This Columbia native found his most consistent role in menacing ‘Outer Banks’ character

“My high school teachers were saying, ‘there’s a world out there I want you to know about,’” he said.

After graduating from Columbia High School in 1977, he received scholarships to multiple colleges for acting. He recorded the nationally broadcast SC ETV training videos for the police department, where he pretended to be an attorney or witness.

He aimed to become a singer and dancer on Broadway — until he realized the competition was even stiffer than he imagined. 

“Man, these Broadway actors, they can sing and dance like nobody,” he said.

So he attempted a different route. He tried to “backdoor into the industry.”

He became a teacher. An acting professor. First at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Later at Mississippi State University. Now at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

He has served as a tenured professor in Las Vegas for over 25 years now, where he became the first Black professor in the theater department and founded the school’s camera acting program. He has won screenwriting awards for his scripts.

He never stopped acting, though. When he wasn’t teaching, he traveled to Wilmington, N.C., to audition or Atlanta to film.

Since 1987, he’s appeared in popular movies and TV shows, including “The Rainmaker,” “Crash” and “Iron Man 3.” More recently, he’s earned roles in “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.” He regularly performs in commercials, whether it’s for FedEx or Sears.

Then “Outer Banks” came along. His students freaked out. The school newspaper wrote a story. And Bynum got ready to work.

Joining “Outer Banks”

Demp was a new character for Bynum, who had never seen the show before. He specializes in medical and legal terminology. He’s often clean-shaven. Sometimes he has a Caribbean accent.

But this unshaved character with a gravelly voice, limp and semi-closed eye was mysterious. Brooding. Ominous. Bynum researched the eye condition and practiced it in the mirror.