Ryan Jamaal Swain facts for kids

Ryan Jamaal Swain, born on March 13, 1994, is an American actor and dancer. He is well-known for playing Damon Richards-Evangelista, a dancer, in the TV show Pose on the FX network.

Early Life and Education

Ryan Swain grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, with his mother and three younger siblings. He was born in Orlando, Florida.

From a young age, Ryan loved the arts, even though his family members were mostly interested in healthcare. He started tap dancing when he was four years old. Later, he learned many other dance styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. As a child, Ryan worked with several dance and theater groups, such as the Alabama Dance Academy and the Alabama Ballet.

He began modeling for catalogs when he was eight. He didn't start acting until his first year of high school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. At first, Ryan wanted to be a professional tennis player. He later earned a special degree in fine arts from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He also studied acting in Oxford, U.K., at the British American Drama Academy. After finishing his studies, Ryan moved to New York City.

Acting Career

Ryan Jamaal Swain has performed in plays and television shows. He is known for his strong performances on both stage and screen.

Stage Performances

While studying at Howard University, Ryan appeared in plays like Anything Goes. He also performed in other plays, including Six Degrees of Separation and Thoughts of a Colored Man. He starred in several Off-Broadway shows, such as Kill Move Paradise at the National Black Theatre in New York. Even after becoming famous on TV, Ryan still supports the theater. In 2018, he led an acting workshop in Birmingham to help other young actors.

Television Roles

In 2017, Ryan Swain was chosen to play Damon Richards in Ryan Murphy's TV series Pose on FX. The show first aired on June 3, 2018, and was highly praised by critics. The first season of Pose had the largest cast of transgender actors ever for a TV show.

Ryan's character, Damon, was a dancer. Ryan had never known about the "ball culture" shown in Pose because he grew up in the Southern United States. To prepare for his role, Ryan watched the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning while he was in college. He also used his own experience of moving to New York City with very little money to chase his dreams. Ryan's character appeared in the first episode of the third and final season of Pose. However, his character was written out of the show because Ryan needed to leave due to a personal family loss.

Writing Projects

Ryan Swain also enjoys writing. His first big writing project was in 2014. He wrote and starred in A Negro Writer, a one-man show about the life of the famous American writer Langston Hughes. Ryan has also shared plans to write a book for teenagers about a young person growing up in the Southern United States.

Personal Life

Ryan's family has always supported his artistic journey. However, he has faced challenges. On July 28, 2020, Ryan's sister, Raven Lynette Swain, passed away in Birmingham, Alabama. This sad event led to Ryan's decision to leave the TV series Pose, which is why his character was written out after the first episode of the third season.

Filmography

Film Appearances

Television Appearances

Theater Performances

See also

In Spanish: Ryan Jamaal Swain para niños