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Duane McLaughlin

Duane McLaughlin born in the late 1980s is an American actor, singer, song writer and film director. He was born in New York City and was raised in St. Albans Queens New York. His decipline and natral adaptation to the camera began at the tender age of five. As a child, he became a well sought after Ford Model. He holds credits to an extensive list of print, radio, and television advertisements. He is recognized for developing the character Dallas Griffin (the young detective of the Oakdale Police Department) in the second longest running American Television Soap Opera, As The World Turns.

He made his film debut in 2000 in the Tri Star Pictures feature film  Black and White. The role required McLaughlin to portray a rapper. He worked under the direction of Director James Toback along with members of the rap group Wu Tang Clan. Other film contributions in 2000 featured McLaughlin in a lead role in the Show Time television movie Finding Buck McHenry directed by Charles Burnett. Mclaughlin's role was that of young Aron Henry, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis Jr.). His performance in this move earned him the Hollywood's prestigious Young Actors Award. He was cast a lead role in Hallmark's Hall of Fame television movie The Runnaway, directed by Arthur Sidleman in 2001. His character young Sonny Monroe (a black youth) and his friend Luke (a whte youth) were predicted by the conjur woman (portrayed by Dr. Maya Angelou) to bring about change to race relations in the South. The film would prove to be one of Hallmark's most prominent features. Universal Pictures featured mcLaughlin as George Duncan (a student) in the 2002, Film The Empereror's Club, Directed by Michael Hoffman. That same year Focus Feature Film featured him in the role of Jake in the film Far From Heaven, directed by       Far  From heaven was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and 100 other awards.

While in High School in 2003 McLaughlin's schoolmate Ali Hilfiger approached him with an interesting project. It was to develope and portray the character of Johnny - a young sailor with a bulldog in the TH Entertainment feature film Proud. The film, a documentary directed by Mary Pat Kelley commemorated the naming of the naval desroyer USSMason, DDG87, named to mark the contributions of the predominantly African American crew. The crew fought in World War11 on the naval destroyer DE529. President Clinton awarded the long overdue commendation for the ship's crew in 1994. In 1998 the secretary of the Navy made the official decision to name the destroyer to mark desegration in the navy. The film was released in 2004. McLaughlin celebrated the completion of the film abord the destroyer, USS Mason DDG-87,with President Bill Clinton, Tommy Hilfiger, Mary Pat Kelly , Ali Hilfiger and cast and crew of Proud, in New York City.

In contributing to community awearness McLaughlin portrays the character Shawn in a lead role for the 2004 filming of the teaching tool, All Falls down. The film produced by Scenariors USA (a non -profit organization) and directed by Michael Keopp, highlights the critical decision making factors among teenagers in matters concering relationships and sexual education.The film is used in high     schools during health classes.