Derrick Baskin (born November 10, 1975) is an actor best known for his Grammy and Tony Award-nominated performance in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud, based on the life and times of the musical singing group, The Temptations.

He originated the role of "Comfort Counselor" Mitch Mahoney in the popular Broadway show The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, his first major role. Baskin also originated the role of "Jetsam" in the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid. He originated the role of "Gator" in Memphis and also appeared in the filmed version of the musical, Memphis: Direct from Broadway by Broadway Worldwide.

Baskin has a BA in Biology from Hampton University.

Theatre credits

YearProductionRoleVenueNotes
2005The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeMitch Mahoney Dance captainSecond Stage TheaterOff-Broadway
2005–2007Circle in the Square TheatreBroadway
2007The Little MermaidJetsam Sebastian (u/s)Denver Center for the Performing ArtsRegional
2007-09Lunt-Fontanne TheatreBroadway
2009–2012MemphisGatorShubert Theatre
2014Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns StoryHoagyPershing Square Signature CenterOff-Broadway
2015Whorl Inside a LoopSunnysideSecond Stage Theater
2017Ain't Too ProudOtis WilliamsBerkeley Repertory TheatreRegional
2018John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Ahmanson Theatre
Princess of Wales TheatreToronto
2019–2020Imperial TheatreBroadway

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Memphis: Direct from BroadwayGator
2014AnnieAuditioning father
2015AnesthesiaMedical examiner
2017MarshallTed Lancaster

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Law & Order: Special Victims UnitUniEpisode: "Personal Fouls"
2012Great PerformancesGatorEpisode: Memphis
2012Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCash GiletteEpisode: "Acceptable Loss"
2015Episode: "Undercover Mother"
2015–2017Difficult PeopleNateRecurring role (18 episode)

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Submissions OnlyJulius WhiteEpisode: "Mean Like Me"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryWorkResultRef.
2005Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Ensemble PerformanceThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeWon
2014Viv awardsOutstanding Performance in a Musical/MalePiece of My Heart: The Bert Berns StoryWon
2019Tony AwardsBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalAin't Too ProudNominated
2020Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater AlbumNominated

External links