D’Wayne Taylor grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, toured the world with the United States Air Force and settled in Chicago in 1988. After many years in the restaurant and retail management industry, D’Wayne switched careers and his life’s focus by following his dream and studying acting at Act One Studios.

His professional acting debut came in the spring of 2008, when he was cast in David Cromer’s critically acclaimed and Jeff Award Winning (Best Production/Best Director) of “Our Town”.  He reprised his role with The Hypocrites and David Cromer in the fall remount.

D’Wayne’s next role was in the Jeff Award Winning (Best Ensemble) Chicago Premiere of “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” with Steep Theatre Company, under the direction of Joanie Schultz.   His performance as Greer garnered critical acclaim from The Chicago Tribune and New City Magazine (Top 5 Male Performances of 2009) as well as ensemble praise from Time Out Chicago, The Chicago Reader and several others.  In 2011, D’Wayne received a Jeff Awards Nomination for Best Actor in Caffeine Theatre Company’s  production of  “Brutal Imagination” directed by Jason Beck.  Other theater credits include “A Perfect Wedding” with Circle Theatre, “Straus At Midnight” with Theater Oobleck, the critically acclaimed “Stage Door” with Griffin Theatre, the  critically acclaimed “Cherrywood” with The Mary Arrchie Theatre, understudy roles with Lookingglass Theater Company in “Fedra, Queen of Haiti” and Timeline Theatre Company in “Master Harold and The Boys.”

D’Wayne has shot several commercials within this timeframe. His credits include spots for Walgreens, The Wisconsin Dells, HCR ManorCare, AT&T, US Cellular, Horseshoe Casinos, Northshore Hospital, Chinet, State Farm, and Sears/HSBC. He also does voiceovers and has worked for Coors Light, Blackberry, Rust-Oleum, McDonalds, DeVry University and others.