Who is Derrick Downey Jr.?
Derrick Downey Jr., is an American Instagram creator from Durham, North Carolina. He first gained online recognition for his comedic and motivational posts on Instagram, before rising to mainstream popularity as the “Squirrel Dad” who houses his rescued squirrels, Richard and Maxine. Niblet, more recently, became a part of his squirrel family.
Now, Derrick debuted his entertainment career in the early 2010s, but went viral in 2019 after Oprah Winfrey featured one of his parody videos. Derrick is also the founder of DDJR Productions LLC and the #1 Best-Selling Author of “Hand & Paw.”
Currently, Derrick lives in Los Angeles, California, and is said to be dating singer-songwriter, Yuli (@earthtoyuli).
Got it? Well… yeah, no, Derrick is NOT Gen Z; he is Millennial. Still, The GenZStars Team will go ‘head and tell you everything else there’s to know about him. :))
Profile Summary
- Real Name: Derrick Downey Jr.
- Date of Birth: February 17, 1992
- Age: 33 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius (Creators)
- Place of Birth: Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Afro-American (African descent)
- Management: DDJR Productions LLC
- Years Active: 2013 – present
- Biz Email Address: collab@ddjrproductions.com
Family Life
Derrick Downey Jr. was born on February 17, 1992, in Durham, North Carolina and is currently 33 years old. He grew up between Durham and Charlotte. His mother is Misha ‘Meme’ Mack, his father is Derrick Downey Sr., and his late sister, Buffy Downey, passed away from sickle cell disease.
He also has a close-knit extended family, including his grandmother, Rhonda Mack Malik, his aunt Rasheedah Malik, and his niece Kyrie Malik.
Now, Derrick has spoken publicly about how his family, especially his mom (who is on Instagram under the @mhealingaddiction) and grandma, influenced his outlook on life and success. And, often, he does feature them on his Instagram page. Well, on April 27, he wished his mom a happy birthday by writing:
“Y’all help me wish my mom a happy birthday! I wouldn’t be the man I am today without your love, strength, and guidance. Love you and happy birthday @mhealingaddiction.”
He attended North Clayton High School in North Carolina, and it was during his teenage years that he began exploring interests in modeling and performing arts. He is a Christian and has African-American ethnic background. His mom, Misha, and dad, Derrick Snr., are no longer married.
Girlfriend
Derrick Downey Jr. has not officially confirmed a relationship, but he is said to be dating American singer-songwriter, Yuli (@earthtoyuli).
Well… In a post made on November 1, 2024, Derrick shared a photo of himself and Yuli with the caption:
“This ain’t no Halloween costume but this is the closest I’ve come to being in a relationship in a while. Felt good to be @earthtoyuli bae 🥰,” which fueled dating rumors between the two.
He hasn’t shared further details about the exact dynamics of his relationship with Yuli, but fans, of course, continue to speculate that Yuli is his actual girlfriend.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches tall (188 cm)
- Weight: 95 kg (210 lbs)
- Body Build: Athletic / Toned
- Hair Color: Black hair color
- Eye Color: Brown eye color
- Ethnicity: African-American
- Religion: Christian
- Skin Color: Brown skin tone
Is Derrick Downey Jr. Related to Beyoncé?
In some ways? Well, yes. Derrick Downey is related to Beyoncé. Now, he often cosplayed Beyoncé’s character in his comedic short video skits, hence people started linking him to her (Beyoncé).
Moreover, he often makes comedic short videos with his Squirrel, Richard, where he talks about either Beyoncé’s tour, her upcoming shows or her character.
Career Timeline
Derrick Downey Jr. developed an interest in modeling as early as the age of seven. Before fame, he worked with Amway US & Canada, where he gained professional experience before transitioning into entertainment full-time.
In the mid-2010s, he began posting comedy sketches and motivational videos on Instagram, which gradually built his fan base. He officially went viral in 2019 when Oprah Winfrey and her production team featured one of his parody videos; a comedic impression of Oprah herself, on her show.
In 2021, Derrick starred in the film “Million Dollar Debunk,” further establishing himself as a multi-talented entertainer.
Outside acting and comedy, Derrick runs his own fitness bootcamp class in Charlotte, North Carolina, and creates wellness content that merges humor with positivity.
His biggest breakthrough came in 2023, when the viral animal platform The Dodo featured him in a story about his two adopted squirrels, Richard and Maxine. Known online as the “Squirrel Dad,” Derrick gained millions of views for his hilarious and wholesome squirrel videos. He later added a third squirrel, Niblet, to his household.
Today, Derrick Downey balances being a full-time content creator, fitness instructor, entrepreneur, and animal advocate. His production company, DDJR Productions LLC, oversees collaborations and his personal projects, so he is, more or less, independent.
Net Worth
Derrick Downey Jr.’s estimated net worth is $620k thousand. His earnings come from social media partnerships, acting roles, brand sponsorships, book sales, and his DDJR Productions business.
His squirrel videos, comedy sketches, and motivational posts have contributed to his consistent online, and by extension, financial growth.
Follower Count:
Here’s a list of his social media handles, including reach and audience:
- Instagram: @derrickdowneyjr, with 1.6M followers
- TikTok: @derrickdowneyjr, with 1.5M followers & 36M all-time content likes
- Facebook: @DerrickDowneyJr, with 530K followers
- YouTube: @DerrickDowneyJr, with 30K subscribers & 6M all-time views
FAQ
What is Derrick Downey’s real name? His real name is Derrick Downey Jr.
Where is Derrick Downey from? He was born in Durham, North Carolina, and grew up between Durham and Charlotte.
Who are Derrick Downey’s parents? His mother is Misha ‘Meme’ Mack, and his father is Derrick Downey Sr.
Is Derrick Downey married? Although there have been search queries suggesting that Derrick is married and has a wife, we, however, couldn’t find any documents that confirm the ‘marriage and having a wife’ rumors.
Is Derrick Downey Jr. gay? Derrick Downey has not publicly identified as gay. He is likely straight and possibly dating Yuli (@earthtoyuli).
Where does Derrick Downey Jr. live? He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
What is Derrick Downey’s net worth? His net worth is estimated at $620k thousand.
What is Derrick Downey Jr. height and weight? Derrick Downey stands 6 feet 2 inches tall (188 cm) and weighs 95 kg (210 lbs).
Author
