Haskell's life began in New York City, where he was born, raised, and educated. During his college years, he pursued a pre-med course of study, but simultaneously, he began a career as a professional teenage male model. His success was swift, and within a short period, he became one of the highest-paid, mixed-race, teenage models in the city, with advertisements appearing in numerous national magazines, including The New Yorker and Times Magazine.
After completing his education, Haskell served in the Navy and attended graduate school before auditioning for his first professional play. This marked the beginning of a serendipitous turn of events, as he asked a director he had recently met, "When am I going to be discovered?" The play in question was the Cleveland premiere of "No Place To Be Somebody," in which Haskell portrayed the role of Gabe Gabriel, directed by Rueben Silver. This performance led to a full season at the Cleveland Playhouse and subsequently, the Barter Theatre.
While stage managing a play in Washington, D.C., Haskell auditioned for a film role at the insistence of an actor who was invited to meet the director and producers. The film was "Brotherhood of Death," now a cult favorite and a favorite film of Quentin Tarantino, who has showcased it twice at his film festivals. In 2014, the film will be re-released on DVD, featuring an interview with Haskell.
Following years of performing in theatre productions across the United States and abroad, Haskell was cast in the film "Kickboxer," opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme. He made his Off-Broadway debut in the play "Julia" by Vince Melocchi at the 59 East 59th Street Theatre. Melocchi also wrote "Lions," which premiered at the Pacific Resident Theatre, and Haskell originated the role of Bisquit.
