Information About

D.j. Qualls





Actor Information

  Name DJ Qualls
  Birthname Donald Joseph Qualls
  Location Nashville, Tennessee
  Height 6 feet 2 inches (188 m)
  Othername DJ Qualls
  Yearsactive 1998 - Present
  Notable Role Kyle Edwards <br>in '' Road Trip ''<br>Shelby<br>in '' Hustle & Flow ''<br>Taz "Rat" Finch<br>in '' The Core ''


Donald Joseph Qualls (born June 10 , 1978 ) from Nashville , Tennessee , is an actor, better known as '''DJ Qualls'''.


BIOGRAPHY


Qualls was raised in Manchester , Tennessee, as one of five children. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma , a form of Cancer , at age 14. After two years of surgery (including the removal of his spleen), Chemotherapy , and Radiation Treatment s, Qualls's cancer went into remission, which lent him his famous thin stature. As a teenager, Qualls went to Camp Horizon , where he later volunteered as a counselor until his celebrity status made him a distraction.

He has since been an advocate for cancer research.

After graduating from Coffee County Central High School in 1992, Qualls enrolled in King's College London studying English language and literature. Returning to Tennessee three years later, he worked as a Paralegal , and then, in 1997 , he enrolled at Nashville's Belmont University . At a performance in a local theatre he was discovered by David LaChapelle and became a model for Prada and Calvin Klein .

He was an extra in the HBO movie ''Against the Wall'' in 1994. He got the small role of Jason in the television miniseries '' Mama Flora's Family '' (1998) while participating for free in Community Theater. After auditioning for a one-liner in '' Road Trip '' (2000) he was asked to come from the Atlanta office to meet producer Ivan Reitman in California . Qualls debuted in ''Road Trip'' as shy virgin Kyle Edwards. After the movie was released, Qualls was reportedly afraid people would think his personality was the same as that of the character he played in the movie.

He currently maintains a residence in or around the Chicago community of Lakeview, Chicago and has been spotted eating at the Melrose Diner.


TELEVISION AND FILM

After ''Road Trip'', Qualls increasingly worked as a Model , working for Prada and with photographers David LaChapelle and Steve Klein . In '' Cherry Falls '' (2000) he played Wally, another virgin. In 2001 he played Neil Lawrence in ''Chasing Holden''.

In 2002 he appeared as Archie in '' Comic Book Villains '', as Josh in " My Student " an episode of '' Scrubs '', Andrew in '' Big Trouble '', Junior in '' Lone Star State Of Mind '', and Dizzy Gillespie Harrison in '' The New Guy ''. He played the part of "Rat," a genius computer programmer that helps the US government keep a secret the cause of earth's electromagnetic field's deterioration in the Sci-fi film " The Core "

His '' and " Blow ", an episode of '' My Name Is Earl ''. Qualls spewed a string of Profanity when he was chastised for "ruining" the surprise aspect of a surprise party in an episode of '' Punk'd .''

Qualls' starred in the comedy '' Delta Farce '' with Bill Engvall and Larry The Cable Guy , which was released on May 11, 2007.

Based on interviews with Conan O'Brien , DJ has stated that he lives a very frugal lifestyle and cherishes every penny he earns, in case he "loses a leg or an eye and never gets any work again". He also loves to travel the world.


FILMOGRAPHY



EXTERNAL LINKS


  • [http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0507251 Cinecon's DJ Qualls Interview] By Jenny Halper

  • [http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/392/392328p1.html A Conversation with DJ Qualls] By Steve Head

  • [http://www.tribute.ca/newsletter/78/starchat_02.html Tribute's Star Chat with DJ Qualls on The Core] By Bonnie Laufer

  • [http://www.tribute.ca/newsletter/33/starchat_04.html Tribute's Star Chat with DJ Qualls on The New Guy] By Bonnie Laufer

  • [http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa050202a.htm About's DJ Qualls Interview] By Rebecca Murray and Fred Topel

  • [http://www.thecinemasource.com/v3/spotlight.php?id=170&wordcount=0 The Cinema Source's DJ Qualls Interview] By Mark Plante