Michael Anthony Bell II or Tone Bell was born on August 10, 1983. He is known professionally as Tone Bell is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Bell was born in Decatur, Georgia. Before pursuing a career in entertainment, he taught first grade. His early involvement in the industry included working on the production of HBO’s Warm Springs and various promotional projects.
| Full name | Michael Anthony Bell II |
| Birth Date | August 10, 1983 |
| Birth Place | Decatur, Georgia, United States |
| Profession | American comedian and actor |
Table of Contents
Early life and Education
Michael Anthony Bell II or Tone Bell was born on August 10, 1983. He is known professionally as Tone Bell is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Bell was born in Decatur, Georgia. He attended Savannah State University, majoring in television and film. Bell hails from Decatur Georgia and taught first grade before transitioning to work on the production of HBO’s “Warm Springs” and various promotional initiatives.
Following a brand management role in San Francisco with Swivel Media he moved back to Atlanta and delved into promotional work for a beer company. Subsequently transferred to Dallas he seized the opportunity to perform at open-mic events in several comedy clubs.
Tone Bell’s Career
After relocating to Los Angeles Bell won the NBC Stand Up For Diversity Talent Search in 2012 and received a development deal from the network. He landed the role of “RJ” the bartender in the NBC sitcom Whitney and later portrayed “Tedward” in NBC’s Bad Judge. Bell also made appearances in other TV shows such as VH1’s Single Ladies, E!’s Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings, Comedy Central’s Key & Peele, and Game Show Network’s Mind of a Man. He also hosted the first season of the hidden camera show Jerks with Cameras on MTV. Bell also has a web series on Russell Simmons’ YouTube channel All Def Digital called The Green Room.
In March 2018 Bell secured a leading role in the CBS comedy pilot Fam after starring in the Netflix multi-camera comedy Disjointed. He now hosts the new Netflix reality show Drink Masters, which premiered on October 28, 2022. Bell will also star as Khalil in the 2023 Netflix comedy series, Survival of the Thickest, written by Michelle Buteau.
Filmography
Bell has appeared in a variety of films and television series throughout his career. His film credits include roles in short films like Solstice and Woman Child, as well as feature films such as Dog Days, The Weekend, Little, and Sylvie’s Love. He also portrayed John Levy in The United States vs Billie Holiday.
In television Bell’s roles have been diverse ranging from main roles in series like Whitney, Bad Judge, Truth Be Told, and Disjointed to guest appearances in shows like The Flash, 9JKL, and BoJack Horseman. He also had a recurring role as Richard Pryor in American Soul.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Solstice | Bartender #1 | Short film |
| 2013 | Implanted | Philip | |
| 2013 | To My Future Assistant | Davis | Television film |
| 2016 | My Time Your Time | Parker | Television film |
| 2017 | Woman Child | Michael Abby | Short film |
| 2018 | Dog Days | Jimmy | |
| 2018 | The Weekend | Bradford Collins | |
| 2018 | It’s A Party | Cool Breeze | |
| 2019 | Little | Preston | |
| 2020 | Sylvie’s Love | Dickie Brewster | |
| 2021 | The United States vs. Billie Holiday | John Levy | |
| 2024 | Trigger Warning | Spider |
Television Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Single Ladies | Parker | 2 episodes |
| 2012–13 | Whitney | RJ | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2013 | Creepy Caress | Tom | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Key & Peele | Friend #1 | 1 episode |
| 2014–15 | Bad Judge | Tedward Mulray | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2015 | Truth Be Told | Russell | Main role, 10 episodes |
| 2016 | The Flash | Scott Evans | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | 9JKL | Luke | 2 episodes |
| 2017–18 | Disjointed | Carter | Main role, 20 episodes |
| 2019 | Fam | Nick | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2020 | BoJack Horseman | Voice | 1 episode |
| 2020 | American Soul | Richard Pryor | Recurring role |
| 2022 | Nailed It! | Himself (Guest judge) | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Drink Masters | Himself (Host) | 10 episodes |
| 2023 | Survival of the Thickest | Khalil | Main Cast |
Most Asked Questions
What is Tone Bell’s real name?
His real name is Michael Anthony Bell II.
Where was Tone Bell born?
He was born in Decatur, Georgia, United States.
Did Tone Bell win any awards or competitions?
He won the NBC Stand Up For Diversity Talent Search in 2012, which awarded him a development deal with the network. He also received an NAACP Image Awards nomination and has been nominated for awards including the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Insecure, among others.
What kind of roles does Tone Bell usually play?
He has a versatile career spanning comedy and drama, including roles in sitcoms, films, and as a host for reality shows.
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