Sinbad (comedian)  David Adkins (born November 10, 1956), better known by his stage name Sinbad, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became known in the 1990s from being featured on his own HBO specials, appearing on several television series, and starring in the films "Necessary Roughness", "Houseguest", "First Kid", "Jingle All the Way", and "Good Burger". Sinbad was born November 10, 1956 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the son of Louise and the Baptist Rev. Dr. Donald Beckley Adkins. He has five siblings: Donna, Dorothea, Mark, Michael, and Donald. Sinbad attended Benton Harbor High School and graduated in 1974. He attended college from 1974 to 1978 at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado, where he lettered two seasons for the basketball team. Sinbad served in the United States Air Force as a boom operator aboard KC-135 Stratotankers. While assigned to the 384th Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, he would often travel downtown to perform stand-up comedy. He competed as a comedian/MC in the Air Force's Talent Contest in 1981. Sinbad was almost dismissed with a dishonorable discharge for various misbehaviors, including going AWOL. After a series of incidents, he was eventually discharged "for parking my car in the wrong position." In an attempt to stand out in the entertainment industry, Adkins worked under the professional name Sinbad, which he chose out of admiration for Sinbad the Sailor. He began his stand up comic career appearing on "Star Search". Sinbad won his round against fellow comedian Dennis Miller, and made it all the way to the finals before losing to John Kassir. He soon was cast on "The Redd Foxx Show", a short lived sitcom, playing Byron Lightfoot. In 1987, Sinbad landed a role in "A Different World", a spin off of "The Cosby Show" built around Lisa Bonet's character Denise Huxtable. Previously, Sinbad appeared in a one-off role on "The Cosby Show", as car salesperson Davis Sarrette. While Bonet only stayed with the program for a season, Sinbad stayed with the cast from 1988 until 1991 as Coach Walter Oakes. In "A Different World", Walter began to fall in love with a girl named Jaleesa played by Dawnn Lewis. They dated, and eventually became engaged but decided to cancel the wedding due to differing outlooks on life.