William Ellis Porter II (born September 21, 1969) is an American actor, singer, writer and director. He graduated from

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...

School of Drama, and he achieved fame performing on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

before starting a solo career as a singer and actor. Porter won the 2013

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did n ...

for his role as Lola in '' Kinky Boots''. He credits the part for "cracking open" his feminine side to confront toxic masculinity. For the role, Porter also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newsp ...

for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. In 2014 Porter won the

Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award is generally given to the album producer, principal vocalist(s), and the composer and lyricist if they have written a new score which comprises 51% or more play ...

for ''Kinky Boots''. Porter starred in all three seasons of the television series '' Pose'', for which he was nominated for three

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

s and won the 2019

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, leading actors in drama have competed alone. However, these dramatic performances incl ...

, becoming the first gay black man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. In 2020, he was included on ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and event (philosophy), events that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various me ...

''s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2022, he won another Tony Award, for Best Musical as a producer for the musical '' A Strange Loop''. He made his directorial debut in 2022 with the romantic comedy film ''Anything's Possible''.

Early life

Porter was born in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, Pennsylvania, to William Ellis Porter and Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter Ford. His sister is Mary Martha E. Ford. He grew up in a "very religious"

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestantism, Protestant Charismatic Christianity, Charismatic Christian movement and has described being sexually abused by his stepfather between the ages of 7 and 12. He attended Reizenstein Middle School and Allderdice High School, before graduating from the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School in 1987. He graduated from the

College of Fine Arts The School of Fine Arts or College of Fine Arts is the official name or part of the name of several schools of fine arts, often as an academic part of a larger university. These include: The Americas North America *Alabama School of Fin ...

with a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachel ...

in Drama and earned a certification from the graduate-level Professional Program in Screenwriting at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

. During the summers of 1985 through 1987, Porter was a member of entertainment groups "Spirit" and "Flash," which performed daily at Kennywood, a Pittsburgh-area amusement park.

Career

Porter appeared on American

Talent Show A talent show is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are performances rather ...

Star Search ''Star Search'' was an American television show that was produced by T.P.E./Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Al Masini. A relaunch was produced by 2929 Productions from 2003 to 2004. On both versio ...

'' in 1992 and won $100,000. He appeared on the same show as other future stars, such as a young

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...

. Porter played Teen Angel in the 1994 Broadway revival of '' Grease''. Other shows he has been in include '' Topdog/Underdog'' at City Theatre (2004), ''

Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with ...

'' and '' Dreamgirls'' at

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh CLO) is a nonprofit professional theater company based in the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Despite its name, the organization presents musical theatre classics rather ...

(2004), and the song cycles ''

Myths and Hymns ''Myths and Hymns'' (originally known as ''Saturn Returns'') is a song cycle by composer Adam Guettel, based on Greek myth and lyrics found in an antique hymnal. ''Myths and Hymns'' was first performed Off-Broadway, under the title ''Saturn Retur ...

'' and '' Songs for a New World'' (Off-Broadway, 1995).. Retrieved August 7, 2015. Porter wrote and performed in his one-person autobiographical show, ''Ghetto Superstar (The Man That I Am)'' at Joe's Pub in New York City in February and March 2005. He was nominated for "Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off Broadway Award" at the

17th GLAAD Media Awards 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (2006) were presented at four separate ceremonies: March 27 in New York City; April 8 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles; May 25 in Miami; and June 10 in San Francisco. The awards honor films, television shows, musici ...

. In September 2010, Porter appeared as Belize in

Signature Theatre Company Signature Theatre Company is an American theatre based in Manhattan, New York. It was founded in 1991 by James Houghton and is now led by Artistic Director Paige Evans. Signature is known for their season-long focus on one artist's work. It has be ...

's 20th Anniversary production of

Tony Kushner Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...

's ''

Angels in America ''Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes'' is a two-part play by American playwright Tony Kushner. The work won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award f ...

''. Porter originated the role of "Lola" in '' Kinky Boots'' on Broadway in 2013, with songs by

Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...

, book by

Harvey Fierstein Harvey Forbes Fierstein ( ; born June 6, 1952) is an American actor, playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for his theater work in '' Torch Song Trilogy'' and '' Hairspray'' and movie roles in '' Mrs. Doubtfire'', ''Independence Day'', an ...

and directed/choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. Porter won both the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and

for this role. Porter has also appeared in many films. He played a major role as Shiniqua, a

drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and part of ...

who befriends Angel ( David Norona) and Lee (Keivyn McNeill Graves) in

Seth Michael Donsky Seth Michael Donsky is an American filmmaker, producer/screenwriter and former journalist. Biography As of 2023 Mr. Donsky's feature screenplay ''Stardusk'', about the life of transgender Andy Warhol Superstar Candy Darling is in pre-productio ...

's '' Twisted'' (1997), an adaptation of ''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

''. He has also appeared on ''

The RuPaul Show ''The RuPaul Show'' is an American talk/variety show that premiered on VH1 in 1996. Hosted by the drag performer RuPaul, the show had many famous musical guests and was notable as being one of the first national television programs in the United ...

''. He has had a musical career with three solo albums released, ''Billy Porter'' on DV8/

A&M Records A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

in 1997, ''At the Corner of Broadway + Soul'' in 2005 on Sh-K-Boom Records and ''Billy's Back on Broadway'' (

Concord Music Group Concord Music Group was an American independent music company based in Beverly Hills, California, with worldwide (including the U.S.) distribution through Universal Music Group. The company specialized in recordings ( Fearless Records, Concord ...

) in 2014. He featured in a number of songs in the tribute album; '' It's Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino'' in 2006 released on PS Classics. He sings on Adam Guettel's 1999 album ''Myths and Hymns'' studio cast album on Nonesuch Records. He also covered "

Only One Road "Only One Road" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, taken from her third English-language studio album, ''The Colour of My Love'' (1993). It was written by Peter Zizzo and produced by Ric Wake. "Only One Road" was released as the fourth sin ...

" that was included on the

Human Rights Campaign The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for ...

compilation album '' Love Rocks''. Porter wrote the play ''While I Yet Live'', which premiered Off-Broadway at

Primary Stages Primary Stages was founded in 1984 by Casey Childs as an Off-Broadway not-for-profit theater company. In 2004, Primary Stages moved from its 99-seat home of 17 years at Davenport Theatre, 354 West 45th Street to the 199-seat theater at 59E59 Theat ...

in September 2014 in previews, officially on October 12. In addition to Porter, the cast included Lillias White and

S. Epatha Merkerson Sharon Epatha Merkerson (born November 28, 1952) is a film, stage, and television actor. Known by her stage name S. Epatha Merkerson, she has received numerous high-profile accolades for her work, including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a ...

. Porter released ''Billy Porter Presents the Soul of Richard Rodgers'' in April 2017. The album, which features new, soulful takes on classic

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most well-known American ...

songs, includes solos and duets from the following artists (in addition to Porter himself): Tony and Grammy Award winners Cynthia Erivo (''

The Color Purple ''The Color Purple'' is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.

''), Renée Elise Goldsberry (''

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilto ...

'') and Leslie Odom Jr. (''Hamilton''), Tony Award-winner Patina Miller ('' Pippin''), Grammy Award winners

Pentatonix Pentatonix (abbreviated PTX) is an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, currently consisting of vocalists Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee. Characterized by their pop-style arrangem ...

, India Arie and Ledisi, Tony Award nominees Brandon Victor Dixon ('' Shuffle Along''), Joshua Henry ('' Violet''), and Christopher Jackson (''Hamilton''), alongside YouTube and '' Kinky Boots'' star

Todrick Hall Todrick Hall (born April 4, 1985) is an American singer, choreographer, and YouTuber. He gained national attention on the ninth season of the televised singing competition ''American Idol''. Following this, he amassed a huge following on YouTu ...

and multiple Grammy Award nominee

Deborah Cox Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before ...

. Porter reprised the role of Lola in ''Kinky Boots'' in September 2017 on Broadway, where he did a 15-week run. F20211202ES-0223 (51897976011)

In 2018, Porter starred in the FX show '' Pose'' in the role of Pray Tell. In 2019, ''Pose'' earned its renewal for a third season after airing just one episode from the second season. In August 2018, Porter confirmed via

Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...

that he was joining the cast of ''

American Horror Story ''American Horror Story'' is an American anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX. The first installment in the '' American Story'' media franchise, each season is conceived as a ...

'' for its eighth season, subtitled ''

Apocalypse Apocalypse () is a literary genre in which a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a human intermediary. The means of mediation include dreams, visions and heavenly journeys, and they typically feature symbolic imager ...

''. Porter duetted with ''Pose'' co-star Dyllón Burnside and sang from his album in a benefit concert emceed by Burnside on July 23, 2018, to celebrate the season 1 finale and to raise money for GLSEN. In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the

Stonewall riots The Stonewall riots (also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, or simply Stonewall) were a series of spontaneous protests by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of ...

, sparking the start of the modern

LGBTQ rights movement Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movements are social movements that advocate for LGBT people in society. Some focus on equal rights, such as the ongoing movement for same-sex marriage, while others focus on liberation, as in th ...

Queerty ''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors. History ''Queerty'' was founded by David ...

named him one of the Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance, and dignity for all

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the l ...

people". Also in June 2019 he presented the Excellence in Theatre Education Award at the 73rd Tonys at

Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue and theater at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Nicknamed "The Showplace of the Nation", it is the headquarters for ...

. However, he earned media coverage for his

haute couture ''Haute couture'' (; ; French for 'high sewing', 'high dressmaking') is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design that is constructed by hand from start-to-finish. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, Paris became th ...

red and pink gown, upcycled from ''Kinky Boots''' stage curtains, in a

uterine The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...

shape, and his impromptu performance of " Everything's Coming up Roses" from '' Gypsy,'' for host

James Corden James Kimberley Corden (born 22 August 1978) is an English television host, actor, comedian, and singer. In the United Kingdom, he is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom '' Gavin & Stacey''. In the ...

's "Broadway karaoke". In September 2019, he was nominated for a

and won the

for ''Pose'', becoming the first openly gay black man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. Also, in 2019, Porter had a

cameo appearance A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly ei ...

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her vivid songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and wide media coverage. Bo ...

's " You Need to Calm Down" music video that featured twenty LGBTQ icons. Porter performed " For What It's Worth" with

Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. As both a solo act and member of two successful bands, Stills has co ...

during the 2020 Democratic National Convention. His memoir, ''Unprotected'', was released in 2021.

Fashion

Porter attributes his love of fashion from an early age to growing up in the black church which he describes as "a fashion show". His style has gone through many phases over the years, including vintage, Abercrombie and Fitch and geek chic. He has said that he intentionally set out to use fashion in a political way, to be a "walking piece of political art". Porter's stylist Sam Ratelle estimated that as of January 2020 they had worked on 150 red carpet looks together many designed by Porter himself. , Porter's stylist is Ty Hunter who has previously worked with

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

. At the 2019 Golden Globes, Porter gained attention for wearing an embroidered suit and pink cape designed by Randi Rahm. He said the fact that people were surprised that he wore a cape inspired him to ask Christian Siriano if he could create him a ball gown because it was something he had always wanted to wear. He felt it seemed like a way to challenge people's ideas of masculinity. He continued to make fashion waves that year when he wore a fitted tuxedo jacket and a velvet gown by

Christian Siriano Christian Vincent Siriano (born November 18, 1985) is an American fashion designer and member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Siriano first gained attention after winning the fourth season of American design competition ...

with 6"

Rick Owens Richard Saturnino Owens (born November 18, 1962) is an American fashion designer from Porterville, California. In addition to his main line, Owens has a furniture line and a number of diffusion lines. Early life and education Richard Saturnino ...

boots to the

91st Academy Awards The 91st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2018 and took place on February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. During the ceremony, AM ...

. In February 2019, Porter was an Official Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Ambassador for

New York Fashion Week New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events in Manhattan typically spanning 7–9 days when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general pub ...

: Mens. Porter attended the 2019 Met Gala and embraced the '' Camp: Notes on Fashion'' theme by being carried on a litter by six shirtless men while sporting a "Sun God" ensemble. The Blonds designed Porter's outfit, and it included a bejeweled catsuit outfitted with wings, a 24-karat gold headpiece, as well as custom gold-leaf Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and fine jewels by Andreoli, John Hardy, and Oscar Heyman. In 2020, Porter wore a floor-length pink poncho style gown with a wide brimmed black hat, a look he characterized as "'' Handmaid's Tale'' realness", to the AFI Awards and to the Golden Globes he wore an all-white ensemble that included a tuxedo jacket with a feathered train. He wore a sparkling turquoise bodysuit with matching bolero and a motorised hat to the Grammy awards.

Concerts

Porter has performed at various venues in New York City, including

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 milli ...

, which was broadcast on PBS in 2015 and Joe's Pub in New York City. In 2019 Porter headlined at London Pride. Porter performed "For What It's Worth" with Stephen Stills at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Personal life

Porter is gay, having come out at the age of 16, "in the middle of the AIDS crisis". He married his husband, Adam Smith, on January 14, 2017, after meeting him in 2009. He was very keen to get married "while

Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

was still president and before January 20th, 2017" so the two got engaged on December 29, 2016, and married 2 weeks later. Porter shared his views on race in the US in a 2020 interview with ''

Vanity Fair Vanity Fair may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Literature * Vanity Fair, a location in '' The Pilgrim's Progress'' (1678), by John Bunyan * ''Vanity Fair'' (novel), 1848, by William Makepeace Thackeray * ''Vanity Fair'' (magazines), the ...

'', saying, "The reason why our country is in the mess we're in is simply because of whiteness.

White supremacy White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White ...

. White people choke-holding power and sucking the life out of humanity." In May 2021, Porter told ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...

'' that he had been diagnosed with HIV in June 2007; he was also diagnosed with

type-2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is a form of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urinatio ...

in February 2007 and filed for

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debto ...

in March 2007. In the same interview, he talked about renting a house on

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...

during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

due to a pre-existing health condition and about having intermittently attended

psychotherapy Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...

since the age of 25.

Discography

Albums

*1997: ''Billy Porter'' (DV8/

) *2005: ''At the Corner of Broadway + Soul'' ( Sh-K-Boom Records) *2014: ''Billy's Back on Broadway'' (

)Hetrick, Adam
" 'Kinky Boots' Star Billy Porter Releases "Billy's Back on Broadway" April 15"
''Playbill'', April 15, 2014 *2017: ''Billy Porter Presents the Soul of Richard Rodgers'' ( Masterworks Broadway)

Singles

*1997: "Show Me"/"What Iz Time" *2005: "Awaiting You"/"Time" (Live) (Sh-K-Boom Records) *2017: "Edelweiss" *2019: " Love Yourself" *2020: "For What It's Worth" *2020: The Shapeshifters feat. Billy Porter "Finally Ready" *2021: "Children"

Other songs

" on '' Love Rocks'' compilation album *"Love Is on the Way" on ''

The First Wives Club ''The First Wives Club'' is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Olivia Goldsmith. The film stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton as three divorcées who seek retribution ...

'' album *"Destiny" with Jordan Hill on

Jim Brickman James Merrill Brickman (born November 20, 1961) is an American pop songwriter, pianist and radio host. Brickman has earned two Grammy nominations for his albums ''Peace'' (2003) for Best Instrumental, and ''Faith'' (2009) for Best New Age Album. ...

's ''Greatest Hits'' album *"

Where Is Love? "Where is Love?" is a song from the Tony Award-winning British musical '' Oliver!'' and the 1968 film of the same name, based on the 1838 novel '' Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. The musical was written by Lionel Bart and was first staged in ...

" with Liz Callaway

Appears in

*Featured on a number of songs on tribute album ''It's Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino'' *Sings “O Holy Night” on

Rosie O'Donnell Roseann O'Donnell (born March 21, 1962) is an American comedian, television producer, actress, author, and television personality. She began her comedy career as a teenager and received her breakthrough on the television series '' Star Search'' ...

’s Christmas album, ''A Rosie Christmas (1999)'' *Adam Guettel's album ''

'' in 1999 *He is featured with

Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a British actor. His London stage appearances include ''Hamlet'', the Maniac in '' Accidental Death of an Anarchist'' (for which he received an Olivier Award), the lead in '' Bent'', The National Theatre ...

, David Raleigh and Ari Gold in a cover of "

That's What Friends Are For "That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded in 1982 by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the film '' Night Shift'', but it is better known for the 1985 cover version by Dionn ...

", of 'The Friends Project' in support of the Ali Forney Center, a NYC shelter for homeless LGBT youth. The song was arranged and produced by

Nathan Leigh Jones Nathan Leigh Jones (born 6 April 1981) is an Australian musician, public speaker and voice over artist. He has an honours degree in psychology and researches the effects of music and words on emotion. He also teaches in the area of communicat ...

and directed by Michael Akers.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Sources: ''Playbill Vault'';"Billy Porter Broadway"
''Playbill''. Retrieved June 24, 2016 Off-Broadway Database *''

Miss Saigon ''Miss Saigon'' is a stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's 1904 opera ''Madame Butterfly'', and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed rom ...

'', Ensemble/John (u/s), Broadway (1991) *'' Grease'', Teen Angel, Broadway (1994) *''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

'', Solanio, Off-Broadway (1995) *'' Songs for a New World'', performer, Off-Broadway (1995) *'' Smokey Joe's Cafe'', performer, Broadway (1995–97) *''

'', John (replacement), Broadway (1998–99) *''

'', Jesus of Nazareth, Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, Nyack, NY (1998) *'' Dreamgirls'', James Thunder Early, New York Actors Fund concert (September 2001) *''

Radiant Baby ''Radiant Baby'' is a musical about Keith Haring, who was an artist and social activist in New York City. The music was composed by Debra Barsha, with lyrics by Ira Gasman, Stuart Ross, and Debra Barsha. It was based on ''Keith Haring: The Autho ...

'', Various, Off-Broadway (2003) *'' Topdog/Underdog'', City Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA (2004) *''

Little Shop of Horrors Little Shop of Horrors may refer to: * ''The Little Shop of Horrors'', a 1960 film directed by Roger Corman ** ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (musical), a 1982 musical based on the 1960 film ** ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (film), a 1986 film adaptati ...

'', Audrey ll (replacement), Broadway (2004) *''Chef's Theater: A Musical Feast'', Performer, Off-Broadway (2004) *''Ghetto Superstar'', Performer, Off-Broadway (2005) – also playwright *''Birdie Blue'', Bam/Little Pimp/Sook/Minerva, Off-Broadway (2005) *'' Putting It Together'', performer, New York (2009) *''

'', Belize, Off-Broadway (2010) *'' Kinky Boots'', Lola, Broadway (2013–2015) *'' Kinky Boots'', Lola (replacement), Tour (2014) *''HAM: A Musical Memoir'', Off-Broadway (2015) – director *'' Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed'', Aubrey Lyles, Broadway (2016) *'' White Rabbit Red Rabbit'', Off-Broadway (2016)"Billy Porter, Justin Bartha and Stana Katic Set for September at WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT"
Broadway World, August 9, 2016 *'' Kinky Boots'', Lola (replacement), Broadway (2017)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * *
Billy Porter on LastFM
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Billy 1969 births Living people African-American male actors African-American Christians American male musical theatre actors American male stage actors American male television actors American male voice actors American gay actors American gay musicians LGBT people from Pennsylvania LGBT African Americans LGBT Christians Male actors from Pittsburgh Musicians from Pittsburgh Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni Taylor Allderdice High School alumni 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American singers Drama Desk Award winners Grammy Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners Tony Award winners Pennsylvania Democrats People with HIV/AIDS 20th-century American male singers 21st-century American male singers 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people African-American male singers LGBT film directors African-American film directors