David Richard Thompson

HUMANITARIAN

PARKOUR

AUTHOR

SINGER/SONGWRITER

ACTOR

FILM & TELEVISION

David Richard Thompson

HUMANITARIAN

PARKOUR

AUTHOR

SINGER/SONGWRITER

ACTOR

FILM & TELEVISION

David (Da’ud) Richard Thompson

David (Da’ud) Richard Thompson's name often prompts curiosity. People frequently ask, “Is Da’ud your nickname?” The answer is, “No, it is not his nickname. It is his name.” Born in Beirut, Lebanon, his birth certificate is bilingual: Arabic on the right side and English on the left. In Arabic, it reads “Da’ud Rachid Thompson.” His father called him Da’ud from the day he was born until the day he died, and his friends and colleagues did the same, introducing him as Da’ud and calling his father “Abu Da’ud,” meaning “Father of Da’ud.”

On the left side of his birth certificate, his name is recorded in English as “David Richard Thompson.” This dual naming was a compromise between his parents: his mother agreed to Da’ud Rachid in Arabic if she could name him David Richard in English, with the intention of calling him Ricky, though she never did. Instead, she always called him David, and that’s how she introduced him to others.

David Richard Thompson was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to American and Canadian parents and was raised in Morocco, Jordan, and Washington D.C. He later moved to Ohio, USA, for his final year of high school. David spent his university and graduate school years in DC, Paris, and New York City, becoming fluent in French. His early acting highlights include playing Linus in a school musical and performing in community theatre in Rabat, Morocco, and Amman, Jordan. One memorable moment was when King Hussein of Jordan attended his performance of "The Girl in The Freudian Slip" in Amman and congratulated David on his comedic skills backstage.

David's television career includes roles opposite Jenna Elfman, Peri Gilpin, and Geena Davis, and a notable scene in "Killing Zoe" with Eric Stoltz. He was also a founding member of the Los Angeles-based sketch comedy group "Unprotected Six."

In 2009, David took a hiatus from acting to co-found the World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF) and the International Parkour Federation (IPF) with his friend and business partner, Victor Bevine. Despite this shift, his passion for acting and singing has remained strong. David is also an accomplished author and singer-songwriter. 

As a dual national of the USA and Canada, he loves traveling and embraces anything creative. He is deeply committed to making the world a better place through his humanitarian efforts and artistic endeavors.


Co-Founder/President WFPF- World Freerunning Parkour Federation, Co-Founder/Secretary General IPF-International Parkour Federation (a 501c3 non-profit), Chairman IPF’s #PeaceThroughParkour Global Education Initiative, Co-Founder/Director USA Parkour, Creator & Executive Producer WorldParkourChampionship.com , Co-Executive Producer MTV’s ULTIMATE PARKOUR CHALLENGE, Board Member IPTC (International Professional Training Certification), Board Member USA Sports Council, VP for Canada World Football Skating Federation, Ambassador “Books for Peace”, Board member/mentor "Second Families" Syrian/Iraqi refugee resettlement organization.





About Me

I’m the co-founder of the Non-Profit 501c3 International Parkour Federation (IPF), the for-profit World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF), and USA Parkour.  I am the founder and chairman of the IPF “Peace Through Parkour” Global Education Initiative.  At my core I consider myself an entrepreneur and an artist.  I’ve always been a curious person, love to learn new things, love to try to be the renaissance man that I’ve always read about in the history books. Throughout my lifetime I’ve worked in the following areas:

HUMANITARIAN
PARKOUR
AUTHOR
MUSIC
ACTOR
FILM & TELEVISION
FOOD

I also produced fashion and celebrity photo shoots as one of my day jobs while I was pursuing an acting and music career.  I got to work with the world’s top photographers, fashion brands, models, stars, and celebrities.  I was in the right place at the right time and I speak French so that clinched it.  I scolded Madonna once (gently, it just slipped out!) because she was late and didn’t call ahead. Elizabeth Taylor told me I had beautiful eyes!

If you’d like to purchase Parkour gear from our store or help to support are “Peace Through Parkour” Global Education Initiative by buying an item (the items that support that initiative are indicated) then click here:

https://wfpfparkourgear.com

OUTREACH
“Peace Through Parkour” Global Education Initiative

David is the co-founder and Secretary General of the 501c3 non-profit organization International Parkour Federation (IPF) and founder of its “Peace Through Parkour” Global Education Initiative.  This initiative focuses on providing support, mentoring, and funding to those Parkour athletes in conflict zones around the world.  This also includes a big effort to help Parkour athletes who are refugees or displaced and those Parkour athletes who work with displaced people.  David is currently working to build an education and skills training school in Athens, Greece.  It will include Parkour training as well, of course, because by overcoming physical obstacles in life (like the parkour blocks and walls) you can learn to overcome other “life” obstacles.  

 

The program is up and running with very limited funds at the moment and is being run by an Afghan Parkour athlete refugee who David has mentored for many years. Funds are urgently needed to sustain the program with future plans to rent a space, pay teachers, and buy supplies. 

On the grass roots level, David organizes and supplies funds for housing and food for at-risk Parkour athletes and sometimes for their family members.  He does this through IPF- International Parkour Federation, but when there is not money for that through IPF, he reaches into his pocket and makes it happen.  He writes letters on their behalf to help them connect with opportunities, provides money for their expenses, provides emotional support and advice, and tries to give them tools which will help them build a future life for themselves.  David has worked to help athletes in this manner in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Kashmir, Gaza, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. 

 

Do you want to get involved?  Reach out to David. 

 

To donate:  InternationalParkourFederation.org

 

International Parkour Federation is registered with Guidestar:

 

https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-2944977

Peace Through Parkour Greece- KHAIR- Afghanistan to Greece
Peace Through Parkour Greece- KHAIR- Afghanistan to Greece

David also serves as a volunteer and also on the board of Second Families SecondFamiliesSD.org which helps resettle refugees in Southern California. 

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Parkour

David is Co-Founder/President of the for-profit company World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF), Co-Founder/Secretary General of 501c3 non-profit International Parkour Federation (IPF), Co-Founder/Senior Advisor of USA Parkour, Ruff Magic Entertainment, Creator & Executive Producer WorldParkourChampionship.com , Board Member IPTC (International Professional Training Certification), Board Member USA Sports Council, Co-Executive Producer MTV’s ULTIMATE PARKOUR CHALLENGE.  David’s focus with IPF and WFPF is building national federation governing bodies in countries around the world and promoting Parkour education, safety, and good will.

David created IPF’s #PeaceThroughParkour Global Education Initiative.  IPF is a member of  Guidestar.org :

https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-2944977

 

To donate to IPF and/or the IPF Peace Through Parkour Global Education Initiative, go to:  InternationalParkourFederation.org

Some of David’s WFPF Parkour productions along with amazing business colleague and crew and athletes:

 

WFPF / IPF International Parkour World Championship “Jump Off” Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas 2017
A global campaign that WFPF produced for American Eagle Outfitters:
WFPF (World Freerunning Parkour Federation) Splash Reel
AUTHOR

David has just completed a Parkour themed children’s book and accompanying original children’s album entitled “Parkour Power Tots” with illustrations by Molly Brandenburg. Links coming soon so you can buy it!

He is also currently writing a magical memoir of his experiences growing up, living in Morocco, and other experiences, called “Searching for El-Kabira”.  Release date TBD. 

MUSICIAN (SINGER-SONGWRITER)

His original song “Slave to the Beautiful One” is on all music platforms under the artist name of “Da’ud” in both the American version and the World global version which was partly recorded in Morocco with members of the Moroccan national orchestra.  

 

Writer of all original songs and Performer on “Parkour Power Tots” Children’s album which accompanies his children’s book by the same name. 

 

I call this the rough “IPhone while in Ohio recording” of the song “Our Things”.  I’m currently working on more “formal” versions of all songs. 

 

David has sung in the Hollywood, California based “National In-Choir” Christmas Choir for many years. 

ACTOR

In 2022 David decided to re-enter the acting world.  He has acted since he was a child but took a break since 2009 when he launched the MTV series “MTV’s Ultimate Parkour Challenge” and the World Freerunning Parkour Federation.  Stay tuned for updates!

On television, David has played the love interest of Jenna Elfman and Peri Gilpin, was killed off by Eric Stoltz in a tearjerker scene in Roger Avary and Quentin Tarantino's "Killing Zoe", and played opposite Geena Davis (with their bows and arrows) in a national commercial for TD Waterhouse. He also was a founding member of the Los Angeles based sketch comedy group "Unprotected Six", a group which consisted of him and five women, which also included actresses Maria Russell and Diana Yanez.

He started acting as a child and early acting highlights include playing "Linus" in the school musical in grade school, and performing in school performances in Rabat, Morocco and in Community Theatre in Amman, Jordan. One of his most memorable moments from these years was when King Hussein of Jordan attended his performance of "The Girl in The Freudian Slip" in Amman, Jordan and came backstage afterwards to specifically congratulate David on his comedic acumen. Of course David knew that the king, who was sitting in plain sight in the front row and laughing, was in attendance! David was just 16 years old at the time.

FILM & TELEVISION
Co-Creator, Co- Executive Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Writer “World Parkour Championship”
World Parkour Championship 2018, Mardin, Turkey

Winner! “STARFISH” Best Documentary Elevate Film Festival.  A film by David Richard Thompson.  

 

David’s film “Starfish” won the Elevate 48 Hour Film Festival for Best Documentary. All film entries are produced, filmed, edited, and screened in a 48 hour period. 

FOOD

David is a FOODIE!  Coming soon!

BLOG

Coming soon!

BOOKINGS/MEDIA INQUIRIES
Blog
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