Carl D. McDowell was born on the gang-ridden streets of the south side of Chicago, but sports ultimately lead him in the opposite direction. Excelling in football, baseball, and wrestling at Harper High School, it was football that got him a ticket out of Chicago and ultimately into acting. Excessive absences from theater class in college led him to the stage and to taking a mandatory role in Of Mice and Men. Bitten by the acting bug and sidelined by injury he made the move to Hollywood, and while working as a production assistant started performing stand-up. With some stand-up success he landed a few auditions, and the rest they say is history.