr, Michael Biehn and Jesse Bradford.
In 2001, Qualls took on the role of Neil Lawrence in “Chasing Holden”, a heartfelt story following a young man’s quest to meet J.D. Salinger, joined by Rachel Blanchard, Colin Hanks and Schuyler Fisk. He continued to showcase his versatility with roles in films “Comic Book Villains” (2002) as Archie, a comic book collector, and “Big Trouble” (2002) as Andrew, a teenager caught up in a case of mistaken identity. Additionally, he appeared in “Lone Star State of Mind” (2002) as Junior, a quirky character entangled in the criminal activities of a small Texas town.
Yes, that is a maxi pad. "@CarolineinNZ funangela: @TheOnlyDJQualls very serious! 😉 pic.twitter.com/SqyNOFlEpf”
— DJ Qualls (@TheOnlyDJQualls) September 6, 2015
Continued Success
In 2002, DJ Qualls took on the role of Dizzy Gillespie Harrison, also known as Gil Harris, in “The New Guy”. The comedy follows a high school outcast who reinvents himself at a new school, leading to unexpected adventures. Co-starring Eliza Dushku and Zooey Deschanel, the film showcases Qualls’ comedic abilities.
Continuing his diverse filmography, Qualls appeared in “The Core” (2003) as Theodore Donald “Rat” Finch, a computer hacker recruited to save the world from a catastrophic event. In 2005, he portrayed Shelby in the critically acclaimed drama “Hustle & Flow”, alongside Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. The film delves into the world of hip-hop and follows the journey of an aspiring rapper. In the same year, DJ Qualls portrayed Cory in the film “Little Athens; set in a small town, the movie intertwines the lives of various individuals dealing with love, drugs and aimlessness, with co-stars John Patrick Amedori and Jorge Garcia.
The following year, Qualls played the role of Andrew in “I’m Reed Fish”; The romantic comedy follows the story of a small-town radio host named Reed Fish and his complicated love triangle, Qualls appearing alongside Jay Baruchel and Alexis Bledel in this heartfelt film.
In 2007, Qualls joined the cast of “Delta Farce” as Private Everett Shackleford. The comedy centers around a group of bumbling soldiers who mistakenly end up in Mexico while on a mission. Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall were among the co-stars in this humorous military adventure.
Continuing his diverse roles, Qualls appeared in “Familiar Strangers” (2008) as Kenny Worthington. The film explores the dynamics of a dysfunctional family during Thanksgiving, and co-starred Shawn Hatosy and Cameron Richardson in this comedy-drama.
In 2009, DJ Qualls reprised his role as beloved character Kyle Edwards in “Road Trip: Beer Pong”, which follows a group of college students competing in a wild and outrageous beer pong tournament.
The same year, Qualls appeared in the hit TV series “Breaking Bad” in the role of Getz, featured in the episode entitled “Better Call Saul”, contributing to the critically acclaimed series.
From 2010 to 2011, Qualls joined the cast of “Memphis Beat” as Davey Sutton, in the television series centered around a detective in Memphis. He appeared in 20 episodes of the show, demonstrating his acting skills in a recurring role.
Beginning in 2011 and spanning until 2020, Qualls became a part of the popular TV show “Supernatural”. He portrayed Garth Fitzgerald IV and the eccentric Mr. Fizzles in a total of six episodes, leaving a lasting impression on the supernatural-themed series and its fan base.
In 2013, Qualls appeared in the films “Small Apartments” as Artie and “Pawn Shop Chronicles”, further expanding his range of performances across different genres.
In the TV series “Legit” (2013-2014), DJ Qualls starred as Billy Nugent, who’s dealing with muscular dystrophy; he shared the screen with Jim Jefferies and Dan Bakkedahl, who played his roommates and close friends, as they navigated the challenges of life together.
In the post-apocalyptic horror-comedy series “Z Nation” (2014-2018), Qualls portrayed Citizen Z, a skilled computer hacker turned radio operator during a zombie apocalypse. He appeared alongside co-stars Kellita Smith, Keith Allan, and Anastasia Baranova, among others, as they fought for survival in a world overrun by zombies.
Qualls also had a prominent role as Ed McCarthy in the dystopian alternate history series “The Man in the High Castle” (2015-2018). He shared the screen with actors Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell and Luke Kleintank, among others, as they explored a world in which the Axis powers had won World War II and the US was under their control.
Recent Work, Disappearance, Future Projects
In the film “Buster’s Mal Heart” (2016), DJ Qualls portrayed the characters Brown and Last Free Man. The mind-bending thriller featured DJ alongside Rami Malek who played the title character, as they embarked on a mysterious and existential journey.
In the TV series “Fargo” (2017), Qualls appeared as Golem in two episodes of the critically acclaimed anthology series, sharing the screen with an ensemble that included Ewan McGregor, Carrie Coon and Mary Elizabeth Winstead among others, in this dark and quirky crime drama.
Qualls made a guest appearance in the TV series “Creepshow” (2019), playing Clark Willson in one episode. The horror anthology, inspired by the works of Stephen King and George A. Romero, provided Qualls the opportunity to display his talent alongside other cast members, including Tobin Bell and Giancarlo Esposito.
Most recently, in 2022, Qualls lent his voice to Jenkins Brown in an episode of “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”. This anthology series, created by renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, allowed Qualls to contribute his voice acting skills alongside a diverse cast of performers.
He’s currently working on the upcoming Andrew Zappin film “Evilou”, in which he will star with Kathleen Wilhoite and Maya Eshet.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, DJ Qualls’s net worth is estimated at $5 million, as of mid-2023.
Personal Life, Dating, Gay, Single
In 2020, DJ came out as gay – he shared the announcement with the public during comedian Jim Jeffries’s show in San Diego, and made a statement on his Twitter account, ‘tired of worrying about what it would do to my career’. However, despite coming out, he’s been silent on his romantic relationship status.
Appearance and Body Measurements
DJ Qualls has blue eyes and dark brown hair. He’s recognized for his slender look and stands at 6ft 1in (1.85m), while he weighs approximately 155lbs (70kgs); his vital statistics are unknown.
