Dallas dupree young is an American actor who gained widespread recognition for playing Kenny Payne in Netflix’s martial arts drama Cobra Kai. His performance introduced him to a large audience and helped establish him as one of the younger actors associated with the popular Karate Kid franchise.
Although dallas dupree young is his best-known project, Dallas dupree young began acting years before joining the series. His career includes television comedies, family entertainment, voice acting, and feature films. Fans are also interested in his age, family background, and the journey that brought him from early television appearances to a major streaming series.
This article explores Dallas dupree young biography, family, acting career, and most notable screen roles.
Who Is Dallas Dupree Young?
Dallas Dupree Young is an American actor known primarily for his role as Kenny Payne in Cobra Kai. He joined the Netflix series in its fourth season and became an important part of the show’s younger generation of martial arts students.
Before that breakthrough, Young appeared in several television programs, including The Fosters, The Good Place, and Cousins for Life. He also appeared in films such as Ready Player One and The Main Event.
His career shows how smaller roles and early experience can help a young performer work toward more prominent opportunities.
Dallas Dupree Young: Quick Biography
Dallas Dupree Young was born on October 25, 2006, in Houston, Texas, United States. He is an American actor whose professional credits include television series, feature films, and voice performances.
He became particularly well known after joining Cobra Kai as Kenny Payne, a student whose experiences at school and in karate shape an important storyline. His other credits demonstrate his experience in both comedy and drama.
How Old Is Dallas Dupree Young?
Dallas Dupree Young was born on October 25, 2006. As of October 22, 2026, he is 19 years old and will turn 20 in three days.
He started working in entertainment while he was still a child. Over time, his roles developed from brief appearances into more substantial parts, including his recurring and later main role in Cobra Kai.
Where Was Dallas Dupree Young Born?
Young was born and raised in Houston, Texas, according to his professional biography. Growing up in Texas, he initially considered a future connected to sports before acting became a serious interest.
His background in Houston is part of his story as a performer who began developing his career at a young age and later worked on productions for major television networks and streaming services.
Dallas Dupree Young’s Family
Young is the son of former professional baseball player Eric Young Sr. and Beyonka Jackson. His family background includes a strong connection to baseball, and his older half-brother, Eric Young Jr., also pursued a professional baseball career.
Although his family had sporting experience, Young ultimately developed a path in acting. His story reflects how interests can evolve and lead people toward different professional goals.
Who Is His Father, Eric Young Sr.?
Eric Young Sr. is a former Major League Baseball player who later worked as a coach. His career gave Young a close connection to professional sports while growing up.
Young initially imagined that he might follow a similar path. However, acting eventually became his main professional focus, allowing him to explore storytelling through television and film.
His Connection to Baseball
Baseball played a role in Young’s early interests because of his father’s and half-brother’s careers. He also enjoyed other sports, including football and basketball.
His eventual move into acting was not necessarily the path he originally expected. An opportunity to attend an acting showcase helped him explore a new interest and begin building professional connections.
Dallas Dupree Young’s Childhood
Young’s childhood included both sports and entertainment interests. He developed his acting career early, gaining experience through auditions and small screen roles before landing more prominent projects.
Beginning at a young age allowed him to learn about auditions, working with directors, and performing in different types of productions. These experiences helped prepare him for the demands of a major series such as Cobra Kai.
How He Discovered Acting
According to his professional biography, Young’s family received an unexpected opportunity for him to attend a talent showcase in Houston. He decided to take part, and the experience helped introduce him to the acting industry.
A later showcase in Los Angeles led to professional representation and further training. Young began securing roles and gradually built a screen career.
His First Acting Roles
Young appeared in early television projects before becoming widely recognized. His credits include Murder Among Friends, The Good Place, The Mayor, and Shameless.
These appearances gave him experience across different genres and production styles. Even brief roles can help young actors learn how television sets operate and how to work within a professional cast.
Dallas Dupree Young in The Good Place
Dallas Dupree Young appeared in an episode of the comedy series The Good Place, playing a younger version of a character. The show blends comedy with questions about morality, relationships, and what it means to live a good life.
Although this was a smaller role, it became part of the varied list of television credits he accumulated early in his career.
His Role in The Fosters
Young also appeared in The Fosters, a family drama about a household navigating relationships, identity, and everyday challenges.
His appearance helped expand his television experience before he moved into larger parts. It also demonstrates that his early work included both family-focused drama and comedy.
Cousins for Life and His First Leading Role
One of Young’s important early projects was Nickelodeon’s Cousins for Life, in which he played Stuart. The comedy follows two cousins adjusting to living together with their families.
The series gave Young a more central role and experience working regularly on a television production. It was an important step between guest appearances and his later work in a major streaming series.
Dallas Dupree Young in Ready Player One
Young appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 2018 science-fiction adventure Ready Player One. His part was small, but the film was a notable production in his early filmography.
The movie takes place in a future where people spend much of their time in a virtual world. Being part of a large studio film added another type of experience to Young’s developing career.
His Role in The Main Event
In 2020, Young appeared in the Netflix family comedy The Main Event, playing Mason. The film centers on a young wrestling fan who discovers a mask that gives him special abilities in the ring.
The family-friendly project was different from the dramatic and martial arts storylines that would later define his best-known role.
Dallas Dupree Young in Cobra Kai
Young’s major breakthrough came when he joined Cobra Kai as Kenny Payne in season four. The series continues the story of the Karate Kid films while introducing a younger generation of students and rivals.
Kenny begins as a new student who struggles with bullying and social pressures. His introduction adds another perspective to the show’s exploration of confidence, conflict, mentorship, and the effects of martial arts training.
Young continued in the role through the series’ sixth and final season, which concluded in 2025.
Who Is Kenny Payne?
Kenny Payne is a student who becomes involved in the rivalry between the different karate dojos in Cobra Kai. When viewers first meet him, he is trying to navigate school life and find a sense of belonging.
His experiences lead him to karate, where he develops new skills and confidence. The character’s journey becomes more complicated as he faces difficult choices about rivalry, loyalty, and how to respond to mistreatment.
How Kenny Changes Throughout Cobra Kai
Kenny’s storyline is one of the show’s examples of how experiences can influence a person’s behaviour. His growing involvement in karate changes how he sees himself and how he interacts with others.
The role requires Young to portray both vulnerability and determination. His performance helps show the difference between gaining confidence and allowing conflict to shape every decision.
Preparing for Martial Arts Scenes
Young’s work on Cobra Kai involved performing in a series where martial arts are central to the story. Preparing for such scenes requires coordination, rehearsal, timing, and cooperation with the production team.
Screen fights are carefully choreographed to support the story while prioritizing performers’ safety. Young’s role gave him the opportunity to work within the show’s action-focused style and contribute to its younger cast.
Dallas Dupree Young’s Movie Career
Outside television, Young has appeared in several films. His credits include Ready Player One, The Main Event, 1-800-Hot-Nite, and The Royal.
In 1-800-Hot-Nite, he plays Tommy, a teenager navigating difficult circumstances and searching for support. In The Royal, he portrays a younger version of baseball player Willie Mays Aikens.
These roles show that his film work has covered science fiction, family comedy, coming-of-age drama, and biographical storytelling.
His Voice-Acting Projects
Young has also worked in voice acting. His credits include animated series such as Glitch Techs, Where’s Waldo?, and Vampirina.
Voice performances involve using vocal expression to communicate a character’s personality and emotions without relying on facial expressions or physical movement on screen. This work adds another dimension to Young’s experience as a performer.
What Makes His Career Stand Out?
Young’s career includes several types of roles rather than one single genre. He has appeared in sitcoms, family films, animated productions, and dramatic television.
His role in Cobra Kai brought him a wider audience, but his earlier work shows that his career developed over several years. As he continues to pursue acting, future projects may reveal additional sides of his abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dallas Dupree Young?
Dallas Dupree Young is an American actor best known for playing Kenny Payne in Netflix’s Cobra Kai.
How old is Dallas Dupree Young in 2026?
He is 19 years old as of October 22, 2026. He was born on October 25, 2006.
Where is Dallas Dupree Young from?
He was born and raised in Houston, Texas, United States.
Who are Dallas Dupree Young’s parents?
His parents are former professional baseball player Eric Young Sr. and Beyonka Jackson.
What role does Dallas Dupree Young play in Cobra Kai?
He plays Kenny Payne, a student whose experiences with bullying and karate become an important part of the series.
What movies has Dallas Dupree Young appeared in?
His film credits include Ready Player One, The Main Event, 1-800-Hot-Nite, and The Royal.
Was Dallas Dupree Young in Cousins for Life?
Yes. He played Stuart in the Nickelodeon comedy series Cousins for Life.
Final Thoughts
Dallas Dupree Young has built a varied acting career, from early television appearances to his widely recognized role as Kenny Payne in Cobra Kai. His work in comedy, drama, film, and voice acting demonstrates how his experience has developed over time.
Born in Houston, Texas, in 2006, Young initially had interests in sports before discovering professional acting through a talent showcase. His journey highlights the value of exploring opportunities, developing skills, and learning from different projects. For fans who know him from Cobra Kai, his earlier credits provide a fuller picture of the actor’s career so far.
