Meet Darryl Dwayne Walker | Actor | Artist | Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darryl Dwayne Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darryl Dwayne, how do you think about risk?
My parents are from the era of low risk high reward however they are the last of that generation. The era we live in today preaches high risk, high reward, but despite that I thrive from the thought of calculated risk equals high reward. We live in a time where everything is very uncertain. I often reflect on the era of my parents where finding a good solid 9 to 5 with a 401k and working that one job until you retire was not only the the norm but the smart thing to do. So that’s what they taught us and we now find ourselves in a space currently where that is not always the best fit especially considering how so many companies no longer invest in their staff due to the profit over people mentality that we have all become way to comfortable with in 2024.

That’s exactly where I found myself back in 2012 just before quitting my fresh out of college job that had me depressed, undervalued, and underpaid! It was so bad that before heading into that 9 to 5 I would often find myself teary eyed as I worked a job that had nothing to do with the dream career I sought for myself. So I prayed on it, packed my bags, phoned a friend for a favor to couch surf for a few weeks because I needed to leave VA to head north to be closer to my dream! And here we are almost 12 years later and I’m living my dreams out loud thriving. Working in the art world for the largest museum in the entire state of New Jersey, while actively pursuing a career in television while making repeat appearances as part of the main cast for web-series “Talks With Myself”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been working in the art world for years now. Currently I am the Manager of Community Engagement at The Newark Museum of Art located in Newark NJ. I’ve been with the museum now for almost 12 years however my career as an artist and performing artist did not start in the museum space. I would’ve had no idea that a museum space would be conducive to what I want to do. But to have a 9 to 5 that brings all of your strengths together while doing work that you love where you hold the power to make the art world a more equitable space for black and brown artist far exceeded any of my wildest expectations.

I started out in the world of performing arts as a dancer. Classically trained in modern, tap, hip hop, and African dance. I was in college at Norfolk State University when I bagged my first tour as a backup dancer which opened the door for me to work with recording artist such as TRU, R&B legend Monica, Mario, & Cheri Dennis. That first step connected me to Courtney Beard who has worked with so many big names in the business and was an instrumental key player in the Grammy Winner Gospel Artist Israel Houghton’s band at one point. I met him when I was like 19/20 back-up dancing for artist while wrapping up college and luckily for me I left a positive lasting impression, because it was through him that I was later contracted out via Hampton University to Choreograph and Co-Creatively Direct the dance sequences for their broadway style shows that their student body would perform for roughly about 7 years while working that other job I hated! If it wasn’t for this gig I honestly might not have had enough joy to push forward. That contract really saved me and prepared me for what I would be stepping into later when I moved north. It was during this time where I was blessed to work with even more A list celebrities such as Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor star of Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” and R&B legend Darrell “Tank” Babbs. I eventually landed another contract while doing all of this with Director of Indie Film “Incomplete” Charles Farmer. He and his team would book me as their director of wardrobe and design for their Indie film which is what gave me the cushion paired with the Hampton University check to start and strategize my exit plan. My degree in fine arts with a focus in Fashion Marketing finally came in hand as I had already been freelancing as a wardrobe stylist and dabbling in Photography to supplement my income while actively pursing a career in art spaces. So taking on my first film project and outfitting an entire cast that followed the ebb and flow of the directors vision and storyline was a challenge that I welcomed with open arms factored in with the fact that I beat out three other candidates. Which really boosted my confidence in what could be possible.

I always had one foot in New York and one Foot in Norfolk, Virginia. But all of my friends were like you need to spend more time here in the north in order to really make your dream come true to work in the arts. So that spring after I wrapped my last contract with Hampton University and finished the film. I gave my main job my notice and I packed up my little red chevy caviler and journeyed North with no apt, no job, and no idea on if this move would work or not. I was going to give myself three months to make it, and if no avail I was going to tuck my tail and move back to VA indefinitely. By the end of my first month I had been on several interviews attempting to work for one of the major fashion houses in the city to no avail when I get a call from The Newark Museum of Art. They are looking for an experienced preforming arts educator who has some art history background who could teach, choreograph, and produce their biweekly dance performances for their summer arts program. Thankfully for me, my years at working at HU had me well prepared for this. I started with the museum as a temporary summer contract performing arts educator and by the end of that summer I was brought on as a yearly contract performing educator which would eventually lead to full time position, and three promotions later I climbed to the current position that I currently hold. Keep in mind I manage to do all of this while simultaneously still pursing my acting and performing arts career. I even managed to be cast in my first ever Off-Broadway Production performing along side Grammy Artist Fred Hammond.

While my story has taken many twist and turns and I’ve had several highs and lows. I think what I want most people to takeaway from my story is that just because your dream doesn’t come packaged the way you envisioned it doesn’t mean that you should stop. Nor does it mean it’s not happening simply because the path/journey to that dream looks nothing like what anyones journey you may had seen before you. When doors open due to your gifts making room, please lean in to them you just might be pleasantly surprised of how the final picture may come into fruition.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, the awesome part about where I currently live I’m close to so many great spaces from the amazing dining experiences in Newark, NJ, to the buzzing art experiences in New York City. First stop on the Darryl Dwayne tour would have to be lunch at Top’s Diner in East Newark. It is a MUST! The food, the layout, the cocktails , it’s simply the chef’s kiss. And they have food for everyone no matter your dietary restrictions, vegan, vegetarian, or open to it all. Since we would still be in Newark we definitely have to swing by the largest museum in the state of New Jersey The Newark Museum of Art. Which is known for having the largest collection of Asian antiquities in the United States. While not everything is on view in the gallery space they still rank in having the most pieces in their collection.

We should of course hop on the path train and make our way into NYC and enjoy Manhattan. Catch a broadway show or if you’re feeling frisky maybe an off-broadway show. Maybe grab a bison burger at “Black Tap” which has the most AMAZING milkshakes my personal favorite is the birthday cake shake. Then we gotta head over to the Museum of Sex or better yet the Mercer Labs Museum both of these spaces are not your typical boring museum aesthetic. They have eye catching exhibitions with intriguing immersive spaces. Maybe party on the rooftop of the DL and have a pit stop at Hounds Tooth Pub! They have thee best sweet potato fries and they are budget friendly. Maybe that following morning we hit breakfast at a black owned, woman owned spot called Brick City Vegan where I might add I’m not Vegan but the owner has a menu that will blow your socks off and could quite possibly convert you. But if you’re yearning for some southern comfort then Cornbread might be the spot for you as this place is also owned by the same woman who owns Brick City Vegan. Downtown Jersey City has an array of great food spots as does Montclair NJ and the Ironbound section of Newark. I fell like I’m in the food capital here, with all the variety that we have in such close proximity to one another.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big part of my success is in the community that I built for myself here in the tristate area and my friends and family from back home. My parents definitely deserve some love for putting up with my big dreams go hard or go home mentality. They may not have always understood my choices but they always trusted them and supported them and to be honest that is high key why I’ve been able to push forward with everything I’m doing. I also have to shoutout my friends aka my framily who through the years have always pushed and inspired me.

My VA folks Stephanie Walters, Tasha Turnbull, Shene Owens, Elle Harris. These women have continued to pour into me and often go out of their way to support me. Like driving 6 hours to come to visit me to see me perform in New York on stage in my first ever Off-Broadway show and turning right back around to drive 6hrs back to VA. Now that’s love! Also my friends here in the tristate area Renayah Easton, Feya Muñoz, Ofe Luciano, Emily Smith, Kris Nwobu and Salimah Scott. These ladies are my local cheerleaders. It’s not easy uprooting your whole life abruptly and then moving to a state where you have no built in community and the closest blood relative is over an hour away. which these ladies have made my local transition seamless from finding work to securing an apartment. My village is so strong and I’m ever grateful.

Of course last but not least my baby sister Kiera Denise Walker! She has had my back literally since day one! When our parents didn’t get me or my friends didn’t get me, she got me! She also shows me constantly that wisdom doesn’t come from the number of years on this earth but is measured by the lessons you learn from life and the lives of those around you. I remember us being kids and me telling her I’m going to be on TV & I’m going to work in art maybe even be a dancer and she responded with a, “yup I can see that.” Which was then followed by her saying ” I think I’m going to be a teacher” And I looked over at her and said, “nope God told me your going to be a doctor” which she laughed off and said, “I don’t know who you’re talk to but I’m going to be a teacher.” lol Fast forward to now she’s wrapping up her doctoral and by the end of 2025 she will be the first doctor in our family. Funny how she fought me on that all these years to now see her walking fully in her calling and she often says the same to me every time I ever doubted myself along this journey. I love my community so much and to know they are all routing for me is what keeps me going.

Website: https://www.darryldwayne.com/tv-film-theater

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darryldwayne/

Other: https://linktr.ee/DarrylDwayne

Image Credits
Roger Omeus Darryl Dwayne Walker PBS Channel 12 News