Dallas Dupree Young is an American actor born on October 25, 2006, in Houston, Texas. He is best known for playing Kenny Payne on Netflix’s Cobra Kai, a sequel series to The Karate Kid films.
He is also the son of former MLB player Eric Young Sr.
Who is Dallas Dupree Young?
Dallas Dupree Young is an American actor from Houston, Texas. He first gained recognition through a recurring role on the Freeform drama The Fosters.
He later starred as Stuart in the Nickelodeon sitcom Cousins for Life from 2018 to 2019.
In 2021, Young joined the cast of Cobra Kai as Kenny Payne, a bullied teenager who joins the Cobra Kai dojo. At age 15, he became the youngest member of the show’s cast.
Early Life of Dallas Dupree Young
Dallas Dupree Young was born in Houston, Texas, on October 25, 2006. He is the son of Eric Young Sr., a former Major League Baseball player, and Beyonka Jackson.
His older half-brother, Eric Young Jr., also played professional baseball.
Young grew up surrounded by sports and initially dreamed of following his father and brother into baseball. He played football and basketball as a child, and between ages 5 and 6, he also began studying karate.
Dallas Dupree Young Age
Dallas Dupree Young is 19 years old as of 2026, born on October 25, 2006. Their zodiac sign is Scorpio.
He continues starring in Cobra Kai, which wrapped its sixth and final season in 2025.
Dallas Dupree Young Ethnicity and Nationality
Dallas Dupree Young holds American nationality. He identifies as Black and has spoken publicly about representing African American karate practitioners.
He was born and raised in Houston, Texas, before his acting career took him to Los Angeles.
Dallas Dupree Young Height and Weight
Dallas Dupree Young stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches, or 1.78 meters. His weight is estimated at around 60 to 65 kg, or 132 to 143 lbs.
He maintains an athletic build shaped by his background in martial arts and team sports.
His training in karate and kickboxing has also shaped his physical conditioning for his fight scenes on Cobra Kai.
Dallas Dupree Young Education
Dallas Dupree Young attended Swellview Park High School, where he took part in drama and performing arts programs. He also studied acting at outside training centers while balancing his growing career.
He began acting professionally at age 9, well before finishing high school.
His early training in performing arts helped prepare him for his eventual breakout roles in television and film.
Dallas Dupree Young Career
Dallas Dupree Young made his acting debut in the 2016 short film In No Sense. He began building his resume with small television roles soon after.
Breakthrough Role
Young landed a recurring role in Freeform’s The Fosters, followed by guest appearances on The Good Place and Mixed-ish. In 2018, he was cast as Stuart in Nickelodeon’s Cousins for Life, his first starring role.
That same year, he appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One.
His profile grew further with a 2020 guest role on Fox’s 9-1-1 and a recurring part on Netflix’s The Big Show Show. These credits helped establish him as a rising young actor before his biggest opportunity arrived.
Notable Projects
In 2021, Young joined Cobra Kai as Kenny Payne, initially auditioning after a three-week casting process. He researched martial artists including Bruce Lee and Wesley Snipes to prepare for the role’s fight choreography.
His performance as Kenny drew critical praise as the character evolved from a bullied newcomer into a more complex figure.
In 2022, Young took a lead role in the film 1-800-Hot-Nite, playing a boy who runs from foster care after his father’s arrest. He also portrayed a young Willie Mays Aikens in the biographical drama The Royal that year.
Recent Work
Cobra Kai concluded its run with a sixth season released across 2024 and 2025. Young’s arc as Kenny spanned seasons 4 through 6, evolving from victim to a more aggressive fighter aligned with antagonist Terry Silver.
The series earned multiple Emmy nominations during its run, including for stunt coordination in 2025.
Young has also appeared as a guest on the Lone Lobos podcast, hosted by his Cobra Kai co-stars Jacob Bertrand and Xolo Maridueña.
Dallas Dupree Young Filmography
Dallas Dupree Young has built a growing resume across television and film.
- The Fosters (2013-2018) as Corey
- Ready Player One (2018)
- Cousins for Life (2018-2019) as Stuart
- The Big Show Show (2020)
- 1-800-Hot-Nite (2022) as Tommy
- The Royal (2022) as young Willie Mays Aikens
- Cobra Kai (2021-2025) as Kenny Payne
Dallas Dupree Young Awards and Recognition
Cobra Kai earned multiple Emmy nominations during its run, including a nomination for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series in 2025. Young’s performance as Kenny Payne contributed to the series’ broader critical success.
No individual acting awards are publicly confirmed for Young at this time.
His work on the show has nonetheless drawn consistent praise from critics and fans throughout its final seasons.
Dallas Dupree Young Girlfriend
Dallas Dupree Young’s relationship status is not publicly confirmed. Some fans have speculated about a connection with Cobra Kai co-star Oona O’Brien, though neither actor has addressed the rumors directly.
He has kept his personal life largely private throughout his acting career.
Dallas Dupree Young Net Worth
Dallas Dupree Young’s estimated net worth is $1.5 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from his acting roles in television and film.
Brand partnerships and sponsored content add another stream of income.
His years on Cobra Kai have remained his most consistent source of earnings throughout his career so far.
Dallas Dupree Young Social Media
Dallas Dupree Young stays active on Instagram, where he shares updates on his acting career and personal life. He also posts on X, where he shares behind-the-scenes content and stream announcements.
He streams on Twitch under the handle dallasdupreeyoung, often featuring fellow Cobra Kai cast members as guests.
He has also begun uploading content to his own YouTube channel, including reactions to Cobra Kai trailers.
The Bottom Line
Dallas Dupree Young built his acting career from a 2016 short film into a starring role as Kenny Payne on Netflix’s Cobra Kai starting in 2021. His performance helped the series earn multiple Emmy nominations before it concluded in 2025.
He grew up in Houston in a family of professional athletes, initially planning to follow his father and brother into baseball. His early training in karate ended up preparing him for his biggest acting role instead.
Young continues building his career beyond Cobra Kai, expanding into podcasting and streaming alongside his former castmates. He remains active across Instagram, X, and Twitch as he grows his platform further.
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