Known to the world as Darnell Hayes or even Terry Flenory, Haitian-American actor, Da’Vinchi stopped by The Big Tigger Morning Show on V-103 Atlanta to discuss his Haitian roots and how it has led him to pursuing a career in comedy.
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“I come from a world to where we eat to live and in America, you guys live to eat,” he said. Being from a third world country, he and his family faced many adversities but laughter is what got him through the tough times, he revealed.
“Me and my brothers, I’m the youngest and we would just laugh at the pain,” he said. Now living in America he’s able to see the two vastly different ways of life. “You guys just have such a different perspective on life and to me, I just find it funny,” he stated.
While he always knew he had a great sense of humor he never really considered himself being a comic. “I’m just interacting with my fans in a different way” he said, but for the past couple of months he has been taking it more seriously and has even booked up some shows.
LISTEN NOW: Da'Vinchi on battling anxiety and more
He admitted that he has struggled with anxiety and as a huge mental health advocate, Da’Vinchi is kicking off a mental health tour at HBCUs around the country. He wants to provide college students with a little bit of hope. “I remember when I was in college and when I was in high school, I just needed hope,” he shared.
Through comedy, he has found that it allows him to heal himself while simultaneously healing others. The bond he feels with fans as they relate to common struggles provides both sides with a sense of relief, he explained.
He did leave us with a fun fact about himself, while his real name is Abraham, “Da’Vinchi” is the adopted middle name he gave himself. No one from his immediate family has a middle name, so at 16 he decided to give himself one and chose Da’Vinchi because he really saw himself as a renaissance man as he knew he had many talents in sports, music and entertainment.
Hear more from Da’Vinchi above.
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