Brian Michael Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Michael Smith
Smith at 2018 GLAAD Media Awards in New York City
Born	(1983-01-29) January 29, 1983 (age 42) Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
Education	Pioneer High School Kent State University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2012–present

Brian Michael Smith (born January 29, 1983) is an American actor. He is also known for being an LGBTQ advocate, which means he supports and speaks up for people who are LGBTQ. He is famous for his role as Paul Strickland in the TV show 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Early Life and Education

Brian Michael Smith grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His mother, Ingrid Smith, raised him with help from their family. Brian is a transgender man. This means that even though he was identified as female when he was born, he always knew he was a boy.

School Days and Sports

When Brian was in Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, he played football on the boys' team. He was a defensive end and a fullback. In the spring, he joined the girls' track & field team. He set records in shot put and pole vaulting. In 1999, he made history by being the first person identified as female at birth to score a varsity touchdown in Michigan.

After high school, Brian studied acting and video production at Kent State University. He later taught drama and media skills to teenagers. Then, he moved to New York City to become an actor.

Starting His Acting Journey

In New York, Brian trained at the William Esper Studio. While learning, he got small roles in TV shows. He also appeared in a Toyota commercial.

Brian Michael Smith's Acting Career

Brian has performed in many different ways. He has done stand-up, sketch, and improv comedy. He was part of groups like Gotham City Improv. He also acted in plays, including Women Are Crazy Because Men Are ... and Duck Hunter Shoots Angel.

Breakthrough Roles in Television

Brian's role as Toine Wilkins in Queen Sugar was a big step for him. After that, he got more important roles. He played Pierce Williams in The L Word: Generation Q. In 2020, he made history again. He became the first openly black trans man to have a regular role on network television. This was for his part as firefighter Paul Strickland in FOX's 9-1-1: Lone Star.

He has also appeared in other popular shows. These include NBC's Chicago P.D., HBO's Girls, and Showtime's Homeland. His first speaking role was in 2015 on Girls. He then had roles in shows like Blue Bloods, Person of Interest, and Law & Order: SVU.

Queen Sugar Role

In 2017, Brian was cast as Officer Antoine "Toine" Wilkins in Queen Sugar. Toine is a trans man. The show is about the Bordelon family in Louisiana. It is based on the novel Queen Sugar.

Playing Toine was one of Brian's first chances to play a transgender character. He could use his own life experiences in his acting. He said he was excited to share this story with people. He hoped it would help them understand that they might know trans people in their own lives.

In 2018, Ava DuVernay, who helped create Queen Sugar, won an award for including LGBT people in her projects. This included creating the character Toine Wilkins and casting a transgender actor for the role.

9-1-1: Lone Star Role

In 2020, Brian was cast as Paul Strickland in 9-1-1: Lone Star. Paul is a transgender male firefighter. This role made Brian the first openly black trans man to be a regular on a broadcast TV show.

In 2021, People Magazine praised Brian's appearance as Paul Strickland. ..... He was featured again in 2022. Brian hopes his visibility can encourage others to be themselves.

Filmography

Advocacy and Support for LGBTQ Youth

Brian Michael Smith, Janet Mock, and Amiyah Scott at a panel discussion in February 2018.

Brian Michael Smith is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community. After college, he taught young people about filmmaking. He did this through programs like the Gear Up Program at the University of Michigan.

In New York, he continued to teach media skills. He worked with LGBT youth at the Manhattan LGBT Center. He saw how important it was for young people to see positive examples of what their future could be like.

Speaking Up for Trans Representation

Since his role in Queen Sugar, Brian has used his fame to speak up. He wants to see more fair and accurate representation of trans people in TV and movies. He publicly shared that he is transgender in 2017.

In 2018, he was a special guest at the University of Michigan. He joined Janet Mock and Amiyah Scott to talk about trans lives. During NYC Pride in 2018, he also discussed how trans representation in television is changing.

In August 2018, Brian joined other famous trans actors. They were part of a Variety magazine discussion. They talked about trans representation and fairness in Hollywood. Brian said that artists should have choices in their work. He believes their visibility should not limit those choices.

He also supports trans stories through his acting. He was in the documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, released on Netflix in 2020.

Honored for His Work

In June 2020, Queerty named him one of fifty heroes. This was for the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade. They recognized him for helping lead the nation toward equality for all people.

In July 2021, Brian joined the Board of Directors for the Human Rights Campaign. This is a large organization that works for LGBTQ+ rights. He continues to advocate for equal rights and protections for all LGBTQ+ people.