Billy Porter
Actor • Singer
Birth Date: September 21, 1969
Age: 55 years old
Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
American actor and singer Billy Porter gained popularity after starring in roles on the Ryan Murphy-produced television shows "American Horror Story: Apocalypse" (FX, 2018) and "Pose" (FX, 2018- ). Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Porter always wanted to entertain people for a living. He got his first taste of performing in front of a live audience when he was a teenager. Porter and a group of friends, who collectively called themselves "Flash," would perform live entertainment for folks at Kennywood Park, just outside of Pittsburgh. The experience left Porter exhilarated. Wanting nothing more than to make his living as an actor, he went on to study drama at Carnegie Mellon University, where he would later go on to earn his BFA.
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon in the early 90s, Porter set his sights on Broadway. In 1994 he appeared in a Broadway revival of "Grease!" and followed it up with several more Broadway appearances in the ensuing decades. His more notable Broadway roles included: "Smokey Joe's Café" (1995-97), "Miss Saigon" (1998-99), and "Little Shop of Horrors" (2004). Throughout his stage career, Porter also appeared in films and on television. He made his feature film debut in 1997's "Twisted," and also appeared in "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy" (2000) and "Noel" (2004).
With nearly two decades of professional acting work behind him, Porter became a recognizable face to mainstream television audiences in 2018 when he simultaneously appeared on two popular shows: "American Horror Story: Apocalypse" and "Pose." Both shows were co-created and produced by Ryan Murphy. After coming off what was arguably the biggest year of his career, Porter followed it up with a part in the comedy "Limited Partners" (2019). Directed by Miguel Arteta, the film also starred Rose Byrne, Salma Hayek and Tiffany Hadish. Porter also became a viral sensation at the 2019 Oscars, where he served as one of the red-carpet interviewers wearing a tuxedo that had a full floor-length skirt.
Credits
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
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Magno Stift
Movie
2026
My Happy PlaceStream
Self
Reality
2025
The Olivier Awards 2025
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2025
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Music Performer
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2024
Headliners with Nihal Arthanayake
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2024
Can't Cancel Pride
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2024
Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
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2024
Diana Ross: The Fans' Story
Self
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2024
Disco's Revenge
Self
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2024
2023 MTV Video Music Awards
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2023
The Good Stuff With Mary Berg
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2023
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Music Performer
Special
2023
Live with Kelly and MarkStream
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2023
Black + Iconic
Executive Producer
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2023
Black + Iconic
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2023
AccusedStream
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2023
80 for BradyStream
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Gugu
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2023
Our Son
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Gabriel
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2023
Let the Canary SingStream
Self
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2023
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2023
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2022
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2023
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2022
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2023
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2022
Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
Music Performer
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2022
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue ShootingStream
Executive Producer
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2022
Global Citizen Festival: Take Action NOW
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2022
Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?Stream
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2022
Sherri
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2022
The Jennifer Hudson ShowStream
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2022
Cinderella: The ReunionStream
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2022
Who Do You Think You Are?
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Himself
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2022
Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom
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2022
The 75th Annual Tony Awards
Music Performer
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2022
The CNBC Conversation
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2022
The Proud Family: Louder and ProuderStream
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Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins
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2022
Anything's PossibleStream
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2022
Anything's PossibleStream
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2022
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022
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2021
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022
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2021
The 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
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2021
The National Christmas Tree Lighting
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2021
That's My Jam
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2021
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
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2021
CBS Mornings
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2021
Middlemost PostStream
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2021
The 2021 LGBTQ State of the Union With Billy Porter
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2021
A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change
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2021
CinderellaStream
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Fairy Godmother
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2021
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2021
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2020
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2021
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2020
One Night Only: The Best of Broadway
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2020
EqualStream
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2020
So Siriano
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2020
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
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2020
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
Music Performer
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2020
John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero
Music Performer
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2020
Global Goal: Unite for Our Future -- The Concert
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2020
Pose-a-Thon for Pride
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2020
GMA3: What You Need to Know
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2020
Dear...Stream
Self
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2020
The Oscars Red Carpet Show
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2020
Like a BossStream
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Barret
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2020
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020
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2019
The Year: 2019
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2019
The 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream
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2019
Tamron HallStream
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2019
GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke
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2019
Today With Hoda & Jenna
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2019
The Twilight ZoneStream
Guest Star
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2019
Oscars Live on the Red Carpet
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2019
Desus & Mero
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2019
Idina Menzel Feat. Billy Porter: I Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Yule Log)
Music Performer
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2019
Today 3rd Hour
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2018
PoseStream
Actor
Pray Tell
Series
2018
Pose: Identity, Family, Community
Self
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2018
Late Late Show With James Corden: Best of the Week
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2018
Billy Porter: I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair
Music Performer
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2018
Daily Blast Live
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2017
Live with Kelly and Ryan
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2017
Maya & Marty
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2016
Celebrity PageStream
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2016
The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream
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2015
Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter
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2015
Celebrity Family FeudStream
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Game Show
2015
The Late Late Show With James Corden
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2015
The Late Late Show With James Corden
Music Performer
Talk
2015
Speakeasy
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2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
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2014
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
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2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream
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2014
Sally Jessy Rides!
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2014
The Humbling
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Prince/Priscilla
Movie
2014
The Social
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2013
The Root 100
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2012
Totally Biased With W. Kamau BellStream
Guest
Series
2012
Entertainment Studios.TV
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2012
Sunday Brunch
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2011
Sunday Brunch
Music Performer
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2011
Just Josh
Actor
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2011
Access Hollywood Live
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2010
Lorraine
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2010
Lorraine
Self
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2010
Saturday Kitchen Live
Self
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2010
The Project
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2009
Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream
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2009
The Wendy Williams ShowStream
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2008
The Graham Norton ShowStream
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2007
The Graham Norton ShowStream
Music Performer
Talk
2007
Rachael Ray Show
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2006
Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
Original Music
Movie
2006
So You Think You Can DanceStream
Guest Star
Reality
2005
Dancing With the StarsStream
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Reality
2005
Noel
Actor
Randy
Movie
2004
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
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Talk
2003
Loose Women
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2002
Front Row
Guest
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2002
Loose Ends
Guest
Show
2002
The Broken Hearts Club
Actor
Taylor
Movie
2000
Intern
Actor
Sebastian Niederfarb
Movie
2000
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Actor
Show
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream
Guest Star
Jackie Walker
Series
1999
In Performance at The White House
Music Performer
Special
1998
The View
Guest
Talk
1997
Access Hollywood
Guest
News
1996
Twisted
Actor
Shiniqua, Angel's friend
Movie
1996
Extra
Guest
News
1994
The SimpsonsStream
Guest Voice
Desmond
Series
1989
CBS News Sunday MorningStream
Guest
News
1979
Live From Lincoln Center
Music Performer
Show
1976
Good Morning America
Guest
News
1975
TodayStream
Guest
News
1952
Photos
News aboutBilly Porter
18 Milestone LGBTQ+ Moments in TV History: ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ ‘All My Children’ & More
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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to Watch, New Floats, Who’s Performing & More!
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Ryan Murphy’s 15 Biggest Shows, Ranked
Spoiler Alert
‘Project Runway All-Stars’ Winner Speaks Out After Finale & Reveals Big Dream
Exclusive
Billy Porter on How ‘Accused’ Is an Extension of His Life Story & ‘Kinky Boots’ (VIDEO)
Review
Roush Review: Fox’s ‘Accused’ Is Guilty of Ambitious Storytelling
Exclusive
HBO’s ‘A Tree of Life’ Trailer Shows Community Healing From Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting (VIDEO)
Billy Porter Discovers Truth Behind Great-Grandfather’s Death (VIDEO)
2022 Tony Awards Performers: Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter & More
‘Accused’: Billy Porter to Direct Episode of Fox Anthology Drama
Black History Month 2022: Your Complete TV & Streaming Guide
‘Central Park’ Season 2 Returns: Watch a Musical Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
‘The Proud Family’ Revival ‘Louder and Prouder’ Gets Premiere Date — Watch the Trailer (VIDEO)
Q&A
Ryan Seacrest on Remembering Dick Clark on ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’s 50th Anniversary
‘Fairfax’: Middle Schoolers Search for Style Fame in Amazon Adult Animated Comedy (VIDEO)
Meet the Designers of Bravo’s ‘Project Runway’ Season 19 (PHOTOS)
2021 Dorian TV Awards: ‘Pose’ & ‘WandaVision’ Lead the Pack of Nominees
Preview
‘Pose’ Cast, Creators on Filming ‘Emotional’ Final Season of Groundbreaking Series
And the Category Is…The 7 Most Dazzling ‘Pose’ Ballroom Battles (VIDEO)
‘Pose’ Sets Up Fierce Fights for Blanca & Pray Tell in Season 3 First Look (VIDEO)
‘Pose’ to End With Season 3 on FX — Find Out When the Series Finale Will Air
Billy Porter Joins Ryan Seacrest & Lucy Hale for ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2021′
Review
Roush Review: Giving ‘Equal’ Time to Gay-Rights Pioneers
Review
Roush Review: Returning to ‘The Twilight Zone’
Exclusive
Billy Porter Steps Into ‘The Twilight Zone’ in Season 2 Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
13 Stars Who Earned Their First Emmy Nominations in 2019 (PHOTOS)
Billy Porter Calls Out ‘Double Standard’ in Casting Gay Characters
Get Your First Look at ‘Pose’ Season 2 With Fierce New Key Art (PHOTOS)
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