8mill Productions

R. J. Atkins was born June 10, 1978 as Rickey Atkins, Jr. in Palestine, TX to Rickey Atkins, Sr, and Nancy Glover (née Starr). He was raised in Palestine by his paternal grandparents, the late Ira and Ruth Atkins.  R. J. is the oldest of three brothers, with one brother residing in Houston, TX and the other in Austin, TX. R.J. discovered and developed his love and talent for acting, as a young child having appeared in several church plays as a member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, and taking classes such as Theatre Arts, Public Speaking, and Drama, starting in the 7th grade at Palestine Middle School and continuing through his years at Palestine High School. After graduating high school in 1996, R.J. entered the workforce for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer in late 1997. He trained and served in various capacities at military installations in Missouri, Texas, California, Louisiana, and Georgia and also served in combat in Ba