Donnell Turner is a former semi-pro basketball player who later became known for his role as Curtis Ashford on General Hospital, which he began playing in 2015.
Though he was born in Tacoma, Washington, Turner spent the early part of his childhood in Chicago before the family once again relocated to Redding, California. His love of acting sprouted after he began taking part in church plays. However, he initially pursued a career as a semi-pro basketball player before deciding he wanted to move to LA and throw his hat into the entertainment field.
Turner trained with Northern California Casting, Van Marr Academy, Beverly Hills Playhouse, and Lesley Kahn Acting Studios. His first success in the entertainment industry came from commercial and modeling work. He has appeared in over 100 commercials, many of which were for major brands like Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Disney, Hilton, AT&T, Mercedes-Benz, and Bud Light. He also did stunt work on several television shows, including doubling for former The Young and the Restless star Shemar Moore on Criminal Minds.
Turner landed the role of Dr. Aiden Williams on Days of our Lives in 2010, but it wasn't his first exposure to the world of daytime. He admits that he grew up watching GH and started writing to the show's casting director, Mark Teschner, back in the 1990s. He first auditioned for the ABC
When he's not acting, Turner works as a motivational speaker for college and high school students as well as religious and professional association audiences. He also has a mentoring program known as the "Turnround Project."
Turner has studied martial arts since he was a child and also enjoys knife combat, nunchaku, yoga, kickboxing, submission wrestling, and firearms training. He also studied and practiced Muay Thai in Bangkok, Thailand.
Noches con Platanito
2017
Jane the Virgin
Handsome Customer
2016
General Hospital
Curtis Ashford
November 30, 2016 to present
Kevin from Work
Coach
2015
Rizzoli & Isles
Firefighter
2015
Stitchers
Dean Jerome Hardwyck
2015
The Young and the Restless
Doctor
2015
Love That Girl!
Calvin B. Lyons
2014
How to Get Away With Murder
Handsome Man
2014
Bad Judge
Fireman
2014
Friends with Better Lives
Cop #2
2014
Revenge
Investor
2013
The Mindy Project
Male Cop
2013
Social Nightmare (TV Movie)
Officer Elliot
2013
Dexter
Off Duty Cop
2013
Teen Wolf
Paramedic
2013
Save Me
Benicio
2013
Anger Management
Handsome Man
2013
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Bouncer
2013
90210
Waiter
2012
Parks and Recreation
Louis
2012
Baby Daddy
Guy
2012
2 Broke Girls
Officer James
2012
The Boulevard (TV Movie)
Stan Hodek
2011
Days of our Lives
Dr. Aiden Williams
2010
Criminal Minds
Apartment Super
2006
Time in Between
Wreck
Love Interrupted (Short)
Bartender
2018
Surviving Theater 9 (SHort)
Adrian
2018
The Choir Director
Det. McGraw
2018
A Million Happy Nows
Mr. Handsome
2017
Suffocated (Short)
Max
2014
Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories
Dock Ellis
2013
A Worthy Gentleman
Maurice
2010
A Fish Needs a Bicycle (Short)
Eric
2009
Alternative (Short)
Marcus
2008
Grave Situations
Jerry
2007
Diamond Real Estate (Short)
Keion Richards
2006
Wednesday Afternoon (Short)
Backup Police Officer
2004
PLACE OF BIRTH: Tacoma, Washington
DATE OF BIRTH: January 8, 1973
SIBLINGS: Ejay "Blunt" Turner, brother (member of the 1990s contemporary R&B group DRS)
