Jason Dirden parents Willie and Deborah Dirden are actors. Jason Dirden was born to his father Willie Dirden and mother Deborah Dirden.
The American actor made his debut in 2008, playing the recurring role of Delante in seasons 3 and 4 of the popular sitcom television series House of Payne, created and produced by Tyler Perry.
He then landed the role of Basie Shanks, a pastor of Greenleaf’s rival church, Triumph, in the drama series Greenleaf (2016-2018). Jason went on to appear as Gerald Aims in the musical drama American Soul (2019-2020) and as Akoni in Hawaii Five-0.
Having been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, Dirden has added nine credits to his name as an actor. His most recent appearance include portraying Detective Morrison in Bosch: Legacy and Traymont Stinson in Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2022).
The star has also worked extensively in theatres in plays such as Skeleton Crew at Atlantic Theatre Company, Seven Guitars at Two River Theatre Company, A Raisin in the Sun at Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and The First Breeze of Summer at Peter Norton Space.
Jason Dirden Is The Son Of Actor Willie Dirden
Jason Dirden parents Willie Dirden and Deborah Dirden lived in Houston, Texas. Jason spent his childhood in a household of five siblings.
His parents are African-American and of Louisiana Creole heritage, with his dad also carrying one eight of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Willie and Deborah tied the knot in the 1970s and are the proud of five children.
Willie spent most of his life performing in plays. It was not something he did for a living but something he had a true passion for. However, living in Texas in the 60s, it was quite challenging to make a living as an actor, and he had kids to provide for. So, he opted not to pursue acting as a career.
His sons, Jason and Brandon, showed keen interest in acting from a relatively young age, and he always guided them to achieve their goals and choose to work as their career.
Dirden was born on September 15, 1945, in the USA and is 77 years old. His stage credits include Waiting for Godot as Pozzo, Cementville as Kid Cayman, Lilies of the Field as Homer Smith, Of Mice and Men as Crooks, and Two Trains Running as West.
On television, the veteran of regional theatre has appeared in Rough Riders as Butler (1997), Arlington Road as FBI Guard #2 (1999), The Rookie as Locker Room Attendant (2002), The Stairwell as Old Man #1 (2002).
House Of Payne Actor Was Raised Alongside His Four Siblings
Jason is the youngest of five children and has two older sisters, Bridgett and Maria, and two older brothers, Brandon and James. The siblings grew up in Houston watching their father perform in plays.
The acting was an early call for Dirden and his older brother -they caught it from their dad, a mainstay of Houston community theatre. His brother, Brandon, born the next to the last, was the most outgoing of the five.
Since the Dirden family had a home when other cast members had apartments, it became a popular location for cast parties. And that recurring colorful showbiz types procession had a formative, profound, and life-altering effect on two young boys.
Brandon shared that his dad was never a tennis pro, but he instilled talent in his two daughters, who flourished in the sport. “Our dad had respect for the craft of acting and storytelling and literature,” he added.
Jason Is Pursuing A Wedded Bliss
Jason Dirden wife Anika Noni Rose is an actress. Jason and Anika got married at Paramour Estate in Los Angeles on October 16, 2022.
The pair announced the big news in the magazine Brides on January 16 on their three-month marriage anniversary. They had only eight-week time to plan their engagement and managed to have a dream wedding that was anything less than fit for a royal.
The wedding atmosphere represented the essence of beautiful flowers in bloom and was decorated with staggering floral arrangements that contributed to the stunning venue’s natural and authentic beauty. Actor Colman Domingo officiated the wedding.
A former Disney princess, Anika, wore a dress by acclaimed designer Gbemi Okunlola. The actor looked incredible with his single-breasted salmon wool suit and matching silk-charmeuse pleated tuxed from Well Groomed Man’s Wayne Willis.
The grand evening concluded with a unique tandem bike ride into the happy night air, completing the extraordinary event with an activity they both love.
Dirden and Rose first met in 2014 while in the cast of A Raisin in the Sun. They remained good friends for several years before disconnecting for a while to eventually swung back together. The actor has also shared how they met and bonded.
After keeping their romance private for some time, the pair engaged in 2021 while attending the actor’s family’s annual Secret Santa Zoom party. He got down on one knee in front of all their friends and family and proposed to Anika.