Born on June 28, 1974 in Kettering, OH, Dyrdek was raised by his father, Gene, and mother, Patty. Though he grew up far away from the surf and skate culture prevalent in Southern California, Dyrdek began skating at 12 years old and became the youngest member of the G&S (Gordon & Smith) skateboarding team less than a year later. Dyrdek turned pro when he was 16, cofounding the Alien Workshop team. His onscreen career began with appearances on skate videos such as “The DC Video” (2003) and “Team Ice Cream Vol. 1 Skate Video” (2006), performing impressive tricks and stunts that made him an icon in the extreme sports world. He made a skate video comeback in “Mind Field” (2009) with fellow legends Steve Berra and Tyler Bledsoe.
Known for supporting skate culture by developing shows such as “Jackass” (2000-02) and “Life of Ryan” (2007–09), MTV gave Dyrdek his own series, “Rob & Big” (2006-08). The comedic reality show followed Dyrdek and his larger-than-life friend and bodyguard, Christopher “Big Black” Boykin, while they lived together in Hollywood. The pair engaged in partly scripted, but mostly improvised scenarios, like Boykin making Guinness World Record history for the most bananas and most powdered donuts eaten, and Dyrdek staging his own arrest for vandalizing city property as an April Fool’s joke on his visiting parents. Despite the uproarious stunts the pair pulled, Boykin left in 2009 to concentrate on being a father, effectively canceling the series.
Despite the setback, Dyrdek landed a spin-off series, “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” (MTV, 2009- ), which focused on the entrepreneurial skateboarder trying to expand his company, Dyrdek Enterprises. The series was set in a 25,000-square-foot warehouse that included a built-in skate park, a recording studio and an office for video game development. Dyrdek also made another Guinness World Record attempt on the show, including building and riding the biggest skateboard in the world. His other business pursuits included a partnership with rocker Travis Barker for the Rogue Status clothing label, a line of skateboard toys, and a partnership with DC Shoes for a footwear collection released in the summer of 2009.
Skateboarding and business aside, Dyrdek was most passionate about helping millions of young athletes achieve their dreams, which is why he created the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation to build legal street-skateboarding locations throughout the country. In 1998, he became the first pro skateboarder to build a private indoor skate park called Training Facility in San Diego. Meanwhile, the world’s first skate plaza opened in Dyrdek’s hometown in June 2005, with the plans designed by the skateboarder himself. In Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attended the opening of Dyrdek’s Safe Spot Skate Spot in Los Angeles in February 2009, with the promise that the city will fully accommodate the needs of skateboarders.
On the acting side, Dyrdek made an impressive feature film debut alongside greats Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in the crime drama “Righteous Kill” (2008), playing a skateboarding pimp named Rambo. The following year, Dyrdek served as executive producer, co-writer and star of “Street Dreams” (2009), an indie drama about a Midwestern teen (Paul Rodriguez, Jr.) who tries to make it in the competitive world of skateboarding. Dyrdek played the lead character’s best friend, who grows increasingly jealous of his success. “Street Dreams” was the first movie created and produced by actual skaters, giving the film its authentic portrayal of their lives. Also that year, Dyrdek was a double nominee at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV: Reality and Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star.