Daryn Tufts

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Daryn Tufts, born April 1, 1973 in Arcadia, California, is a writer, director, producer, and actor. He lives in Holladay, Utah, and works on feature films, documentaries, and TV commercials. He also performs and teaches sketch and improv comedy, and he is the spokesperson for Questar Gas.

He finished Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, California. He earned a journalism degree from Ricks College in Idaho and a marketing communications degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah. At BYU he joined The Garrens, a popular sketch and improv group, which gave him his first paid writing and performing work. He helped launch Utah’s ComedySportz and taught improv there, performing with the group for several years. He returned to ComedySportz for occasional shows starting in 2010.

Tufts began his film career after BYU, writing commercials and other marketing work. His first major film was The Singles Ward (2002), where he acted as Eldon and helped improve the script. The movie helped start the LDS comedy genre and boosted his acting career. He later appeared in The R.M., The Home Teachers, Church Ball, and The Singles 2nd Ward.

He also made documentaries. American Mormon (2004–2005), made with Jed Knudsen, traveled across the U.S. to learn what people know about Mormons. A sequel, American Mormon in Europe (2006), followed them through Western Europe and abroad to learn how LDS members live outside the United States.

In 2006 he was the writer and co-producer of Stalking Santa, a comedy about proving Santa exists. William Shatner was the executive producer. In 2009 he directed My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend and also wrote it. The film stars Alyssa Milano and others and had a big festival premiere in 2010, followed by a wider release and later home viewing options.

In 2011 Tufts directed and wrote Inside, a horror film that won several awards at Salt Lake City events. He also wrote K9 Adventures: Legend of The Lost Gold (2013), a family adventure movie. Since 2007 he has appeared across Utah as Therm, the official spokesperson for Questar Gas.