DJ Qualls

Donald Joseph Qualls (born June 10, 1978) is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as Citizen Z on the Syfy horror series Z Nation (2014–2018) and Ed McCarthy on the Amazon Prime Video series The Man in the High Castle (2015–2018). Qualls gained mainstream recognition after a supporting role in the sex comedy film Road Trip (2000), which he reprised in the sequel, Road Trip: Beer Pong (2009). This was followed with a lead role in the teen comedy film The New Guy (2002), alongside starring roles in The Core (2003) and Hustle & Flow (2005), the latter of which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Qualls has also had starring roles in the films I'm Reed Fish (2006), Delta Farce (2007), Amigo (2010), Small Apartments (2013), and Buster's Mal Heart (2016). Qualls had main roles as Police Officer Davey Sutton on the TNT crime series Memphis Beat (2010–2011) and Billy Nugent on the FX and FXX sitcom Legit (2013–2014).

Infobox

Born

Donald Joseph Qualls (1978-06-10) June 10, 1978 (age 47)Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

Occupation

Actor

Years active

1994–present

Tables

· Filmography › Film

1999

Cherry Falls

Role(s)

Wally

2000

Road Trip

Role(s)

Kyle Edwards

2001

Chasing Holden

Role(s)

Neil Lawrence

2002

Comic Book Villains

Role(s)

Archie

Notes

Co-producer

Big Trouble

Role(s)

Andrew

Lone Star State of Mind

Role(s)

Junior

The New Guy

Role(s)

Dizzy Gillespie Harrison / Gil Harris

2003

The Core

Role(s)

Theodore Donald "Rat" Finch

2005

Hustle & Flow

Role(s)

Shelby

Little Athens

Role(s)

Cory

2006

I'm Reed Fish

Role(s)

Andrew

2007

Delta Farce

Role(s)

Private Everett Shackleford

2008

Familiar Strangers

Role(s)

Kenny Worthington

The Company Man

Role(s)

Guy

Notes

Short film

2009

Road Trip: Beer Pong

Role(s)

Kyle Edwards

All About Steve

Role(s)

Howard

Circle of Eight

Role(s)

Randall

2010

Last Day of Summer

Role(s)

Joe

Notes

Executive producer

Amigo

Role(s)

Zeke

2011

Running Mates

Role(s)

Graham "One Ball" Jones

21 & Over

Role(s)

Counselor

2013

Small Apartments

Role(s)

Artie

Pawn Shop Chronicles

Role(s)

2016

November Rule

Role(s)

Kareem

Buster's Mal Heart

Role(s)

Brown/Last Free Man

2017

Silence Please!

Role(s)

Douglas

Notes

Short film

2018

Fifty Minutes

Role(s)

Mr. Potter

Notes

Short film

2024

Carved

Notes

Hulu release

TBA

Role(s)

1780

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1999	Cherry Falls	Wally
2000	Road Trip	Kyle Edwards
2001	Chasing Holden	Neil Lawrence
2002	Comic Book Villains	Archie	Co-producer
	Big Trouble	Andrew
	Lone Star State of Mind	Junior
	The New Guy	Dizzy Gillespie Harrison / Gil Harris
2003	The Core	Theodore Donald "Rat" Finch
2005	Hustle & Flow	Shelby
2005	Little Athens	Cory
2006	I'm Reed Fish	Andrew
2007	Delta Farce	Private Everett Shackleford
2008	Familiar Strangers	Kenny Worthington
2008	The Company Man	Guy	Short film
2009	Road Trip: Beer Pong	Kyle Edwards
	All About Steve	Howard
	Circle of Eight	Randall
2010	Last Day of Summer	Joe	Executive producer
2010	Amigo	Zeke
2011	Running Mates	Graham "One Ball" Jones
2011	21 & Over	Counselor
2013	Small Apartments	Artie
2013	Pawn Shop Chronicles	JJ
2016	November Rule	Kareem
2016	Buster's Mal Heart	Brown/Last Free Man
2017	Silence Please!	Douglas	Short film
2018	Fifty Minutes	Mr. Potter	Short film
2024	Carved		Hulu release
TBA	1780		Post-production

· Filmography › Television

1998

Mama Flora's Family

Role(s)

Jason

Notes

2 episodes

2002

Scrubs

Role(s)

Josh

Notes

Episode: "My Student"

2005

Lost

Role(s)

Johnny

Notes

Episode: "Everybody Hates Hugo"

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Role(s)

Robie Boatman

Notes

Episode: "Scared Crazy"

Criminal Minds

Role(s)

Richard Slessman

Notes

Episode: "Extreme Aggressor"

Punk'd

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Season 6, Episode 7

2006

Monk

Role(s)

Rufus / Computer Geek

Notes

Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward"

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Role(s)

Henry Garden

Notes

Episode: "Post-Mortem"

2007

Numb3rs

Role(s)

Anthony Braxton

Notes

Episode: "Primacy"

My Name Is Earl

Role(s)

Ray-Ray

Notes

3 episodes

The Big Bang Theory

Role(s)

Toby Loobenfeld

Notes

Episode: "The Loobenfeld Decay"

2008

Good Behavior

Role(s)

Donnie Stryker

Notes

Television film

2009

Breaking Bad

Role(s)

Getz

Notes

Episode: "Better Call Saul"

2010

Memphis Beat

Role(s)

Davey Sutton

Notes

20 episodes

2011–2020

Role(s)

Supernatural

Notes

Garth Fitzgerald IV/Mr. Fizzles

2013

Hawaii Five-0

Role(s)

Marshall Demps

Notes

Episode: "Kupouli 'la"

Perception

Role(s)

Agent Rudy Fleckner

Notes

5 episodes

2013–2014

Role(s)

Legit

Notes

Billy Nugent

2014–2018

Role(s)

Z Nation

Notes

Citizen Z

2015–2018

Role(s)

The Man in the High Castle

Notes

Ed McCarthy

2016

Time Traveling Bong

Role(s)

Future Man

Notes

2 episodes

Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

1 episodes

2017

Fargo

Role(s)

Golem

Notes

2 episodes

2019

Creepshow

Role(s)

Clark Willson

Notes

1 episode

2022

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities

Role(s)

Jenkins Brown (voice role)

Notes

1 episode

2023; 2025

Role(s)

Bookie

Notes

Alan

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Mama Flora's Family	Jason	2 episodes
2002	Scrubs	Josh	Episode: "My Student"
2005	Lost	Johnny	Episode: "Everybody Hates Hugo"
2005	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Robie Boatman	Episode: "Scared Crazy"
2005	Criminal Minds	Richard Slessman	Episode: "Extreme Aggressor"
2005	Punk'd	Himself	Season 6, Episode 7
2006	Monk	Rufus / Computer Geek	Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Big Reward"
2006	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Henry Garden	Episode: "Post-Mortem"
2007	Numb3rs	Anthony Braxton	Episode: "Primacy"
2007	My Name Is Earl	Ray-Ray	3 episodes
2007	The Big Bang Theory	Toby Loobenfeld	Episode: "The Loobenfeld Decay"
2008	Good Behavior	Donnie Stryker	Television film
2009	Breaking Bad	Getz	Episode: "Better Call Saul"
2010	Memphis Beat	Davey Sutton	20 episodes
2011–2020	Supernatural	Garth Fitzgerald IV/Mr. Fizzles	6 episodes
2013	Hawaii Five-0	Marshall Demps	Episode: "Kupouli 'la"
2013	Perception	Agent Rudy Fleckner	5 episodes
2013–2014	Legit	Billy Nugent	Main character (26 episodes)
2014–2018	Z Nation	Citizen Z	Series regular, 28 episodes
2015–2018	The Man in the High Castle	Ed McCarthy	Series regular, 30 episodes
2016	Time Traveling Bong	Future Man	2 episodes
2016	Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry	Himself	1 episodes
2017	Fargo	Golem	2 episodes
2019	Creepshow	Clark Willson	1 episode
2022	Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities	Jenkins Brown (voice role)	1 episode
2023; 2025	Bookie	Alan	3 episodes

· Filmography › Music videos

2000

Eels

Role(s)

"Mr. E's Beautiful Blues"

Notes

Kyle Edwards

2002

Simple Plan

Role(s)

"I'm Just a Kid"

Notes

Dizzy Gillespie Harrison / Gil Harris

Britney Spears

Role(s)

"Boys"

Year	Artist	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Eels	"Mr. E's Beautiful Blues"	Kyle Edwards	Uncredited
2002	Simple Plan	"I'm Just a Kid"	Dizzy Gillespie Harrison / Gil Harris	Uncredited
2002	Britney Spears	"Boys"

· Awards and nominations

2006

12th Screen Actors Guild Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with the cast)

Notes

Hustle & Flow

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2006	12th Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with the cast)	Hustle & Flow	Nominated

References

reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ar1oe/hi_im_dj_qualls_im_an_actor_from_such_movie/
"DJ Qualls: Putting the "Character" in Character Actor"
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dj-qualls-putting-the-cha_b_688322
The Cinema Source
https://web.archive.org/web/20120204195838/http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/dj-qualls-interview-for-hustle-and-flow/
IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/04/a-conversation-with-dj-qualls
Tribute MovieMail Newsletter
http://www.tribute.ca/newsletter/33/starchat_04.html
Tribute MovieMail Newsletter
http://www.tribute.ca/newsletter/78/starchat_02.html
Cinema Confidential
https://web.archive.org/web/20110708154656/http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0507251
"DJ Qualls Biography"
https://web.archive.org/web/20131221155438/http://movies.yahoo.com/person/dj-qualls/biography.html
Dread Central
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34880/finale-paramounts-circle-eight-now-live
"D.J. Qualls Tweets: Beaten By Vancouver Police For No Reason"
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dj-qualls-tweets-beaten-b_n_980925
LGBTQ Nation
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/01/actor-dj-qualls-comes-gay/
"It is 11:20pm. I just came out on stage at a @jimjefferies show in San Diego. Yep, I'm gay. Been gay this whole time. Tired of worrying about what people would think of me. Tired of worrying about what it would do to my career"
https://x.com/TheOnlyDJQualls/status/1215897871947419649
"11/12 Visits In Chrono. Order [Mostly HD]"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=SC-iktYTy84uL75-&v=Ae6cjotHTMo&feature=youtu.be
open.spotify.com
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6x9K6V1WiUh8bYLEogqCtN?si=e8bfc38217e74fee
Dread Central
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34013/join-paramounts-circle-eight
movies.mxdwn.com
https://movies.mxdwn.com/news/peyton-elizabeth-lee-to-star-in-hulus-horror-comedy-carved/
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2025/04/kevin-spacey-dj-qualls-to-star-1780-thriller-1236372911/
TV Guide
https://www.tvguide.com/news/perception-dj-qualls-1062084.aspx