In Hollywood, resilience is everything, and D.K. Uzoukwu is proving that talent, dedication, and a real love for storytelling can take you far. Playing Louis in Clean Slate, he brings warmth, depth, and a natural charm that makes his character feel like someone you actually know.

A Fresh Take on Family and Acceptance

Clean Slate isn’t just another dramedy—it’s a heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply moving look at family, identity, and what it really means to accept the people you love. Created by Dan Ewen, Laverne Cox and George Wallace, the series follows Henry, a widowed car wash owner in Alabama, who’s pumped to reunite with his long-lost son. But that excitement takes a turn when he learns that his child, Desiree (played by Cox), is a trans woman. What unfolds is a beautiful mix of humor, love, and self-discovery, showing the messy, complicated, and ultimately rewarding journey of acceptance—especially within a Southern Black family. With a stellar cast and sharp, heartfelt writing, Clean Slate is definitely a show to watch.

The Power of Storytelling

A self-proclaimed “purveyor of stories,” Uzoukwu believes acting is all about making people feel. “The purpose of an actor is to bring catharsis to an audience,” he says, quoting fellow actor Behzad Dabu of the Hillman Grad Mentorship Program.

“We feel things so the audience can see their own lives reflected back at them.”

His love for storytelling started on the East Coast, where he got hooked on Greek mythology and fantasy TV—especially Xena: Warrior Princess. “I was blown away by how they took this fictional character and just dropped her into all these mythological stories,” he says. That realization sparked his desire to create characters and worlds of his own.

A Journey of Resilience and Community

Like most actors, Uzoukwu’s path to Hollywood wasn’t smooth. “I came here for a reason, and I knew if I was gonna make it happen, there was no turning back,” he says.

That same drive is what makes his performance in Clean Slate so compelling. From the moment he read the script, he connected with Louis’ relationship with Desiree. “There’s this conversation in the church that just jumped off the page,” he remembers. “It felt so real, like I already knew these people.” His scenes with Cox remain some of his favorites, thanks to their natural chemistry and the depth of their characters’ friendship.

That on-screen friendship reflects something deeply personal for Uzoukwu. “I’m lucky to have a solid group of artist friends in LA. That’s been everything. Seeing my friends book jobs, star in movies, win Oscars—it’s inspiring. But at the end of the day, none of that matters if you don’t believe in yourself.” That same sense of belonging and encouragement mirrors the relationship between Louis and Desiree, whose deep-rooted friendship helps them both grow.

Breaking Stereotypes

For Uzoukwu, playing Louis was about ensuring he wasn’t just another stereotype. “I didn’t want him to be some played-out trope. We’ve seen stories where DL guys are just ‘trade,’ but that’s not Louis. That’s not who he is on the page, and it’s not who I wanted him to be.” Instead, he made Louis a fully realized person—funny, smart, and self-aware, even as he struggles with the parts of his life he’s not ready to share. “He’s not lying to himself. He’s just careful about what he lets people see.”

That kind of nuance is exactly what Clean Slate is bringing to Hollywood at a time when authentic queer and Black storytelling is more crucial than ever. With major networks and streaming platforms increasingly investing in diverse narratives, the series stands out by centering a trans character’s journey in a way that feels genuine rather than tokenizing. By tackling themes of acceptance within a Southern Black family—an often underrepresented perspective—it challenges long-standing industry norms, proving that queer stories don’t have to be solely about struggle; they can be about love, humor, and growth. It’s a shift that Uzoukwu sees as long overdue. “Audiences are hungry for stories that reflect the world as it really is,” he says. “And Clean Slate isn’t just telling a story—it’s starting a conversation.”

Finding Truth Through Heartbreak

One of Clean Slate’s most emotional moments is when Louis experiences heartbreak—something Uzoukwu was actually going through while filming. “I can never play a character that just wins at the end. It’s always the heartbreak,” he says with a laugh. But in that moment of vulnerability, the show delivers one of its most powerful messages about love and acceptance. “The real win is that Louis gets to share that heartbreak with his mom. That’s something he’s never had before.”

A New Chapter

In a world where queer stories often focus on struggle, Clean Slate offers something different—growth, love, and self-acceptance. Uzoukwu’s portrayal of Louis is a reminder that representation isn’t just about seeing yourself on screen—it’s about feeling seen. And with his undeniable talent and passion for storytelling, this is just the beginning of what’s sure to be an incredible career.

“You have to know who you are first, and you can’t be afraid to discover who else you might be along the way,” he says. As Uzoukwu continues to carve his path in Hollywood, one thing is clear: he’s not just playing a role—he’s helping rewrite the narrative.

Photography Credit: Kim Newmoney