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Doc Hayman is a sound designer, music producer, and DJ who has worked on projects including NCIS New Orleans and multiple films. Born in 1992 to actress Annie Potts and director James Hayman, he performs as DJ Dr! Dr! in New Orleans while maintaining a career in audio production.
Doc Hayman—born James Powell Hayman in 1992—has built a career that sits at the intersection of technical expertise and creative performance. While his mother, Annie Pott, gained fame through iconic roles in Ghostbusters and Designing Women, and his father, James Hayma, directed television hits, Doc chose a different path entirely.
He works as a sound designer, music producer, and DJ under the stage name Dr! Dr! Based in New Orleans, he’s created audio for television shows and films while maintaining an active presence in the city’s music scene. His approach represents a growing trend of entertainment professionals who prefer technical mastery over spotlight visibility.
Unlike many celebrity children who pursue acting, Doc gravitated toward the equipment and engineering side of production. This choice reflects both his technical aptitude and his desire to build a career based on skill rather than family connections.
Growing up in Los Angeles meant Doc was surrounded by the entertainment industry from day one. His mother had already established herself as a versatile actress by the time he was born on May 28, 1992. His father was building a successful career directing shows like Ugly Betty and NCIS: New Orleans.
The Hayman household buzzed with creative energy. Scripts covered kitchen tables. Editing equipment hummed in home offices. Conversations centred on storytelling, character development, and production techniques. This environment sparked Doc’s curiosity about how entertainment gets made rather than how to perform in it.
Doc has two siblings who round out the family. His younger brother, Harry Hayman, born in 1995, has pursued poetry and maintains a more private life. His half-brother, Clay Senecha, came from Annie Potts’ previous marriage to Scott Senechal and was later adopted by James Hayman. The blended family created a supportive environment that encouraged each child to find their own path.
Doc attended Muhlenberg College, where he focused on sound design. This educational foundation gave him the technical skills and artistic sensibility needed for audio production work. During his college years, his passion for creating immersive auditory experiences became clear.
The combination of formal education and hands-on exposure to his father’s television sets prepared him for the competitive entertainment industry. He learned to balance technical precision with creative vision—a skill set that would define his career.
Doc’s first major professional experience came with NCIS New Orleans, where he joined the sound and music utility team. This role put him right in the middle of a long-running television production, where he contributed to the show’s auditory landscape.
Working on a network television series taught him about the technical demands of consistent, high-quality audio production. He learned to work within tight deadlines while maintaining creative standards. The experience established his reputation as a reliable, sound professional in the television industry.
His work expanded into film, where he contributed to several productions. He worked on Renfield (2023), where he spent over two months handling night shoots and complex audio challenges. He described it as one of the most demanding productions he’d tackled.
Other credits include Lisa Frankenstein (2024), No One Will Save You (2023), and Hit Man (2023). He even worked on three episodes of his mother’s show, Young Sheldon, before it ended in 2024. Each project added to his technical skills and industry experience.
Doc currently holds a director position at Dream Seeker Productions, a film production company known for its collaborative approach. In this role, he manages multiple aspects of production, ensuring projects connect with audiences both visually and sonically.
This position represents a step up from his earlier utility and assistant roles. It shows his progression from technical contributor to creative leader who shapes the overall direction of projects.
Beyond his sound design work, Doc performs as a DJ under the stage name Dr! Dr! This persona allows him to connect directly with audiences in New Orleans clubs and venues. His performances blend his technical audio knowledge with his musical sensibilities.
The DJ career serves as both a creative outlet and a way to stay connected to live music culture. While sound design work happens in studios and post-production, DJing puts him in front of crowds who respond to his musical choices in real time.
He promotes his shows and shares his work through Instagram at @doctordoctormusic. This social media presence gives fans a window into his musical projects without revealing too much about his personal life.
Doc’s choice to base himself in New Orleans rather than Los Angeles says something about his priorities. The city’s rich musical heritage—from jazz and blues to contemporary electronic music—provides constant inspiration. The creative community values craftsmanship and authenticity over commercial success.
New Orleans offers a different pace from Hollywood. The music scene welcomes artists who want to experiment and develop their sound without the pressure of constant visibility. For someone who grew up surrounded by the entertainment industry’s spotlight, this environment provides both creative freedom and personal space.
The city’s culture of collaboration also fits Doc’s multi-disciplinary approach. He can work on sound design projects while maintaining his DJ career, moving between different creative roles without the rigid categorisation common in larger entertainment hubs.
Doc married and became a father in 2021 when his son, Cassius James Hayman, was born. The arrival made Annie Potts a first-time grandmother, a milestone she celebrated publicly on social media. Doc shared a photo introducing Cassius to the world, calling him “the best song I’ve ever written.”
He lives in New Orleans with his partner, Katrina Engl, and their son. Despite his public career, he maintains privacy around his family life. This approach protects his loved ones from unwanted attention while allowing him to share selected moments with fans.
The balance between professional visibility and personal privacy reflects values he likely learned from his parents. Annie Potts and James Hayman maintained successful careers while keeping their children largely out of the spotlight until they became adults.
Doc’s career choices demonstrate a conscious effort to build his own identity. He could have pursued acting with built-in connections to agents, casting directors, and production companies. Instead, he invested years learning technical skills that require no family assistance.
This approach earns respect in an industry where nepotism often overshadows talent. His work on productions like Renfield and NCIS stands on its own merit. Directors and producers hire him because of his audio expertise, not his famous mother.
His multi-disciplinary approach also sets him apart. Many professionals specialise in one area—either sound design or music production, or DJing. Doc moves fluidly between all three, using skills from each to inform the others. This versatility makes him valuable in an entertainment landscape that increasingly rewards adaptable creators.
Most celebrity children who enter entertainment gravitate toward visible roles. Doc represents a different archetype—the technical expert who shapes experiences from behind the equipment. His work enhances films and television shows without requiring screen time or public recognition.
His New Orleans base adds another layer of authenticity. While many entertainment professionals cluster in Los Angeles or New York, Doc chose a city known for musical integrity over commercial infrastructure. This decision signals priorities that align with artistic development rather than career networking.
The combination of sound design expertise and live DJ performance creates a unique professional profile. He understands audio from both the careful construction of film soundscapes and the immediate feedback of club audiences. Each skill set strengthens the other.
His approach to privacy in an oversharing era also stands out. While many use famous parents to build social media followings, Doc shares selectively. His Instagram focuses on his work and music rather than personal details or family connections.
At 32, Doc has established himself in sound design while building a parallel career as a DJ. His director position at Dream Seeker Productions suggests increasing creative control over projects. His DJ performances continue to connect him with New Orleans music culture.
The entertainment industry increasingly values professionals who understand multiple aspects of production. Doc’s technical skills, musical knowledge, and production experience position him well for future opportunities. Whether he expands his sound design work, grows his DJ career, or finds new ways to combine both remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that he’s built a career on his own terms. He’s proven that growing up in a famous family doesn’t have to define your path. Through technical skill, artistic vision, and smart choices about where and how to work, Doc Hayman has created an identity that stands separate from his parents’ accomplishments.
His story offers a different model for second-generation entertainment professionals. Success doesn’t require following your parents’ exact path or leveraging family connections. Sometimes it means finding the work you love, developing genuine expertise, and building a life that balances professional ambition with personal values.
