Billy Dec is an Filipino-American TV personality, actor, and businessman in the entertainment and hospitality industries. He is the CEO/Founder of hospitality management company Rockit Ranch, marketing agency COACT, and human resources firm HR Pro. He makes regular television appearances discussing food and entertainment, and his acting credits include Criminal Minds and Empire. He also hosts a podcast, The Meal of Your Life!.

Dec has also served on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, the White House Bullying Prevention Task Force, and was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee.

Early life and education

Dec was born and raised in Chicago, and educated at St. Clement School and the Latin School of Chicago. Upon graduation, Dec attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, majoring in Economics/Pre-Law.[1][2] During his time in college, he worked as a nightclub bouncer. After graduation, he was offered a job as a promoter, but turned it down to attend law school at Chicago Kent College of Law.

Hospitality industry

During his first year of law school, Dec established his first club, Solo. While in law school, he went on to open Equinox Wine Bar, Dragon Room, Circus and The Bedroom.

In 2002, Dec and business partner Brad Young formed Rockit Ranch Productions, a restaurant and nightclub development and management company.[3] Their first nightclub venture was Le Passage Nightclub, and their first restaurant was Rockit Bar and Grill, a restaurant themed around rock music. The company went on to open more venues including Rockit, Underground, Sunda, and Rockit Burger Bar.[4][5][6] In 2019, Rockit Bar and Grill closed after 15 years.[7]

Entertainment industry

In 2015, Dec launched a Chicago-based production company, Elston Films, with his wife Kat Stephans and producers DeAnna Cooper and Kevin Cooper.

Dec hosts a podcast entitled The Meal of Your Life, in which he interviews celebrity guests about a defining meal that has affected their lives. Past guests include David Schwimmer, Andrew Zimmern, Macy Gray, Carla Hall, Ming Tsai, Curtis Stone, and Rahm Emanuel.

Charity work

Dec is a supporter of several non-profit organizations and charity events based in Chicago, including Make-A-Wish Illinois, Best Buddies, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the American Cancer Society, the Lookingglass Theatre Company,[8] and Maggie Daley's After School Matters. He was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee,[9] responsible for attracting celebrity support for the city's Olympic bid.

Personal life

In 2009, Dec married Katherine Stephans.

Filmography

Film and television

  • TBD: Single Car Crashes, Joey
  • 2022: Leverage Redemption, Jimmy
  • 2019: Food. Roots, Himself
  • 2018: Mollywood, Rush
  • 2018: Miss Arizona, DJ Solid
  • 2018: The Law of Moises, Jim Boone
  • 2017: Chasing the Blues, Officer Frye
  • 2016: Chicago Fire, FF Belzer
  • 2016: Chasing Gold, Taze
  • 2016: American Crime Story, expert
  • 2016: Jessica, Gerry
  • 2015: Chasing Grace, Officer Reddick
  • 2015: Entourage, Billy Dec
  • 2015: Powers, cop
  • 2015: Empire, Alan Lester
  • 2014: Criminal Minds, Detective Paul Rosado
  • 2014: NightLights, medic #1
  • 2013: One Small Hitch, concierge
  • 2012: I Heart Shakey, party patron
  • 2012: Adventures in the Sin Bin, REO Monitor
  • 2011: The Chicago Code, receptionist
  • 2011: The Rites of Joy May, hipster
  • 2009: Entourage, agent
  • 2009: The Beast, agent / FBI Tactical Officer
  • 2009: Baby on Board, attorney
  • 1999-2004: Friends, multiple characters
  • 1996: Book of Swords, martial arts fighter

[10]

Television guest appearances

  • 2019: Today in Nashville, guest
  • 2018: Today in Nashville, guest cohost
  • 2007-2019: Today Show, food contributor
  • 2016: Weekend Today, guest
  • 2016: The Meredith Vieira Show, guest
  • 2011-2016: Windy City LIVE, entertainment contributor
  • 2014: Frankenfood, guest judge
  • 2014: Good Morning America, food contributor
  • 2014: Chicagoland, guest
  • 2014: Fox & Friends, food contributor
  • 2008: 24/7 Chicago, host

Awards

YearAwardIndustry
2023 Chicago / Illinois Tech, Personal Achievement Award Business
2019Chicago / The Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame, Legend Award - (Won)Business
2019Champaign-Urbana / University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts & Science Alumni Award - (Won)Business
2017Chicago / Chicago United, Business Leaders of Color - (Won)Business
2015Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Won)[11]Television
2010Byrne Piven Community Service Award[12]Community Service
2010Chicago-Kent College of Law Professional Achievement Award[13]Law
2010Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Pacific American Business Leadership Award[14]Business
2010Illinois Secretary of State Judy Baar Topinka Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in BusinessBusiness
2010Filipino American TV Asian American Hall of Fame Award[14]Television
2010Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award[14]Business
2010Cook County State Attorney's Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award[14]Business
2009Midwest Emmy Award - Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs – Arts/Entertainment Program or Program Series (Broadcast/Advanced Media) (Won)[15]Television
2008Nightclub & Bar Magazine's USA Operator of the Year (Won)[16]Nightlife and Hospitality
2008Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Nominated)[17]Television

References

  1. ↑ Hipster club owner Billy Dec analyzes the science of Chicago’s scene Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Who The Heck Is Billy Dec?
  3. ↑ Overview | Rockit Ranch Productions
  4. ↑ Chicago's Best Winter Cocktails
  5. ↑ Chicago's top 10 celebrity spots in October | Chicago Tribune
  6. ↑ Chicago's top 10 celebrity spots in August | Chicago Tribune
  7. ↑ https://chicago.eater.com/2019/7/9/20687391/rockit-bar-grill-river-north-closing-billy-dec-brad-young
  8. ↑ "Board of Directors Lookingglass Theatre Company". lookingglasstheatre.org. Archived from the original on 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  9. ↑ TOC poll: Should Chicago get the 2016 Olympics? Archived February 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Billy Dec". IMDb.
  11. ↑ 2014-2015 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees
  12. ↑ "Actress Kate Walsh receives award from Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston". Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  13. ↑ Alumni Award Recipients 2010
  14. 1 2 3 4 Famous Filipinos - Chicago Hearts Trivia
  15. ↑ Billy Dec wins an Emmy, Chicago beams with pride Archived October 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Rockit Ranch Productions - Profiles - Billy Dec
  17. ↑ 2007-2008 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees
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