David Aron Damane is an American actor, and writer. He made his television debut on Cosby, followed by roles on Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Chicago P.D., Jett, and Dynasty. In 2020, he was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of “J.J. Brown” in Transport Group’s Off-Broadway production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Career
Damane made his television debut in 1996 as “Skip” on Cosby. In 1997, he made his Broadway debut in The Life. He portrayed “Chingachgook” in the Goodspeed Opera House musical Glimmerglass in 1999. In 2000, he joined the cast of Broadway’s Riverdance as Principal Soloist, and in 2001 played “Isaiah” in the Off-Broadway play Living in the Wind. Later that year, Mr. Damane played “James Wilson” on Law and Order.
In 2002, Mr. Damane portrayed “Jake” in New York City Opera’s Porgy and Bess, which was also televised on PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center. In 2003, he returned to Broadway in the revival of the musical Big River, produced by Roundabout Theatre Company and Deaf West Theatre. The following year, he played “DuShawn McGovern” on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2005, he joined the national tour of Big River, playing “Jim’ for the remainder of its run, and won the 2005 Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Touring Musical. He joined the 1st national tour of the musical The Color Purple in 2009. in 2011 he played “Joe” in Goodspeed Opera House’s Show Boat. He returned to Broadway in 2012 as “George” in the play Don’t Dress for Dinner, and as “The General” in The Book of Mormon. Later that year, he originated the role of “The General” in the Chicago company of the show, until leaving the company in 2016. In 2013, He began playing “Maurice Owens” on Chicago P.D..
He returned to the New York stage in 2018 as “Husky Miller” in Classic Stage Company’s Carmen Jones, and received an AUDELCO Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2019 he was seen as “Eddie McKay” on the Cinemax series Jett. He earned a 2020 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of “J.J. Brown” in Transport Group’s The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
In 2021, David played Leo Abbott on The CW’s Dynasty.
Film and Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Cosby | Skip | Episode, “Tempus Lucas” |
| 2001 | Law and Order | James Wilson | Episode, “3 Dawg Night” |
| 2002 | Live From Lincoln Center | Jake | Porgy and Bess |
| 2004 | Law and Order: Special Victims Unit | DuShawn McGovern | Episode, “Lowdown” |
| 2009 | America | Bobby Crisp | |
| 2014 | Chicago P.D. | Maurice Owens | Recurring |
| 2018 | Instinct | Conductor Johnson | Episode, “I Heart New York” |
| 2019 | Jett | Eddie McKay | Recurring |
| 2021 | Dynasty | Leo Abbott | Recurring |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Tommy | Specialist | North Shore Music Theatre |
| 1997 | Big River | Jim u/s | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 1997 – 1998 | The Life | Memphis, Memphis u/s, Silky u/s | Broadway, The Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
| 1998 | Where’s Charley? | Simon | Kennedy Center |
| 1999 | Glimmerglass | Chingachgook | Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre |
| 2000 | Riverdance | Principal Soloist | National Tour, Lagan company |
| 2000 – 2001 | Riverdance | Principal Soloist | Broadway, Gershwin Theatre |
| 2001 | Living in the Wind | Isaiah | Off-Broadway, American Place Theatre |
| 2001 | To Kill A Mockingbird | Tom Robinson | Ford’s Theatre |
| 2002 | Porgy and Bess | Jake | New York City Opera |
| 2003 | Big River | Jim u’s | Broadway, American Airlines Theatre |
| 2005 | Big River | Jim | National Tour Ovation Award winner, Best Supporting Actor in a Touring Musical. |
| 2009-2010 | The Color Purple | Pa, Mister u/s, Ol’ Mister u/s | National Tour |
| 2011 | Reunion | Hannibal Drumwright | Meadow Brook Theatre |
| 2011 | Big River | Jim | PlayMakers Repertory Company |
| 2011 | Show Boat | Joe | Goodspeed Opera House |
| 2011 | The Parchman Hour | Pee Wee | PlayMakers Repertory Company |
| 2012 | Don’t Dress for Dinner | George | Broadway, American Airlines Theatre |
| 2012 | The Book of Mormon | The General | Broadway, Eugene O’Neill Theatre |
| 2012 – 2016 | The Book of Mormon | The General | Chicago company – 2nd National Tour |
| 2018 | Carmen Jones | Husky Miller | Off-Broadway, Classic Stage Company AUDELCO Award nomination, Featured Actor in a Musical. |
| 2019 | Big River | Jim | Rubicon Theatre Company |
| 2020 | The Unsinkable Molly Brown | J.J. Brown | Off-Broadway, Transport Group Drama Desk Award nomination, Outstanding Actor in a Musical. |
Voice
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Watch Dogs | Citizens | Video Game |
| 2018 | World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth | Zandalari Exile | Video Game |
