# Daniel Curtis Lee
**Daniel Curtis Lee** (born 1991) is an American actor, comedian, and rapper best known for playing Simon "Cookie" Nelson-Cook on the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) series *Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide* (2004–2007) and Kornelius "Kojo" Jonesworth on the [Disney XD](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-xd) series *Zeke and Luther* (2009–2012).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [2](https://bookingagentinfo.com/celebrity/daniel-curtis-lee/) He records hip-hop music under the names [Saint Maurice](https://www.edgepedia.org/saint-maurice) and Dan-D.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1991, Jackson, Mississippi; raised in nearby Clinton[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [4](https://lasentinel.net/daniel-curtis-lee-goes-extreme-with-disney.html) |
| Breakout role | Simon "Cookie" Nelson-Cook, *Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide*, 54 episodes, 2004–2007[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) |
| Second series lead | Kojo, *Zeke and Luther*, 71 episodes, 2009–2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) |
| First film role | Bad Boy #2 in *Friday After Next* (2002)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) |
| Music names | Saint Maurice and Dan-D; duo Kojo Featuring Luther with co-star Adam Hicks[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/) |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in linguistics, California State University, Long Beach[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [5](https://networthpost.com/what-happened-to-daniel-curtis-lee-what-is-he-doing-now-wiki/) |
| Awards | Award of Recognition for Leading Actor (2018) and LAFA January Award for Best Duo (2019), both wins[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/) |
## Early life and start in acting
Lee was born in [Jackson, Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackson-mississippi), and raised in Clinton, where he began acting at age seven in local theater and school productions.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [4](https://lasentinel.net/daniel-curtis-lee-goes-extreme-with-disney.html) His entry into professional work came through his older brother, Nathaniel "Nate" Lee Jr., who was cast in the film *My Dog Skip* after a casting director saw him in a local play; the family was told that further opportunities would require a move to Los Angeles, and they relocated to [Long Beach, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/long-beach-california), in 2001.[6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/) • [7](https://danielcurtislee.blogspot.com/2009/09/biography.html)
His first feature film role came as Bad Boy #2 in Ice Cube's *Friday After Next* (2002), a part he has described with the joke that "anytime you have a number after your character's name, you haven't really made it big yet."[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/) [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) work followed quickly, with a role as Cassius on FX's *The Shield* in 2002 and a guest spot on *NCIS*.[8](https://www.metacritic.com/person/daniel-curtis-lee/)
## Television career
**Cookie.** Lee's first lead role in a television series was Simon "Cookie" Nelson-Cook on *Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide*, Nickelodeon's live-action sitcom about middle-school survival tips; he appeared in 54 episodes from 2004 to 2007.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/) The role made him recognizable to a generation of Nickelodeon viewers, and he later returned to the property as a co-host of the *Ned's Declassified Podcast*.[9](https://hoo.be/danielcurtislee)
**Kojo.** His success on Nickelodeon led to the second series regular role of his career, Kornelius "Kojo" Jonesworth on Disney XD's *Zeke and Luther* (2009–2012, 71 episodes), a bad-boy skater who serves as the show's antagonist and comic relief.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/) Guest roles followed on *Glee* (Phil Lipoff, 4 episodes in 2012), *Good Luck Charlie* (Raymond Blues, 2 episodes in 2011), *Crazy Ex-Girlfriend* (Ike the Waiter, 2015), *9-1-1* (Wade Weaver and Rude Handler, 2019–2021), and *Monster* (Police [Photographer](https://www.edgepedia.org/photographer), 2022).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [8](https://www.metacritic.com/person/daniel-curtis-lee/) He also voiced the Starter Sparrowman in Disney's *Pixie Hollow Games* (2011).[10](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/daniel-curtis-lee/)
## Music
Lee's recordings appear under the names Saint Maurice and Dan-D, and he performs in a hip-hop duo with his *Zeke and Luther* co-star [Adam Hicks](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-hicks) under the name Kojo Featuring Luther.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/) With his brother Nathaniel Lee Jr. he released a gospel album called *Warming* under the name Brother Lee.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/) Before his own singles, he recorded and performed the theme song for *Bring It On: Fight to the Finish*, and Disney released two cover singles, "You Can't Touch This" and "In The Summertime," featuring Lee and Hicks.[6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/)
His first official single as Saint Maurice, "Laughin," was released on December 27 and produced by Andrew Lane of Drew Right Records; he promoted his music through the YouTube channel DanDontheFly, where freestyles and mixtape tracks grew his following.[11](https://www.electrastarmgmt.com/news/new-signing-esm-family-welcomes-daniel) • [6](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/) On Apple Music his catalog includes the 2020 album *Double Lit Double It* and later singles such as "Won the Game of Life" (2023), "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" (2024), and "Shohei Ohtani (Shotime)" (2024).[12](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/daniel-curtis-lee/326396260)
## Behind the camera and later work
Lee has moved into writing, directing, editing, and producing. His directing credits include the videos *Lovers Land* (2013), *Last One* and *Undercover Thot* (2014), *Sorority Queens* (2016), and *I Am* (2017), and he directed and co-produced the 2024 film *The Time Travel Hills*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) As an actor his recent films include *Payment Received* and *As Certain as Death* (both 2023), the latter of which he also produced.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/) • [10](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/daniel-curtis-lee/) He graduated from [California State University, Long Beach](https://www.edgepedia.org/california-state-university-long-beach), with a degree in linguistics, and speaks several languages.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/)
His awards include a 2007 [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nomination for supporting young actor and a 2011 nomination for leading young actor, a 2018 Award of Recognition win for leading actor, and a 2019 LAFA January Award win for Best Duo.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/)
## References
1. [Daniel Curtis Lee, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1260957/)
2. [Daniel Curtis Lee Contact Info, Booking Agent Info](https://bookingagentinfo.com/celebrity/daniel-curtis-lee/)
3. [Daniel Curtis Lee Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniel-curtis-lee/bio/3000029422/)
4. [Daniel Curtis Lee Goes Extreme with Disney, Los Angeles Sentinel](https://lasentinel.net/daniel-curtis-lee-goes-extreme-with-disney.html)
5. [What happened to Daniel Curtis Lee?, Net Worth Post](https://networthpost.com/what-happened-to-daniel-curtis-lee-what-is-he-doing-now-wiki/)
6. [Daniel Curtis Lee: Mississippi's newest 'triple threat', The Mississippi Link](https://themississippilink.com/entertainment/daniel-curtis-lee-mississippis-newest-triple-threat/)
7. [Dan Curtis Lee Blog: Biography](https://danielcurtislee.blogspot.com/2009/09/biography.html)
8. [Daniel Curtis Lee, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/daniel-curtis-lee/)
9. [Daniel Curtis Lee, hoo.be](https://hoo.be/danielcurtislee)
10. [Daniel Curtis Lee, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/daniel-curtis-lee/)
11. [New signing! ESM family welcomes Daniel Curtis Lee, Electra Star Management](https://www.electrastarmgmt.com/news/new-signing-esm-family-welcomes-daniel)
12. [Daniel Curtis Lee, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/daniel-curtis-lee/326396260)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Child and youth screen performers › Child performers born 1986 to 2000*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license