Asanté Deshon

Asanté (which means "thank you" in the African language of Swahili) was born Asanté Deshon Parker, in the south side of Chicago, to Wendy and Derrick Parker, both former creatives. Asanté first showcased his acting capabilities at the age of five when his parents placed him in his school's Christmas production. Playing a minute role as one of the twelve mice, he believed he indeed caught his love for acting at that very moment. Growing up in the south of South of Chicago wasn't ideally the safest part of town, however, his parents made sure he was not stirred by his environments during his upbringing. Asanté's parents tossed both him and his little sister Shanté into every extra curricular activity they could think of but nothing stood like his passion to bring joy to others. Starring in the hit television show "Chicago Fire" as Mikey on NBC, playing Dwayne in the feature film "Teacher" and so much more, he eventually went off to pursue what he knows is his purpose.