KELLY PERINE

 Name & Age

Full Name: Kelly Perine
Date of Birth: March 23, 1969
Age: 56 years old (as of 2025) 

Place of Birth & Early Life

Kelly Perine was born in State College, Pennsylvania, and grew up in that region. He began acting as early as age nine, indicating a passion for performance from a young age .

Education & Training

• Attended Lake Forest Academy near Chicago, Illinois, where he immersed himself in stage acting during his high school years .

• Pursued Film Studies at Pomona College, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1991 .

• Completed a Master of Fine Arts in Drama from the University of California, Irvine, roughly seven years after undergraduate graduation, reinforcing his academic dedication .

Career Beginnings & TV Breakthroughs

• Launched his professional career in the early 1990s with appearances in sitcoms and sketch series such as 21 Jump Street, Seinfeld, Mad About You, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, The Drew Carey Show, Coach, and Living Single .

• Gained steady exposure through recurring roles:

  • Dustin “Dusty” Q. Canyon on Between Brothers (1997–1999) 

  • Kelly Peterson during The Parent ‘Hood’ fifth season (1999) 

  • Duane Odell Knox on One on One (2001–2005, Seasons 1–4) 

Expanding into Film & Variety Shows

• Featured in theatrical releases including Trial and Error (1997) as Kurt, and Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy (1998) as Keene .

• Starred in indie projects—such as playing “Disco” in Convincing Clooney .

• In 2008–2009, led the ensemble in MyNetworkTV’s sitcom Under One Roof as Winston Hill, acting alongside Flavor Flav .

Nickelodeon & Recent Work

• Became a familiar face on Nickelodeon:

  • Portrayed Uncle Charlie in Santa Hunters (2014) .

  • Recurring as Principal Platt on Legendary Dudas .

  • Played Sir Gareth in Knight Squad (2018–2019) .

  • Additional roles included Mr. McKlusky in School of Rock, and parts on True Jackson, VP, Austin & Ally and Dog with a Blog.

Multi-Hyphenate Creative Endeavors

• Beyond acting, Perine has worn multiple creative hats—as writer, director, producer, and comedian .

• Currently developing the feature-length film Downward Hiro, based on his own award-winning short, in which he also acts .

• Authored a baseball-themed comedy, Run Down Mongoose, and produces unscripted travel-lifestyle shows like From Scratch and Finish the Fridge .

• He’s also appeared in numerous TV commercials and stand-up comedy venues across the U.S. .

Personal Style & Industry Impact

Kelly Perine blends comedic timing with warmth and versatility—equally at ease playing earnest educators, zany relatives, or slick salesmen. Rooted in strong academic training in film and drama, and refined through early stage work, he remains a multi-talented force behind and in front of the camera. His commitment to evolving as an actor, creator, and storyteller has made him a respected and enduring presence in television and family entertainment.