Dywayne Thomas

Dywayne Thomas (born 17 May 1977) is a British Karateka, actor, and producer.He is best known for his performances on screen in Surveilled, Pennyworth, and Ties of the Ribbon. Thomas has won several Karate championship awards during his career. He was amongst the first creative designers to introduce Carnival Arts at Alternative Fashion Week in 1992. 
Thomas holds over 40-course certifications and is the recipient of multiple awards. He has been featured in several media outlets for his work both in the entertainment industry and the sports industry, such as Openthenews, StarNow, Diving Daily, Knnit, Medium, and others.
==Early life and education==
Thomas was born on May 17, 1977, in London, England, to Patricia Sindy Thomas and Winston Roy Thomas, both of Caribbean, South American, and African ancestry. Thomas is the third eldest of six children. Thomas grew up in Hackney and studied at Gayhurst Primary School. During his teen years, Thomas started acting in school dramas and events, where he developed his interest in acting. Thomas later attended Cardinal Pole Roman Catholic School in Hackney, East London. He studied alongside footballer Darren Purse during his time at Cardinal Pole. 
In 1993, Thomas enrolled in the Kingsway college, where he did a BTEC National diploma in general art & design, design & applied arts for two years. In 1995, Thomas went to the University of Arts, London, where he did an HND in Fashion & Technology. 
Thomas did his master's in arts with a specialization in fine arts from the University of Hertfordshire. Thomas has also studied at several other institutes such as De Montfort University, British Action Academy, Reel Scene, Firearm Training for film and TV, and others. Thomas trained at the Identity School of Acting in Gray's Inn and Brixton, London. He also did some screen combat training at the British Action Academy in Surrey, England.
==Career==
===KARATE CAREER===
In the early 1980s, Thomas started his training in Judo. In 1985, Thomas began learning Goju-Ryu karate under the instruction of Shihan Chris Rowen, 7th dan, who was a 3rd dan Sensei at the time and also a student of Kaiso (Founder) Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th dan. In 1987 Thomas was graded to Shodan (1st Dan) Junior Black belt by Shihan Chris Rowen. 
Thomas has a black belt in Karate and is a winner of multiple National, English, and British Karate Championship awards. He is a former Junior British Individual and Team Kata Champion, who represented the Traditional Karate Association (TKA) London Goju Ryu team between 1987 and 1992. 
Thomas took a break from competing and training in 1992 to focus more on his academic studies. After a two year gap, in 1994, he returned to Karate training under the instruction of Shihan Vic Charles MBE. 
After his retirement as a Karateka, Thomas enrolled in the British Army as a Signaller.
===KARATE TOURNAMENT RECORDS===
* January 18th 1985 - Started training in (Goju-Ryu) traditional karate. 
* March 18th 1985 - Graded to Junior Yellow belt,7thkyu. 
* September 28th 1985 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Kata1st. 
* September 28th 1985 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Team Kata 1st. 
* October 23rd 1985 - Graded to Junior Green belt, 6th kyu. 
* August 17th 1986 - Graded to Junior Green belt, 4th kyu. 
* September 1986 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Team Kata 3rd. 
* January 15th 1987 - Graded to Junior Brown belt,3rdkyu. 
* March 1st 1987 - English Karate Council (EKC) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist. 
* May 24th 1987 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Wapping, London, Cadets Kata 4th. 
* July 31st 1987 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Greenwich, London, Boys 8-11 years Kata1st. 
* July 31st 1987 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Greenwich, London, Junior Team Kata 1st. 
* August 23rd 1987 - B.A.S.K.A. Pickett’s Lock, London, Under 21s Cadets Kata 3rd. 
* September 24th 1987 - Graded to Junior Black Belt (Shodan) 1stDan. 
* September 27th 1987 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist 
* September 27th 1987 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata Finalist. 
* November1st1987-The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry, Cadets Kata 3rd. 
* November 15th 1987 - B.M.A.F. Loughton, Essex, Mixed Kata 1st. 
* November 22nd 1987 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist. 
* November 22nd 1987 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 3rd. 
* November 29th 1987 - U.K.A.S.K.O. Open Championships, Manchester, Pee Wee Kata 3rd. 
* February 21st 1988 - B.A.S.K.A. Pickett’sLock, London, Mixed Cadets Kata1st. 
* February 28th 1988 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, CrystalPalace, Junior Kata 3rd. 
* March 19th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Brentford, London, Cadets Kata 3rd. 
* April9th1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Manchester, Cadets Kata 3rd. 
* May 14th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Carlisle, Cadets Kata 4th. 
* June 18th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Newport, Wales, Cadets Kata 2nd. 
* July 29th 1988 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Blackheath, London, Boys 8-11 years Kata 1st. 
* July 29th 1988 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Blackheath, London, Boys Team Kata1st. 
* September 11th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Thornaby-On-Tees, Cadets Kata4th. 
* October 9th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Renfrew, Scotland, Cadets Kata1st. 
* October 30th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry Sport Centre, Cadets Kata 4th. 
* November 6th 1988 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist. 
* November 6th 1988 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 2nd. 
* November 27th 1988 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 3rd. 
* December4h1988 - F.S.K. National Championships, Manchester, Cadets Kata3rd. 
* February 26th 1989 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, Crystal Palace, Junior Kata Semi-Finalist. 
* February 26th 1989 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 4th. 
* April 12th 1989 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry Sports Centre, Cadets Kata 3rd. 
* May 28th 1989 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Harrow, London, Cadets Kata 1st. 
* 1989 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata 1st 
* 1989 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 1st. 
* 1989 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 3rd.
* 1990 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 3rd.
===ACTING CAREER===
Thomas began his acting career at an early age. He started appearing in numerous dance and musical theatre performances. The most notable performance of Thomas was the 1986 production of "The Pied Piper" starring Sylvester McCoy at the Royal National Theatre, Southbank in London. 
Thomas is currently preparing for his new role of Mario Colombo in the feature film MIA for Bromance Films. He will also get featured in the upcoming SURVEILLED movie by RAYA Films. 
===CREATIVE ARTS AND MUSIC=== 
With a passion for carnival arts, dance, and music, Thomas has performed as a session musician/vocalist and performer with vocal groups, bands, steel orchestras, and carnival clubs including Perpetual Beauty Carnival Association, Pantonic Steel Orchestra, Mangrove Steel band, Eclipse Steel band, Parchmore Project Choir, One Voice Community Choir with The Voice UK star Bizzi Dixon and Black Theatre Co-operative with Felix Cross MBE.
==Film and TV credits==
* Mia (2021) as Mario Colombo 
* In Hope of Nothing (2020) as Red Carpet Crowd 
* '83 (2020) as West Indies Cricket Supporter 
* Pennyworth (TV series) as Doctor 
* If (2019) as Referee 
* Pennyworth (2019) as Doctor 
* Rise of the Footsoldier 4: Marbella (2019) as Boxing Judge 
* Black Earth Rising (TV series) as Rwandan Immigration Officer 
* Bodyguard (TV series) as DPG Police Officer 
* Ted Bundy Had a Son (2018) as John Murphy 
* Hello Au Revoir (2018) as Raheem 
* Catalyst (2018) as Hotel Clerk 
* Bodyguard (2018) as DPG Police Officer 
* The Forgiving Earth (2018) as Rwandan Immigration Officer 
* Nazi Murder Mysteries (2018) as Sir Alfred Adderley 
* Paddington 2 (2017) as St Paul's Passerby 
* The Children Act (2017) as Legal Type - Passersby 
* Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story (2017) as Customer in pub 
* Rise of the Footsoldier 3 (2017) as Customer in pub 
* Breathe (2017) as Crowd 
* The Super Recogniser (2017) as Armed Guard 
* Surveilled (2017) as Band Manager 
* Ties of the Ribbon (2017) as Gardender 1 
* Trigonometry (2017) as Passersby 
* EastEnders (2016) as Cafe Customer 
* The Number One Girl (2006) as Nightclub Doorman 
* The Pied Piper by Adrian Mitchell (1986) as MASSED RAT
==Recognition==
Thomas received two honorary degrees in recognition of his creative and performing arts career - an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) and an Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts. 
==Personal life==
Thomas is fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese. He loves to travel and has a keen interest in the study of Heraldry.
==References==
==External links==
* Official website
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Category:British actors
Category:British karateka
Category:British film producers