Derrick L. McMillon – Prank vs The Lion King
Most of us in South Park know Derrick McMillon as the affable and cheerful “gatekeeper” at the Prank Bar on 11th and Hope. Anyone walking by his post at the entry to the popular patio bar receives a quick smile and a friendly greeting. He has become so popular that during his recent lengthy absence the local conversation often turned to, “I wonder where Darrick is? I hope he’s OK.”
The answer lies in the fact that Derrick has another life.
Derrick has been an Angelino since 1989, having grown up in Orlando, Florida. When asked why he ended up here he answered, “They opened a Universal Studio in Orlando, Man. I played football (free safety) at the University of Central Florida and after I graduated, I did some commercials. Universal had several shows like Nickelodeon, and I began doing a few bit parts. It was mainly acting, but I helped with some voice-overs when needed. One of the directors I worked for was with Disney and that led to filling in for other actor’s parts until someone offered me the voice-over part for Mosi, Leader of the Baboons. Mosi is a character in Mustafa: the Lion King, the 2024 Disney photorealistic CGI Film prequel to The Lion King. Mosi is a male yellow baboon who is an elder and co-leader of Rafiki’s former troop. (You should see the film if you haven’t already).”
When hearing his deep and powerful voice tempered with an obvious talent for good humor, you immediately understand how Derrick can easily fill the needs of many entertainment gigs.
He continued, “You never know who’s watching…. this led to the owner of the company doing The Lion King production in Europe asking me to be the host of the show on its European Tour and incorporate my “journey” in the voice-over world of Disney. I tell a few stories, a few jokes, and then I introduce the orchestra and chorus that performs the soundtracks of Disney animated productions of The Lion King, Hans Zimmer, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean and others. This last tour we visited Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.”
The tour recently ended, so Derrick is back in South Park.
When I asked him what’s on the agenda for the future, he told me that everything with the production company is “up in the air.” All the recent political theatrics have made getting visas for the tour group very difficult. They had planned a Christmas Tour in Canada but……we shall see.”
So, Derrick is back to being our neighbor and doing a gig that he obviously enjoys – and the customers at Prank as well as his South Park neighbors are the benefactors of his hiatus from show business. Good to see you, Derrick!!!
By John Nilsson