Donald “DJ” Qualls was born in 1978 in Nashville, Tennessee. Qualls grew up in Manchester and attended the University of London to pursue a degree in English Language & Literature. After returning to Tennessee, he began to pursue a career in acting, joining a local theater company and auditioning for various small roles in television and film.
A meeting with Ivan Reitman in 2000 led to his breakthrough role as Kyle Edwards in the film Road Trip. The role led to a number of modeling gigs for DJ, but also roles in: Cherry Falls (2000), Big Trouble (2002), and The New Guy (2002.) Television roles during this time include: Lost (2005), Criminal Minds (2005), and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2006.) DJ Qualls’ career has grown over the years, brining him roles in such high profile films as: Hustle & Flow (2005), Delta Farce (2007), All About Steve (2009), Last day of Summer (2010), Amigo (2010), and Pawn Shop (2013.) Qualls also has a recurring role on the television series Supernatural, and appears in the SyFy channel’s series Z Nation, in the role of Citizen Z.
DJ Qualls continues to appear on television and in film. He continues to appear as Citizen Z on Z Nation, and recently appeared in the film November Rule, which released in 2015.