Born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Doug made his theatrical debut at the age of 12 as an Urchin in the Atlantic City Community Theater production of THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD (that year he also got his first paid gig as a bratty kid playing on the beach in the feature film THE MONEY co-starring Danny Devito).

Throughout his teens, Doug played many roles in community and regional theatre (most notably in the acclaimed production of OLIVER! at New Jersey’s historic Gateway Playhouse).

As a 6’ tall 16 year old, he had the opportunity of working as Brian Dennehy’s stand-in on ABC television’s BIG SHAMUS LITTLE SHAMUS filmed on location in Atlantic City.

After a season at Hope Summer Repertory Theater in Holland Michigan, Mr. Motel moved to Manhattan and at 18 was immediately cast as “The Thug” in THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER at The Quaigh Theater.

Throughout the 1980’s Doug was performing his unique brand of thought provoking humor in virtually all of New York’s comedy clubs and in funky downtown spaces.

Doug moved to Los Angeles by 1990 and though appearing in films such as the THE WAITING GAME, (winner San Diego International Film Festival: Audience Award, Best Independent Feature) and in national television shows such as Fox TV’s live action version of THE TICK (fans know him as the evil Russian villain of the pilot episode) and in popular legitimate theaters like West Hollywood's Coast Playhouse, it is in meeting and performing for people in unusual settings like a dude ranch in Montana or at the tiny Center for a Course in Miracles in London that Doug feels most satisfied.

Mr. Motel is the author of three critically acclaimed solo plays including MICK IN AMERICA, MIND SALAD (L.A. Weekly award nomination for writing and performing) and SHIVA ARMS (winner L.A. Weekly award for writing and performing and winner Theatre LA Ovation award for Best Writing of a World Premier play). He also wrote the libretto and co-wrote the lyrics with John Kroner, for GENIE! The long running musical at the Alhambra Casino Theater in Aruba.

Doug's most recent play PRAESTIGUM features the stories of Judas, Benedict Arnold and James Wormley Jones.