Desmond Faison

Desmond Faison is a multi-talented Director, Actor and Photographer born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Having earned a bachelor's degree from Montana State University, where he played Division I football, the idea of being a career artist never crossed his mind until a fluke audition landed him on the set of a locally broadcast courtroom drama, We the Jury. The very first time he heard the director call out, "action!" Desmond knew his life had been changed. Less than 12 months later, he packed up his old Dodge Status and headed for Hollywood. Fast-forward ten years, and Desmond has earned quite an impressive resume as a well-trained, talented actor, self-taught director, and skilled photographer in Los Angeles. Desmond has been featured in several independent films and commercials; however, he is perhaps best known for his starring role as "Dude" in the hit web series, The Couple. Recently acquired by HBO for development, with legendary Director Spike Lee attached as Executive Producer. The refreshing, realistic, and funny show follows the every day challenges of the newly cohabitating couple "Dude" and "Chick," played by Numa Perrier. With many episodes boasting nearly 150,000 authentic views and a network of 80,000+ subscribers, there is a buzz growing around The Couple, and Desmond is at the center of it all. In 2007, Desmond launched FINC Entertainment Group, a boutique production company that has produced award-winning short films and web-based advertisements seen worldwide. FINC Entertainment's viral advertising campaigns have landed Desmond's high-profile clients - including Portland Public Parks, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Nike Inc. - millions of views across the virtual space. Desmond has proven to have a knack for bringing out the innate gifts in actors and actresses, while also dealing with the special needs of elite talent. Desmond has also been fortunate to incorporate his passion for still photography into his body of work. He has photographed actors, actresses, models, and every day folks. Beyond the normal tedium of shutters, Desmond works hard to find and capture the otherwise fleeting details that bring a special authenticity to his photos. Proud of being self-taught, Desmond credits numerous mistakes, trials and errors as the largest influences on his non-traditional photographic voice. He has recently produced / photographed shoots featuring NBA stars Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, and Swaggy P (aka Nick Young) to name a few. While Desmond concludes that a fervent refusal to stick to the rules and an overall eclectic approach to life are what make him a special artist, he also suspects that his unusual love for photographing clouds is a clue toward his inherently creative nature.