Doug E. Doug started off as a stand-up comic, but has developed into a truly versatile comic performer. Doug was seen at the Apollo Theater by well-known rap impresario Russell Simmons, who asked Doug to write and host a syndicated late-night program Simmons produced called The New Music Report.

Doug is well-known to movie viewers for his starring role as the spirited pushcart operator turned bobsled racer in the feature film Cool Runnings. He is also known for his roles as a ne'er do well in Hangin' with the Homeboys (for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor), class comedian in Class Act, a soldier enlisted for an unusual duty in Operation Dumbo Drop, an ill-fated high school student in the horror epic Dr. Giggles and the hilarious FBI agent in That Darn Cat. In the Warner Brothers science fiction comedy Eight Legged Freaks, he portrayed a paranoid small-town radio host with visions of an alien invasion. In the animated Dreamworks film, Shark Tale, his is the voice of Bernie the jellyfish. His entrée into film began when he spoke one line in Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues.

On television, Doug starred in the ABC series Where I Live, a show developed around his life and on which he served as co-producer. In Where I Live, he portrayed Douglas Saint Martin, a quirky teenager growing up in a working-class Caribbean family in New York. He co-hosted the VH-1 series Rock of Ages and spent four seasons starring as the character Griffin in the television series Cosby. On the Nickelodeon animated show, Little Bill, Doug's is the voice of Percy the pet store owner. Doug guest-starred in Touched by An Angel, Law and Order: SVU and NBC's Conviction.

In theater, Doug starred in the musical Purlie.

Doug made his debut as a director/producer with the screenplay Citizen James, in which he also co-wrote and starred. Citizen James aired on Starz Encore/ BET Movies