Deric Augustine is leveling up.
The New Orleans native has been promoted to series regular on ABC’s The Rookie, now in its seventh season. Augustine joined the Nathan Fillion-led drama earlier this year in the recurring role of Miles Penn, a Texas transfer who’s technically a rookie at the LAPD—despite having two years of experience already under his belt.
And if you’ve been watching, you’ve seen Miles steadily carving out his place in the ensemble. Most recently, in the April 15 episode “Mad About Murder,” Miles finds himself at a crossroads—tempted by a new opportunity after reconnecting with an old friend-turned-pro football player. But by episode’s end, Tim (Eric Winter) helps steer him back toward the badge, and viewers got a glimpse of what makes Miles tick: loyalty, integrity, and a desire to belong.
Turns out, that last part isn’t just for the character.
Earlier this year, we spoke to Augustine about his experience on The Rookie—and his energy was all love.
“I love The Rookie. I wanna stay on that show as long as possible,” he said. “We have a beautiful ensemble, this cast is amazing, the crew is phenomenal, the writers are great. Our showrunner Alexi [Hawley] is fire… This is the first time in my career I feel like I have a family and I’m not just a guest in somebody else’s home.”
That wish clearly didn’t fall on deaf ears.
Tonight’s episode, “The Return,” airs at 9 p.m. ET, and will feature the team dealing with the reappearance of a familiar face. Meanwhile, Wesley (Shawn Ashmore) gets caught up in the chaos of influencer culture, and Tim offers his support as Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) preps for the sergeant’s exam.
The Rookie continues to show strong numbers in its seventh run, averaging 9.08 million total viewers and a 1.97 rating in Multiplatform+7-day viewing. That’s up 4% and 12% over last year, respectively. The March 25 episode “Speed” delivered a multi-season high, pulling in 9.62 million viewers—its best performance since Season 2.
The series is created by Alexi Hawley and produced by Lionsgate Television in association with 20th Television. Executive producers include Hawley, Nathan Fillion, Mark Gordon, Michelle Chapman, Bill Norcross, Brynn Malone, Moira Kirland, Bill Roe, and Jon Steinberg.
Outside the precinct, Augustine is making major moves. The actor—who studied theater at the University of New Orleans before training at New York’s Negro Ensemble Company and William Esper Studio—has been steadily building a résumé that blends prestige, range, and purpose. He portrayed a young Muhammad Ali in MGM+’s Godfather of Harlem, recurred as Clay on All American, and has appeared on Swagger, Queen Sugar, Cloak & Dagger, and more.
In 2023, he launched Augustine’s Love Foundation, a nonprofit honoring his late mother, Donna Augustine. The foundation supports families impacted by strokes and brain aneurysms—an effort that reflects both his heart and his commitment to legacy.
And he’s not done yet. Augustine is also entering the literary world with his upcoming YA fantasy novel Nawlins, which drops this July. The story explores a world of Black wizards in Louisiana, inspired by his hometown roots.
From the stage to the screen to the page, Augustine’s career is unfolding with purpose—and his role on The Rookie is just the latest chapter in a story that’s only getting richer.
He is represented by Greene Talent and Zero Gravity Management.