Donald Adeosun Faison was born in New York City on June 22, 1974, and began acting at the age of five. Shirley and Donald Faison were members of the National Black Theatre in Harlem, and one of his earliest memories is of his mother directing rehearsals in the empty theater. She then influenced his career choice.
Donald Faison married Lisa Askey in 2001 and has four children: Sean, Kaya, Dade, and Kobe. He received the Audelco Rising Star Award.