Duke grew up just north of Richmond in rural Mechanicsville, Virginia. The youngest of five, Duke spent much of his early years lost in his imagination. In fact, you might say his very first experiences with improv involved patrolling the neighborhood, beating up bad guys and saving the world!

 

The "Scottish play" was Duke's first introduction to professional theater when he was 14. In Act III, his father Banquo is murdered. In an attempt to cry actual tears on stage, Duke would smear makeup into his eyes, enduring intense stinging and partial blindness nightly. Even in those early years, what he wanted most of all was to make it "real." And to this day, that desire hasn't changed. From the first moment, meeting these exotic alien actors from New York, he was certain this was where he wanted to be.

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Duke's first job in front of the camera was in the movie Ironclads staring Virginia Madsen and E.G. Marshall. He worked the majority of the film behind the scenes in the set decorating dept, hauling heavy whiskey barrels from one location to an another. But for one day only, he got to be out front, playing Seaman Yates! With only two lines, one being the very critical, "Yes sir!," Duke fell head over heels with the energy and magic of being on a set.

 

Duke has appeared in films, television and theaters across the country. His major television credits include his role as Detective Gordon Chambers in Mindhunter (Netflix) directed by David Fincher, FBI: Most Wanted (CBS, Rose Troche), Hostages with Toni Collette (CBS, Henry Bronchtein), Forever (ABC, John F. Showalter) and as Jack Epps in Sally Hemings with Sam Neill and Mare Winningham (CBS, Charles Haid).

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An accomplished theatre actor, Duke starred alongside Kerry Butler in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Clinton: The Musical (dir: Dan Knechtges). He starred as George Bailey in numerous productions of Its A Wonderful Life around the country (Goodspeed, Westchester Bway, Orlando Shakespeare). Some others include Fun Home (Virginia Rep), Maytag Virgin (Florida Rep) Ace (Signature, Old Globe), Rabbit Hole (Cadence), Doubt (West VA Public), and Next to Normal (Virginia Rep/ Cadence).

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Duke has been seen in numerous national commercials for such brands as American Express, Heineken, Kettle Chips, and Time Warner.

 

He has received multiple Best Actor Awards and nominations including those from The Richmond Times-Dispatch and Theatre Critics Circle.

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Duke lives in Stamford, Connecticut with his wife Janet.

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