# Deric Augustine
**Deric Augustine** (born 1990) is an American actor, writer, and producer from New Orleans, Louisiana, known for portraying [Muhammad Ali](https://www.edgepedia.org/muhammad-ali) in MGM+'s "Godfather of Harlem" and Officer Miles Penn on ABC's "[The Rookie](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-rookie-tv-series)," where he was promoted to series regular in Season 8.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, United States; hometown New Orleans, Louisiana[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/145319/deric-augustine) • [4](https://www.detpress.com/storage/uploads/31/B6/31B676AA-4674-5C22-0A68-A379785122F4/The_Rookie_S8_Deric_Augustine_Bio_2026.pdf) |
| Signature role | Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay) in "Godfather of Harlem," 4 episodes, 2019–2025[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/) |
| Current role | Miles Penn on "The Rookie"; joined in Season 7, series regular from Season 8[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) |
| Other series | Clay Taylor in "All American" (11 episodes, 2021–2023); Rockwell in "Cloak & Dagger"; Milton in "Shameless"; Lester Davis in "Swagger"; Ray Murphy in "Criminal Minds"[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/145319/deric-augustine) • [1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) |
| Education | University of New Orleans; bachelor's degree in marketing, 2012, with theater classes[5](https://www.lsuneworleans.edu/news/alumnus-deric-augustine-plays-muhammad-ali-epix-tv-series) |
| Writing | Self-published young adult fantasy novel "Nawlins," about Black wizards in Louisiana[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) |
| Philanthropy | Founded Augustine's Love Foundation in 2024, supporting families affected by strokes and brain aneurysms[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) |
## Early life and training
Augustine grew up in New Orleans, where he began performing in theater as a teenager; he has said his mother, who died before his career took off, first kindled his interest in acting when he was a toddler and later pushed him and his twin brother into theater.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) • [6](https://popcultureunplugged.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-joining-the-rookie-bringing-miles-to-life-in-abcs-hit-crime-drama) He attended the University of New Orleans, where he took theater classes while pursuing a business degree and graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 2012.[5](https://www.lsuneworleans.edu/news/alumnus-deric-augustine-plays-muhammad-ali-epix-tv-series) Some later profiles describe his degree as Theatre and Drama.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/)
After college he moved to New York City, training at the [Negro Ensemble Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/negro-ensemble-company) and the William Esper Studio, and he continues to work with the acting coach Ivanna Chubbuck.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883)
## Acting career
**Godfather of Harlem.** Augustine was cast as Cassius Clay, the young Muhammad Ali, in the Epix (later MGM+) period drama starring [Forest Whitaker](https://www.edgepedia.org/forest-whitaker) as [Bumpy Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bumpy-johnson); he first appeared in Season 1 and returned for later seasons through 2025.[5](https://www.lsuneworleans.edu/news/alumnus-deric-augustine-plays-muhammad-ali-epix-tv-series) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/) He prepared by taking boxing lessons and studying Ali's voice, tone, movements, and mannerisms through interviews and audio clips.[5](https://www.lsuneworleans.edu/news/alumnus-deric-augustine-plays-muhammad-ali-epix-tv-series)
**Television work.** His guest and recurring credits include Rockwell in Marvel's "Cloak & Dagger" (2018), Ray Murphy in CBS's "Criminal Minds" (2018), Milton in Showtime's "Shameless" (2020–2021), Lester Davis in Apple TV's "Swagger" (2021), and Clay Taylor in [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s "All American" across 11 episodes from 2021 to 2023; the ABC biography notes that "All American" ranked No. 1 upon its Netflix debut.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/145319/deric-augustine) • [1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) He also appeared in "Queen Sugar," Ava DuVernay's drama, and voiced the character Che in the video games [NBA 2K20](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-2k20), [NBA 2K21](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-2k21), and NBA 2K22.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/)
**The Rookie.** Augustine joined ABC's Nathan Fillion-led police drama "The Rookie" in Season 7 as Miles Penn, a new rookie in the LAPD established as a transfer from Texas who had previously played college football.[7](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/the-rookie-season-7-everything-we-know-about-the-police-drama) • [8](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/the-rookie-miles-actor-discusses-hopes-in-season-9-one-thing-i-need) In April 2025 he was promoted to series regular for Season 8.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) He has said the role felt close to his own background, since Miles, like Augustine, is a Southerner who pivoted to a new path after football.[6](https://popcultureunplugged.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-joining-the-rookie-bringing-miles-to-life-in-abcs-hit-crime-drama)
## Writing and philanthropy
Augustine's debut novel, "Nawlins," is a self-published young adult fantasy about Black wizards in Louisiana, available through [Barnes & Noble](https://www.edgepedia.org/barnes-and-noble), Amazon, and Kindle.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883) In interviews he said the book took seven years to write and grew out of a college assignment to write fiction inspired by a local landmark, the African American Museum in Tremé; he wanted a fantasy in which the food, music, accents, and family dynamics of his New Orleans culture were reflected on the page.[9](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-writing-the-book-he-needed-growing-up) He has said he is working on a second book with the goal of expanding the story into a larger universe.[9](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-writing-the-book-he-needed-growing-up)
In 2024 he launched Augustine's Love Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the memory of his late mother, Donna Augustine, that supports families affected by strokes and brain aneurysms.[1](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883)
## References
1. [Deric Augustine | The Rookie, ABC](https://abc.com/cast/b7b9d3d0-c62a-42c2-9fb8-4c9042381883)
2. [Deric Augustine, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5674282/)
3. [Deric Augustine, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/145319/deric-augustine)
4. [The Rookie Season 8 Deric Augustine Biography, ABC Press](https://www.detpress.com/storage/uploads/31/B6/31B676AA-4674-5C22-0A68-A379785122F4/The_Rookie_S8_Deric_Augustine_Bio_2026.pdf)
5. [Alumnus Deric Augustine Plays Muhammad Ali on Epix TV Series, LSU New Orleans](https://www.lsuneworleans.edu/news/alumnus-deric-augustine-plays-muhammad-ali-epix-tv-series)
6. [Deric Augustine on Joining The Rookie, Pop Culture Unplugged](https://popcultureunplugged.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-joining-the-rookie-bringing-miles-to-life-in-abcs-hit-crime-drama)
7. [The Rookie season 7: everything we know, What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/the-rookie-season-7-everything-we-know-about-the-police-drama)
8. [The Rookie's Miles Actor Discusses What He Wants For The Character In Season 9, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/the-rookie-miles-actor-discusses-hopes-in-season-9-one-thing-i-need)
9. [Deric Augustine on Writing the Book He Needed Growing Up, IngramSpark](https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/deric-augustine-on-writing-the-book-he-needed-growing-up)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Au to Ba*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 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