Meet “All That” Star, Lex Lumpkin

Lex Lumpkin is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a multi-talented actor, writer, and pianist. He started his acting career at the age of 10 when he played the role of Stuart in the Indianapolis Repertory Theater’s production of Stuart Little. Lex then went on to play the role of the Duke of York in Shakespeare’s Richard III with First Folio Productions in the Spring of 2017 and the role of Travis Younger in A Raisin in the Sun in January 2018.

Once Lex transitioned from theater to television, he landed his first national commercial playing the role of Dennis, Peyton Manning’s nemesis, in AT&T’s Direct TV commercial series. He then went on to be cast in Fox Sports commercials highlighting Thursday Night Football for the 2018 NFL season. Nickelodeon quickly recognized his passion for comedy when he was selected from a national search to attend a 2-week intensive improve and comedy training at the famous Second City of Chicago. This led to him being cast in the reboot of the Nickelodeon sketch show All That. This break out roll would soon reveal Lex’s natural ability as a master impressionist and highlight his natural affinity for adapting dialects and vocal cues. Lex has won viewers over with his impressions of Nick Cannon, Jay-Z, Michael Strahan, Barack Obama, Travis Scott, Lil Nas X, and Denzel Washington are just a few of the characters showcases on All That.

Lex is a rising star with a big heart and true compassion for humanity. He has an extreme passion for projects that positively enhance the human condition and continues to look for ways to empower his peers to do the same.

 

 

Christina: How would you describe your Swagger? What makes Lex, Lex?

Lex: Swagger? At fourteen, I’m still working on it, but I would say that I’m a laid back, cool and easy-going kind of guy. I’m energetic, and I love sports. I’m pretty self-driven and totally know what I want out of life…as far out as next week anyway. [laugh]. 

Christina: When did you know you wanted to be an actor?

Lex: I’ve always loved to entertain. Whether it was in front of my family or the whole school, I didn’t know that being an actor was an actual job, but I would always beg my parents to put me in a movie. Eventually, I wore them down, and they finally signed me up for acting classes at the Indianapolis Repertory Theater. I knew I loved acting when I did my first play in front of a large audience. That energy was an experience I will never forget. 

Christina: Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

Lex: I’ve found that my biggest inspirations are my parents. I would label them as overachievers. I’ve watched them give 250% of all of my life. They push my brother and I to do the same. We both have been playing the piano for over ten years. When we would protest practice, my mom would say, “Do you want to soar with the eagles or cluck with the turkeys?” I remember thinking, “shoot, people love turkeys!” but then I was quickly reminded that that was only once a year. Outside of my family, I’m inspired by Denzel Washington, Trevor Noah, Tyler Perry, and Jay-Z, to name a few. All for different reasons. 

Christina: What was your first acting role, and how was the experience? 

Lex: My first professional acting role was Stuart Little in the play Stuart Little. We performed a total of 63 shows for adults and kids from all over the state of Indiana. It was an awesome experience and one that I will never forget. The kids in the audience were the best, and not only did they have high energy, but they were also really funny. They would yell out things like, “Don’t go in there, Stuart!” or “That cat is gonna get you, Stuart!”. I remember seeing a lot of funny behaviors in the midst of delivering my lines during the show. One kid, from my class at school, was in the audience, and he would wave or do something silly every time I looked at him. I laughed hysterically backstage, but I never broke on stage. 

Christina: What has been the hardest thing about coming into fame at an early age?

Lex: Deciding to put in the time to perfect my craft has been hard for me as a kid. You have to love acting if you want to be in this business. I can’t be at football practice if I have to learn my lines or be on set. I can’t play video games when I need to study my character or write comedy for my stand up routines. The sacrifices are great and extremely difficult, but when you love this business, the grind is fun. I love making stop motion movies, writing scenes/short stories, and pushing myself as an actor. I love difficult characters and challenging myself to be emotionally invested in a scene. There are many obstacles on the road to success, and in this business, it takes a lot of hard work. You have to be ready to grind to build your brand and perfect your craft when you love what you do. You realize that the grind is just a part of the process.

Christina: How did you land the role in Nickelodeon’s “All That”? 

Lex: After several audition callbacks and presenting at least 6 to 7 characters to the “All That” producers and casting directors, I got the role. I didn’t know at the time that I was auditioning for “All That”. I knew that it was a sketch comedy show because that was how the sides were labeled. I hadn’t seen the “All That” show, but I liked the movie Good Burger. It was awesome when I found out that it was a show that Kenan and Kel had been on. I was so excited and grateful. I think this role was perfect for me because I’d been making up characters for fun most of my life. 

Christina: Tell our readers more about “All That” and your experience with Nickelodeon.

Lex: My experience with Nickelodeon and on All That has been epic. I have the opportunity to work with seven other amazingly talented cast members. The OG’s have been extremely welcoming, and the production crew is the best you’ll ever find in the business. Everyone likes to have fun, and they are all super supportive.  

Christina: How does it feel to be a part of such an iconic tv show’s remake? 

Lex: Being a part of such an iconic show is unreal. I consider it a great privilege and honor to carry on the legacy. Man to walk in the footsteps of the greats like Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, Lori Beth, and Josh Server is just amazing.

Christina: What advice would you give a young African American wanting to become an actor? 

Lex: I would advise a young African American actor to stay strong and to stick with it. Know that you are going to have to work hard. Learn to enjoy the grind because the preparation and training is the key. Look for ways to gain exposure and experience along your journey, and whatever you do, don’t listen to naysayers and never give up!

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects that you would like to share? 

Lex: Yes. Several upcoming programs are rolling out on Nickelodeon. Be sure to check out LOL Nick’s Ultimate Bloopers show and be on the lookout for new episodes of “All That”! I would absolutely like to share some of my upcoming personal projects, but I can’t right now. Know that there are some things in the works and be on the lookout for it. 

 

Connect with Lex below: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrlexlumpkin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrlexlumpkin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrLexLumpkin

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/4DkxBA/