Billy Porter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Billy Porter
Porter in 2024
Born	William Ellis Porter II (1969-09-21) September 21, 1969 (age 55) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) University of California, Los Angeles (GrDip)
Occupation	Actor singer writer
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Adam Smith ​ ​ (m. 2017; separated 2023)​

William Ellis Porter II (born September 21, 1969) is an American actor and singer. He first became famous for his performances on Broadway, the famous theater district in New York City. He later began a successful solo career in music and acting.

Porter won several major awards for playing the character Lola in the musical Kinky Boots. These included the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He said the role helped him explore different sides of his personality. He also won a Grammy Award in 2014 for the show's album.

He is also known for starring in the TV series Pose. For this role, he won the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. This was a historic moment, as he became the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy in a lead acting category. In 2020, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2022, he won another Tony Award as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.

Early Life and School

Porter was born on September 21, 1969, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a religious family. His sister is Mary Martha E. Ford.

He went to Allderdice High School and the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School. During summers, he performed in entertainment groups at Kennywood, a local amusement park.

A high school teacher encouraged him to apply to Carnegie Mellon University, a top school for drama. Porter has said that his teachers were like "angels in his life" who guided him. He once said:

It's about access. It's about opportunity. It's about knowledge... Had [my teacher] not said something, I would have moved to New York City unprepared and tanked. It was because of teachers, the angels in my life who saw me before I could even see myself, and said, "You're going over here. Just listen." And I knew enough to actually shut up and listen.

He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1991 with a degree in Drama. He also earned a screenwriting certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Career Highlights

Broadway and Theater

In 1992, Porter won $100,000 on the TV talent show Star Search. He later performed in many Broadway shows, including Grease and Miss Saigon.

His most famous stage role was Lola in the musical Kinky Boots, which he started in 2013. The show, with music by Cyndi Lauper, was a huge hit. For his performance, Porter won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

In 2010, he acted in a famous play called Angels in America. He has also written his own play, While I Yet Live, which was performed in New York City in 2014.

Television and Film

Porter performs at the National Christmas Tree Lighting in 2021.

Porter has appeared in many movies and TV shows. In 1997, he had a major role in the film Twisted, which was a new version of the story Oliver Twist.

From 2018 to 2021, he starred as Pray Tell in the TV show Pose. The show is about the ballroom culture scene in New York City in the 1980s and 1990s. His performance won him a Primetime Emmy Award, making history. He also appeared in American Horror Story: Apocalypse.

In 2021, he played the Fabulous Godmother in the movie Cinderella. He made his first movie as a director in 2022 with the film Anything's Possible.

Music

Porter has released several solo albums, including Billy Porter (1997) and Billy's Back on Broadway (2014).

In 2017, he released an album called Billy Porter Presents the Soul of Richard Rodgers. On this album, he and other famous singers performed new versions of classic songs by Richard Rodgers. He has also recorded songs for movie soundtracks and charity albums.

Fashion Icon

Porter is famous for his bold and artistic fashion choices on the red carpet. He has said he uses fashion to make a statement and be a "walking piece of political art."

He gained a lot of attention at the 2019 Academy Awards when he wore a custom tuxedo gown by designer Christian Siriano. He said he wanted to challenge traditional ideas about what men can wear.

At the 2019 Met Gala, he arrived on a litter carried by six men, dressed as a "Sun God." His outfit included a bejeweled catsuit with 10-foot wings and a 24-karat gold headpiece. His unique style has made him a fashion icon.

Personal Life

Porter is openly gay. He married Adam Smith in 2017. The couple announced their separation in July 2023.

Porter is an advocate for social justice and equality. He has spoken about the importance of fairness and equal opportunities for everyone. In October 2023, he signed an open letter showing support for Israel.

In a 2021 interview, he shared that he was diagnosed with HIV in 2007. He uses his platform to raise awareness and support for health issues.

Selected Works

Film

Television

Major Awards

See also

In Spanish: Billy Porter para niños

• African-American Tony nominees and winners
• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of LGBT people from New York City
• NYC Pride March