David Makes Man Cast, Characters & General Information (with Spoilers)

A character guide for OWN’s David Makes Man featuring cast members names, character descriptions, and noteworthy information.

Descriptions are updated as new information is presented, and images changed as better ones are captured.

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David Young (Akili McDowell)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

David is an 8th grader at Galvin Magnet school, with aspirations to go to Hurston Prep high school next year. However, there are some complications which may prevent him from achieving that goal. First, his mother Gloria is a single parent, a recovering addict, and works multiple shifts so she is either not at home or sleeping. Second, because of his mom’s schedule, David has to step up when it comes to getting his brother ready for school, getting him to school, and also keeping him out of trouble. Add in him trying to get to school on time, deal with being one of the few Black kids, and his magnet classes being challenging, never mind him growing up in the hood with his associate Raynon trying to recruit him and, needless to say, he has a lot going on.

Additional Information About David

• Family is from Alabama and the reason his grandfather immigrated is due to assaulting a white man.
• Nicknames: Day Bringer (Given By Raynan), Day (Given by Tare), and DJ (Used by Seren and Marissa)
• Is 14 as of season 1, episode 8

Quote(s)

JG aka Jonathan Gregg (Cayden K. Williams)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

JG is David’s younger brother who is in elementary school and seems ripe for being recruited into the gang that has taken over the complex JG and David live in. Especially since he has shown himself to be a good fighter, is willing to do the work, and Raynon is a bit jealous of David for having a little brother – someone to protect.

Additional Information About JG

•  Is 9 years old and his dad died when he was 2.

Quote(s)

Seren (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

Seren is David’s friend and is a bi-racial young man with a white mom and assumingly a Black dad. One of his aspirations is to be a singer and, from what we’re told and seen, he is being raised in a well-off family. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost since his step-dad is physically and sexually abusing him.

Additional Information About Seren

• Enjoys singing.
• Father lives in Tampa and is from Overtown originally.
  • His father’s name is Aaron
• Nickname is SK.
• Is 13 as of Season 1, Episode 8

Quote(s)

Sky (Isaiah Johnson)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

Formerly, Sky was the head of the Vil’s gang, or at least a well-respected member of the complex. However, after his death, he now just haunts David and acts as a ghostly motivator.

Additional Information About Sky

• Real name is Lamar or Scott (Angie calls him Scott but Lamar is the name David knows)
• Sky was shot in the back of the head after being accused of being a snitch – per Desmond. However, the truth might be that, after disciplining Raynan, for trashing his car, Teo put a hit on him.
• Wanted to be a singer.

Quote(s)

Ain’t no need to be a lion to a lamb.
— Sky

Dr. Woods-Trap (Phylicia Rashad)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

A teacher at Galvin Magnet school who teaches either History or English and is one of David’s leading advocates. We’re also told she taught Sky back when he was in school.

Additional Information About Dr. Woods-Trap

Quote(s)

Gloria (Alana Arenas/ Lauryn Dennis)

Gloria on David Makes Man

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Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

Gloria is David and JG’s mother who makes it sound like she was a former addict but has been recovering and been a more consistent provider than she was in the past.

Additional Information About Gloria

• Worked at a truck-stop for a year and a month.
• Loves Stephen King novels
• One of her first friends were Elijah, hence why David’s middle name is Elijah.
• Had a terrible childhood thanks to her mother and what she enabled.

Quote(s)

Marissa (Lindsey Blackwell)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

We honestly don’t learn anything about Marissa beyond knowing she is one of David’s classmates at the Magnet school in the episode she is introduced.

Additional Information About Marissa

• Has a little brother she helps take care of like David does JG.
• Plans on going to Mast for high school

Quote(s)

Raynan (Ade Cjike Torbert)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 1 “David’s Sky” [Series Premiere]

At the complex, Raynan has seem to inherit Sky’s place as leader and this has saved David’s behind many times. Especially since members of Raynan’s gang aren’t fond of David and one, in particular, is ready and willing to pop him in the mouth one time.

Additional Information About Raynan

• Is messing with a girl named Jenna.
• Is Sky’s son with a woman named Angie
• Sky always saw him as more of a little brother than his child.

Quote(s)

Saul (Darryl W. Handy)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

An Overtown OG who Raynan references as Reverand Saul. It isn’t 100% clear what allows Saul to maintain a rather lavish lifestyle, filled with young girls, and allowing him to buy his grandson, JG, fancy sneakers, but anything is possible.

Additional Information About Saul

Quote(s)

Starry (Logan Rozos)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

A Tampa native, who now lives with Ms. Elijah for reasons not explained. However, considering their association with Femi and Ms. Elijah, one could assume Starry is a member of the LGTQIA+ community.

Additional Information About Starry

• Was born 2/21/1996
  • Actually, per Season 1, Episode 7, Starry is under 18.

Quote(s)

Femila (Trace Lysette)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

A possible leader of the local sex workers, who also seems to look out for, alongside Ms. Elijah, local queer people.

Additional Information About Femila

• Often goes by Femi

Quote(s)

Uncle Teo (Elvis Nolasco)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

Sky’s brother in law who is a major drug supplier. Also, he is someone who attempts to recruit Dave and is someone Raynan is trying to earn the trust of so he can take things to the next level.

Additional Information About Uncle Teo

• Growing up, Teo was the darkest member of his family and was constantly abused because of it. Making it so, when Raynan was born, he sword no one would touch him so that he wouldn’t suffer the trauma he did.

Quote(s)

Mx. Elijah (Travis Coles)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

A notable figure in the Vil, though not for drug distribution or anything like that. Mx. Elijah watches out for people in the community, both the LGBTQIA+ and those they are asked to look after. Which includes Dave and JG.

Additional Information About Mx. Elijah

• Gloria hints that Mx. Elijah is part of the reason she developed a pill addiction.
• Was born 10/23/1979

Quote(s)

You can’t save everyone. Sometimes you got to give people they problems right back to them.
— Mx. Elijah

Shinobi (Jordan Bolger)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 2 “Dai Out”

One of Raynan’s soldiers who has an issue with Dave.

Additional Information About Shinobi

• His family is from West Palm and like David, he had a close relationship with Sky
  • The way Shinobi talks, his family doesn’t seem to care for him much.
• We learn in season 1, episode 10, his sister died approximately a week before Sky.

Quote(s)

Ray Kelly (Jimel Atkins)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 3 “MJB”

Seren’s stepfather who assaults him at night, but appears to be far kinder than his mother.

Additional Information About Ray

Sharon (Carrie Elizabeth Brown)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 3 “MJB”

The wife of David’s dad, Darius.

Additional Information About Sharon

Darius (Timothy Richardson)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 3 “MJB”

Gloria’s college professor, who is the father of David.

Additional Information About Darius

Jessica Kelly (Gillian Williams)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 3 “MJB”

Seren’s mother who is verbally, physically, and emotionally abusive.

Additional Information About Jessica

• Works as a piano teacher

Dr. Bree (Ruben Santiago-Hudson)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 3 “MJB”

A psychologist assigned to speak to David who asks him about his relationships and life.

Additional Information About Dr. Bree

Jay (Rus Blackwell)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 4 “Gloria”

Jay is Gloria’s former boss at the truck stop. Someone who fires her for being too sassy, giving away food, to make up for the lack of customer service the place has, and because she didn’t appreciate a pass he made on her.

Additional Information About Jay

Ms. Hertrude (Juanita Jennings)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 4 “Gloria”

The building manager of The Vil who isn’t the fondest of children, Mx. Elijah, and may not like most of the people who live in the complex.

Additional Information About Ms. Hertrude

• Has HIV or AIDS, and wears Depends.
• Has three kids.

Earl (Keith Wheeler)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 4 “Gloria”

Earl is Gloria’s former co-worker who looks out for her. Be it making some food for her to take to her kids or making sure she doesn’t kill Jay.

Additional Information About Earl

Tare (Teshi Thomas)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 5 “Love or Poetize These Hoes”

Tare is one of the girls of the Vil, and helps make it clear there are some with an interest in David, or Day, as she calls him. But, for her specifically, what she is drawn to is how cool his mom is, the fact he saved her from harassment from the other boys, and he usually is nice Awkward, but nice.

Additional Information About Tare

• Has a strong interest in dance, and is applying for New World for Dance.

Angie (Joselin Reyes)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1/ Episode 6 “When It All Falls”

Angie is Raynan’s father and, based on how she is dressed, assumingly a nurse. Things between her and Sky didn’t work out, but it isn’t clear what the deciding factor was.

Noteworthy Events

Additional Information About Angie

Principal Fallow (Liza Colón-Zayas)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1/ Episode 6 “When It All Falls”

The principal at Galvin Magnet who is well aware of David’s situation at home and wonders if the school work might be a bit much for him. However, between Dr. Bree and Woods-Trap, they push the idea David is capable if he presses himself.

Noteworthy Events

Additional Information About Principal Fallow

Desmond (Nick Creegan)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 7 “Son of Man”

One of Teo’s soldiers, possibly the person who killed Sky, Desmond watches over the operation Raynan now runs.

Additional Information About Desmond

Willie Derrick (Solomon Valdez)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 8 “Bubble House”

Willie Derrick was one of the kids of the neighborhood, one that JG used to always play and tussle with, until he died in season 1, episode 8.

Additional Information About Willie Derrick

Congressman Reed (Raheem Babalola)

Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 8 “Bubble House”

One of Dr. Woods-Trap’s former students who is now a congressman. However, she notes massive disappointment in him since he may walk the walk, but he doesn’t talk the talk. In fact, he exploits his former state of poverty, which is detestable to her, and he seems to only care about community when it is election time.

Additional Information About Congressman Reed

Niyama (Lela Rochon-Fuqua)

Gloria's Mother (Lela Rochon-Fuqua)

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Character Introduction

First Noted In: Season 1, Episode 9 “Some I Love Who Are Dead”

Gloria’s mother is a Christian, who raised her conservatively, and with a short leash, but wasn’t the best mother. She allowed Gloria to be raped by her father, Gloria’s dad, multiple times, advocated for the abortion of David, notes she wishes she had an abortion, and when Gloria was pregnant, believes Gloria should have found a way to marry Darius.

So, to put it simply, she is trash.

Additional Information About Gloria’s Mother

• In episode 10 of season 1, Mx. Elijah says her name is Niyama.

General Information

•  The show takes place in Miami-Dade county.

Notable Locations & Events

Galvin Magnet School

The school David, Marissa, and Serena go to, and Dr. Woods-Trap works at, which began as an all-Black school in 1939 for the local Black farmers.

Hurston Prep School

A renowned local prep school David has an interest in that is all boys and a sleepaway school.

Homestead Village/ The Vil

Where David, Gloria, Ms. Elijah, and JG live. Also, it is where Raynan deals drugs with the assistance of Shinobi.

South Homestead

The high school kids go to if they don’t find an alternative.