CR 028: Jermaine Crawford is Ready for His Next Act

The former child star discusses his portrayal of Dukie Weems in “The Wire,” his work with homeless youth, and what he’s looking forward to in his career.

Jermaine Crawford

Jermaine Crawford was just 12 years old when he booked the role of Duquan “Dukie” Weems in The Wire. Created by former journalist David Simon, The Wire’s brutally honest and brilliantly written depiction of crime and law enforcement in Baltimore consistently landed the series atop many critics’ “must watch” lists. But it was the show’s fourth season, which explored the ineptitude of the public school system, that was the most emotionally devastating.

In season four we meet the “young‘uns”—Namond, Duquan, Michael, and Randy—whose days are a chaotic jumble of middle school, neglect, and violence. The youngest of the four, Duquan—referred to as “Dukie” due to his lack of personal hygiene—lives with his drug addicted parents in an apartment with no running water. Despite the efforts of a few caring teachers, by the end of season five, Dukie is homeless, a dropout, and an addict.

Crawford says that although he is enormously grateful that he got to play the role, he wasn’t em…