Leonard Robinson
Leonard Robinson is an American comedian, actor, writer, performer.
Biography
From showing off his hilarious improv skills on stage to portraying a stern lawyer on-screen, actor, comedian and writer Leonard Robinson is proving that from comedy to drama, he can do it all.
Currently, Leonard shines as Taurean Jackson in the fifth and final season of HBO’s award-winning comedy series “Insecure.” Created by and starring Issa Rae, “Insecure” follows two modern-day Black women, Issa and Molly (Yvonne Orji), and the awkward experiences they face as adults. Introduced in the third season, Leonard quickly became a fan favorite as Taurean, Molly’s coworker. “Insecure” has garnered a plethora of award nods since it debuted in 2016, including a Peabody Award in the Entertainment category (2016), TCA Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy (2020), multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series (2020), and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (2021).
Additional on-screen credits for Leonard include "Life of Crime" alongside Jennifer Aniston, CBS’s long-running procedural dramas “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” truTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything,” and CBS’s “Young Sheldon.” He was also an original cast member on MTV’s sketch and improv series “Wild ’N Out” opposite Randall Park and Katt Williams.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Danbury, Connecticut with a three-year stint in Tokyo in between, Leonard first knew he wanted to become an actor when he saw John John on “Sesame Street.” While a career in the arts seemed out of reach, he went on to train in wrestling and Judo throughout high school. It wasn’t until he attended Howard University for his BBA that he took his first acting class. As a wrestling state champion and a black belt in Judo, Leonard eventually transferred his skills and discipline in sports to his lucrative acting career. Upon graduating with a degree in Management Information Systems, Leonard appeared in theaters nationwide including "The Exonerated" at The Culture Project (Off-Broadway), Williamstown Theatre Festival, New York Fringe Festival, and Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He later studied improv at the world-famous Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre and IO West and was a participant in the NBC Stand-Up for Diversity.
As a writer, Leonard developed the treatment for Lil Jon and LMFAO’s “Drink” music video, which has over 7 million views on YouTube alone. In 2019, Leonard was selected to participate in the prestigious CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase as part of their first writer’s room. Today, Leonard is a main company member at The Groundlings where he writes, directs, and performs. He is also a regular at The World Famous Comedy Store, and has performed his stand-up abroad throughout the U.K.
He currently resides in the Los Angeles area.
He wrestled in high school, winning numerous county and state titles.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Au Pair Chocolat | Deputy John | TV Movie |
2005 | Filmic Achievement | Xavier Robert Reynolds | |
Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Watchguard | ||
2008 | American Crude | Cop No. 4 | TV Movie |
2009 | My Long Distance Relationship | Spencer | TV Movie |
Repunzel | Prince Charming | Short | |
2010 | Speed-Dating | Beaver | |
2012 | Freaky Deaky | Juicy Mouth | |
Touching Ourselves | Himself | Short | |
2013 | Life of Crime | Officer Dixon | |
Project Tennessee | Mike | Short | |
2014 | Bagels: The Movie | Short | |
Coffee Shop Girl | Davis | Short | |
2016 | Undefeated | Tre | Short |
Hustle vs. Heartache | Brian | ||
2017 | Magic '85 | Trevor | Short |
2021 | Queenpins | Barry |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | All That | Himself | Episode: "American Hi-Fi" |
2005-07 | Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'n Out | Himself | Main Cast: Seasons 1-4 |
2006 | The Tyra Banks Show | Himself | Episode: "I Can Do That" |
America's Next Top Model | Himself | Episode: "The Girl with Two Bad Takes" | |
2007 | Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz | Himself | Main Cast |
The Bronx Is Burning | Mickey Rivers | Main Cast | |
2009 | The League | Leonard | Episode: "The Usual Bet" |
2010 | Criminal Minds | Joe | Episode: "The Uncanny Valley" |
Dumb Professor | Henry Louis Gates Jr. | TV Series Short | |
2011 | Law & Order: Los Angeles | Officer Meade | Episode: "East Pasadena" |
The Protector | Jamal | Episode: "Beef" | |
The Return of King Hippo | Doc | TV Mini-Series | |
Death Valley | Annoying Dad | Episode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!" | |
Million Dollar Mind Game | Video Question Talent | Episode: "Episode #1.5" | |
NCIS | Metro Police Officer Jackson | Episode: "Sins of the Father" | |
2012 | Parks and Recreation | Officer Golis | Episode: "Bus Tour" |
NCIS: Los Angeles | Marine Staff Sergeant Jefferies | Episode: "Free Ride" | |
2013 | Baby Mentalist | Ezekiel Jackson | TV Mini-Series |
Wilfred | Andre | Episode: "Confrontation" | |
Don't Talk in the Kitchen Presents | Casting Assistant | Episode: "Harry's Haunted Hayride: The Audition Tapes" | |
2014-15 | CollegeHumor Originals | Various Roles | 4 Episodes |
2015 | Keith Broke His Leg | TV Series | |
2016 | NCIS | Metro Police Officer Jackson | Episode: "Déjà Vu" |
Bad Internet | Episode: "Uber, But Like for People" | ||
Adam Ruins Everything | Officiant/Priest | Episode: "Adam Ruins Weddings" & "Adam Ruins Animals" | |
Rosewood | Handsome Chess Player | Episode: "Lidocaine and Long-Term Lust" | |
2017 | Colony | Alec | Episode: "Sublimation" |
Young Sheldon | FBI Agent #2 | Episode: "Rockets, Communists, and the Dewey Decimal System" | |
2018 | Alexa & Katie | Bennet | Episode: "The Play: Part 2" |
Rel | Bill the Pedicab Driver | Episode: "One Night Stand" | |
2018-21 | Insecure | Taurean Jackson | Recurring Cast: Season 3-4, Main Cast: Season 5 |