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Everything You Need to Know About Shanola Hampton's Husband, Famous for His Iconic Rants
If you're a fan of Kendrick Lamar and football, you may already know Shanola Hampton's husband, Daren Dukes.
Shanola Hampton lights up Tuesday nights as the star of NBC’s new thriller Found. Thanks to her powerful lead performance as Gabi Mosely, we see the challenges and rewards of cracking the most difficult missing persons cases.
After the versatile actress skyrocketed to fame on Shameless, she's stayed in the public eye, starring in television projects, independent films, and comedic roles. But when it comes to her personal life, she tends to keep it private — including her life with husband Daren Dukes. The couple has been married for 23 years, it turns out, and they have two beautiful children together.
Here's what to know about Shanola Hampton and Daren Dukes.
Who is Shanola Hampton’s husband?
Daren Dukes is an actor, writer, and producer, most recently appearing on The Marriage Tour (2013-2015) and Criminal Minds. The couple has even acted together at least twice, first in the 2007 thriller The Hanged Man and then in the comedy short Hot and Bothered, where Hampton played Dukes’s sister!
However, you may know Dukes better as the lively and passionate football commentator, Shango. A diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, Dukes' opinions and insights on the team can be enjoyed on his popular YouTube channel, The Dallas Cowboy Show, which has more than 40,000 subscribers.
His colorful commentary is sometimes the stuff of legend. Kendrick Lamar actually immortalized one famous post-game rant against the Seattle Seahawks in 2012: In his 2022 single, “Mr. Morale,” from the album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, he samples Dukes about 10 seconds into the song.
That off-the-hook YouTube rant (which has half a million views) became a sampling favorite of hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams, instantly elevating him to “cool uncle” status.
"I am the guy who pretty much invented after-game rants on the internet," he told Audacy in 2022.
Do Shanola Hampton and Daren Dukes have children together?
After tying the knot on March 11, 2000, Hampton and Dukes welcomed two children, a daughter named Cai MyAnna Dukes, born in 2014, and a son, Daren O.C. Dukes, in 2016.
“We never knew how much was missing from our life until our baby girl arrived! So blessed, so overjoyed, pure bliss,” the couple told PEOPLE after Cai was born.
Now, aged 9 and 7, the kids are experienced travelers. The devoted parents carve out time from their busy schedules to explore Paris, London, and other memorable vacation spots with their kids. The Los Angeles-based family also finds adventure close to home, with Dukes sharing his passions with his kids. They've enjoyed family days at the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp in Oxnard, CA, and went to see NASA’s retired Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
"Unfreaking believable! Family day at the Space Shuttle exhibit. For a shuttle geek like myself.....Awesome!" he posted on Facebook.
What do Dukes and Hampton say about each other?
Though Dukes is passionate about football, his number one love is Hampton, and he is her top supporter. When not posting adorable throwback photos of the two cuddling together, he gushes about his amazingly talented wife on social media.
“To [Shanola Hampton] simply the most incredible human being that I have ever met. Congratulations…and you are gonna do more than just entertain…you are going to change things. I love you,” he once posted on Instagram.
There is one burning question: Is Shanola Hampton a Cowboys fan?
Apparently, she roots for the Minnesota Vikings. Looks like Dukes is able to look past that, though!
The series Found airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
