Billy Porter
Actor
Born September 21, 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
William Ellis Porter II (born September 21, 1969) is an American actor and singer. Porter gained notice performing on Broadway before starting a solo career as a singer and actor. For his role as Lola in Kinky Boots, Porter won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. He credits the part for "cracking open" his feminine side to confront toxic masculinity. Porter also won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for the musical's accompanying album. Porter starred in all three seasons of the television series Pose, for which he was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and won the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, 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'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.
Filmography
Coming soon
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Magno Stift
Broadway: The Next Generation
Self
Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It
Self
Christmas Karma
The Ghost of Christmas Present
Freeman Vines
I Was Born This Way
Self
My Happy Place
Self
(pride/prom)
Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry
Self
Disco's Revenge
Eric André Live Near Broadway
Self
Queen of New York
Our Son
Gabriel
Truth Be Told
Let the Canary Sing
Self
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Self - Guest
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Self
80 for Brady
Gugu
Accused
Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!
Self
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?
Self
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri
Self - Guest
Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
Self
Anything's Possible
PRIDE: To Be Seen - A Soul of a Nation Presentation
Pray Tell (archive footage)
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Randall (voice)
RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World
Self - Special Guest
That's My Jam
Self - Guest
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Self - Panellist
Cinderella
Fabulous Godmother
Smoke, Lilies and Jade
Sanctuary
The Circuit
Self - Singer/Actor
Middlemost Post
Recycle King (voice)
Gossip Girl
Singer
That Damn Michael Che
Where Love Lives: A Story of Dancefloor Culture & Expression
(Himself)
25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love
Equal
Narrator
The Drew Barrymore Show
Self
Pose-a-Thon for Pride
Self
Dear...
Self
Together in Pride: You Are Not Alone
Self
Stars in the House
Self
Visible: Out on Television
Self
Like a Boss
Barrett
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
The Twilight Zone
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star
Self - Guest Judge
Desus & Mero
Self - Illustrious Guest
POSE
Pray Tell
Every Act of Life
Self
Big Mouth
Ocean (voice)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self
Celebrity Family Feud
Self
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest
The Humbling
Prince
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
Trailblazer Honors
Self - Speaker
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
American Horror Story
Behold Chablis
Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Himself
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
Indie Sex: Teens
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Self
Indie Sex
Self
The Graham Norton Show
Self
All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise
Himself
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Self
Dancing with the Stars
Self - Guest Judge
Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge
Noel
Randy
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
Taylor
Intern
Sebastian Niederfarb
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Jackie Walker
Colorz of Rage
Street Performer
Anastasia
Ensemble and Character Vocals (voice)
The View
Self - Guest
Twisted
Shiniqua, Angel's friend
The Daily Show
Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest
MTV Movie & TV Awards
Self - Presenter
Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story
Little Richard
Law & Order
Greg Ellison
The Simpsons
Desmond (voice)
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
Olivier Awards
Self - Host
Newsnight
Self
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
People's Choice Awards
Self - Presenter
The Grammys
Self
The Oscars
Self
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter