WASHINGTON (July 16, 2020) – Roland Buddy Lewis was a four-year member of the Howard University men's swim team where he competed in the butterfly events.
 
In 1984, he pledged Omega Psi Phi as the tail Alpha Chapter before earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology two years later (1986).
 
After graduation, Lewis worked various local comedy clubs in the D.C. area, including the Comedy Café on K St., NW, & Mr. Henry's in Adams Morgan. This helped sharpened his skills with fellow comics Martin Lawrence, Tommy Davidson and Tony Woods, Pierre, Danny Williams, Kevin Anthony, Teddy Carpenter, and the late Fat Doctor.
 
Lewis left D.C. on Good Friday after his time at the Zee Medical Company with only $700 in his pockets. He moved to Los Angeles, pursuing a career in entertainment.
 
In 1989, he arrived in the City of Angels where the urban comedy scene was at its peak. Weekly, Lewis had an opportunity to watch the late great Robin Harris perform at the Comedy Act Theater. There, he made it his mission to get on stage to win the approval of Robin Harris and the owner Michael Williams.
 
After working all over the L.A. area, he earned five appearances on Comic View, Def Comedy Jam (twice) and Martin Lawrence's 1^st Amendment Comedy Show.
 
Since living in L.A., Lewis managed to have over 50 film and television appearances including "Martin", "That's So Raven" and two National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Theater Awards for acting in David E. Talbert's Fabric of a Man and fellow Howard alum Debbie Allen's Pearl.
 
Recently, he began working as a writer and producer. Lewis wrote comedy material or worked with each of The Original Kings of Comedy while collaborating with Oscar winners Monique and Jamie Foxx.
 
He also wrote for the hit satirical sitcom Real Husbands of Hollywood and co-created the sitcom dramedy White Famous on Showtime. Lewis continues to work in Hollywood, writing movies and television shows.
 
Lewis will be a recurring regular on Season Two of BET's crime drama series Family Business.
 
Presently, he is producing more comedy material on several social media platforms and you can find him on Facebook and Instagram at Buddylewisjokes.
 
About Where Are They Now?
 
The new weekly series of "Where Are They Now?" appears each Thursday throughout the year.
 
The series will feature former student-athletes from all sports and eras, highlighting their careers as athletes at the University and what they are presently doing.
 
All interested former athletes and their coaches should submit a short bio, a recent head shot and contact information on how they can be reached via email to Lauren Stewart (lauren.stewart@bison.howard.edu) and Derek W. Bryant (derek.bryant@howard.edu).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.