Derek Cecil, a Texas native, was drawn to performing from an early age, acting in plays from the second grade through high school. After graduating, he moved to Houston where he performed with the Alley, The Houston Shakespeare Festival, Urban Theater and attended the University of Houston. He decided to further his training at the American Conservatory Theater's Advanced Training Program in San Francisco, stayed in the Bay Area for a year afterwords doing theater, and local TV and film. He moved to New York City in 1998 where he was a founding