Remember the cute kid who played D.L. Hughley’s son, “Michael Hughley,” on the 90’s sitcom The Hughleys? He went by the name of Dee Jay Daniels as a child actor and his real name is Dorjan Lyndell Daniels. Daniels is 30 years old now and after also starring in other shows such as In the House, Coach, The Wayans Bros, Grace Under Fire and Cold Case, things have clearly changed for him. Not only does he look a LOT different from the clean cut kid we all knew him to be on the show, but his life almost changed drastically in 2012. When he was 24 (in 2012), he got caught up in a really bad situation that landed him on trial for murder, fighting for his freedom.
This is the last place many probably would have thought a seasoned child actor, like Dee Jay, would have ended up, but unfortunately he did. Was it a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? A matter of hanging with the wrong crowd? Or a matter of letting tensions escalate to the point of no return? We don’t know the answer to that, but turn the page and see the details of how Daniels ended up on trial for murder fighting and see how D.L. Hughley stepped in and got involved with his case…
Former “The Hughleys” actor, Dee Jay Daniels a.k.a. Dorjan Lyndell Daniels [via EOnline]On August 26, 2011, Daniels, along with two other men, Marcus McCliman (who was 26 at the time), and Djuane Nunely (who was also 26 at the time), were involved in a fight with John Joseph (26) outside of a nightclub in Stockton, Ca.. John Joseph ended up getting stabbed and he ultimately died from his stab wounds. In mid-2012 Daniels, McCliman, and Nunely faced murder charges. According to RadarOnline, all of their charges listed were for “two counts of street terrorism, one of willful, deliberate, premeditated murder and attempted murder: premeditated.” At that time, it was widely alleged that Daniels was also a member of the Bloods gang, but Daniels has adamantly denied those claims, nor has he been convicted of any gang involvement.
Daniels was locked up without bail as he awaited trial. During his trial, his former TV Dad, D.L. Hughley, stepped up to help him, by testifying in on his behalf, as a character witness.
In December 2012, Daniels was acquitted of all charges, but his associate, Marcus McCliman, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and the use of a knife in the Aug. 26, 2011 death of John Joseph Lewis. The third defendant, Djuane Nunley, was also cleared of all charges.
On December 21, 2012, D.L. Hughley posted a message on his Facebook page in celebration of Daniels winning his case. It’s much better for men to keep it Old School and settle disputes with their fists and not with a gun, which is apparently what Daniels did, but they still have to be careful in the streets and also make sure the people around them are capable of handling a dispute the same way they would, or else they may need to reassess the people around them.
Dee Jay Daniels a.k.a. Dorjan Lyndell Daniels [via Instagram]Let’s look at the elephant in the room real quick though: Based on these comparison photos between Daniels as a kid actor and his more recent pics, something clearly changed from then to now. We don’t know what, but obviously, it was something. Now obviously all guys with tattoos in their faces aren’t criminals…not by a long shot, the tattoos more-so reflect a distinct representation of their lifestyle that they want everyone who sees them to know. But a guaranteed criminal? No.
Dee Jay Daniels a.k.a. Dorjan Lyndell Daniels [via Instagram]What we do know is that Daniels was a child superstar. There are people who want to be superstars at heart, and there is nothing that can be done to ever shake that desire. Although Daniels was a budding superstar back in the day, he didn’t have long-lasting success as an actor into adulthood, but his acting exposure made him a target, because he was easily recognizable in the streets. After his success, he had to figure out a way to balance going back into regular society because he didn’t have the huge amount of success as some of his fellow childhood actors have had. It’s very possible that throughout his journey back into society, his burning desire for superstardom probably never died, and when that happens you will see people, like Daniels, possibly responding in a much more aggressive manner. Sometimes that can result in them becoming superstars in the streets, not necessarily on TV. It doesn’t always mean that they are anything illegal, but simply doing things like going all out to look the part of a hood superstar with the face tats and such.
Whether they do it in Hollywood, or HollyHOOD to them, its all the same thing- and that is to shine very bright among the dull lights.
-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view
