LaMarcus Tinker
Encyclopedia
LaMarcus Tinker is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as teenage football star Dallas Tinker on the NBC
and Direct TV television drama Friday Night Lights
, and as Kevin on the ABC
comedy Cougar Town
. He is currently appearing as the recurring character Shane on the third season of the Fox
television show Glee
.
, from NBCA Academy. After graduation from NBCA Academy, he received a full scholarship to the University of Texas at Arlington, where he studied English.
in September 2009 playing Dallas Tinker, a small town football player. He had initially gone to the shoot to support two of his friends who had landed work as extras on the show, taking the bus with them from Houston to Austin. He met the show's executive producer, Peter Berg, who was directing the episode being filmed, and unexpectedly found himself acting in a scene with two of the show's regulars. The series was filmed using three cameras, without rehearsal and without extensive blocking, and Tinker later recalled, "It was cameras up, let's go. I did it, and he liked it." Two days later, the plans for the show's fourth season were being adjusted to include a new character, Dallas. He was a recurring character for that season, and for the final, fifth one.
In August 2010, Tinker signed on for the second season of the ABC comedy Cougar Town
as a recurring character named Kevin. He portrays the college roommate of Travis Cobb (Dan Byrd
), the son of series protagonist Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox
). Travis is on a mission to reinvent himself now that he's in college, but his roommate Kevin is not as welcoming as he had hoped, though the two warm up to each other eventually.
Tinker was cast for the third season of the hit Fox musical dramedy Glee as Shane, the long-promised boyfriend for Mercedes Jones
(Amber Riley
). Shane is a linebacker on the McKinley High football team; he and Mercedes will have started dating over the summer. His initial appearance is in the first episode of the season.
. The movie, by writer-director Jon Kasdan
, was shot in Los Angeles in the spring of 2011, and will be released by Castle Rock Entertainment.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and Direct TV television drama Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, and as Kevin on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
comedy Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
. He is currently appearing as the recurring character Shane on the third season of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television show Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
.
Early life and education
Tinker went to West Briar Middle School, where he studied theater. Even in sixth grade, he wanted to be a director, but was interested in all aspects of theater, including acting, writing and other areas of the arts, and participated in school programs. He later attended the High School For Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, where he also continued his activities in theater. He graduated as class salutatorianSalutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
, from NBCA Academy. After graduation from NBCA Academy, he received a full scholarship to the University of Texas at Arlington, where he studied English.
Television
Tinker joined the cast of Friday Night LightsFriday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
in September 2009 playing Dallas Tinker, a small town football player. He had initially gone to the shoot to support two of his friends who had landed work as extras on the show, taking the bus with them from Houston to Austin. He met the show's executive producer, Peter Berg, who was directing the episode being filmed, and unexpectedly found himself acting in a scene with two of the show's regulars. The series was filmed using three cameras, without rehearsal and without extensive blocking, and Tinker later recalled, "It was cameras up, let's go. I did it, and he liked it." Two days later, the plans for the show's fourth season were being adjusted to include a new character, Dallas. He was a recurring character for that season, and for the final, fifth one.
In August 2010, Tinker signed on for the second season of the ABC comedy Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
as a recurring character named Kevin. He portrays the college roommate of Travis Cobb (Dan Byrd
Dan Byrd
Daniel "Dan" Byrd is an American actor. His most prominent roles include the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, the CW original comedy series Aliens in America, A Cinderella Story alongside Hillary Duff, ABC's Cougar Town, and the 2010 movie Easy A.-Life and career:Byrd was born in Marietta,...
), the son of series protagonist Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox
Courteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
). Travis is on a mission to reinvent himself now that he's in college, but his roommate Kevin is not as welcoming as he had hoped, though the two warm up to each other eventually.
Tinker was cast for the third season of the hit Fox musical dramedy Glee as Shane, the long-promised boyfriend for Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones
Mercedes Jones is a fictional character from the Fox popular musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Amber Riley, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Mercedes was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and...
(Amber Riley
Amber Riley
Amber Patrice Riley is an American actress and singer best known for her role on the series Glee as Mercedes Jones.-Early life and career:...
). Shane is a linebacker on the McKinley High football team; he and Mercedes will have started dating over the summer. His initial appearance is in the first episode of the season.
Films
He will be making his major feature film debut in the role of Big Corporation for the high school romance The First TimeThe First Time (2012 film)
The First Time is an upcoming romantic teen comedy-drama film written and directed by Jon Kasdan and stars Dylan O'Brien, Brittany Robertson and Craig Roberts.-Plot:...
. The movie, by writer-director Jon Kasdan
Jon Kasdan
Jonathan "Jon" Kasdan is an American writer and director.Kasdan is the son of Meg , a writer, and film director Lawrence Kasdan. He is the brother of director and actor Jake Kasdan. His directorial debut, In the Land of Women, was released in the United States in 2007. Kasdan also wrote the film,...
, was shot in Los Angeles in the spring of 2011, and will be released by Castle Rock Entertainment.
Producing
Tinker is a film producer, and the owner of LRT Productions, LLC. He is an executive producer on two independent feature films. One is Consequences, a co-production with Wisdom Productions. He is also set to release Down By the River in 2012. The film was shot in Houston, Texas, and is a co-production with both Greater Works and Sagemont Studios.Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2012 | The First Time The First Time (2012 film) The First Time is an upcoming romantic teen comedy-drama film written and directed by Jon Kasdan and stars Dylan O'Brien, Brittany Robertson and Craig Roberts.-Plot:... |
Big Corporation | Feature film debut |
| Television series | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009–2011 | Friday Night Lights Friday Night Lights (TV series) Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team... |
Dallas Tinker | Recurring role |
| 2010–present | Cougar Town Cougar Town Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make... |
Kevin | Recurring role |
| 2011–present | Glee Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues... |
Shane | Recurring role |