Billy Porter Biography
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Billy Porter is an American actor, singer, and author. He gained a large following after performing on Broadway before starring a solo career as a singer and actor.
Moreover, he won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Kinky Boots. Porter credits the part for “cracking open” his feminine side to confront toxic masculinity. In addition, he starred in all of the three seasons of the television series Pose. As a result, he was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and won the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series.
Billy Porter Age
Porter is 52 years old as of 2021. He was born on September 21 st, 1969 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Additionally, he celebrates his birthday on September 21st every year.
Billy Porter Height
Billy measures a standing height of 5 feet 9 inches tall which is equivalent to 1.75 meters tall. He also weighs 70 kilograms which is equivalent to 165 lbs. Additionally, he has black hair and dark brown eyes. He also wears a shoe size 10 (US).
Billy Porter Gender
Porter is a male actor, singer, and author.
Billy Porter Family, Parents and Siblings
Billy is the loving son of William E. Porter, his father, and Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter Ford, his mother. Additionally, he is the brother of Mary Martha E. Ford.
Billy Porter Husband
Porter is openly gay. He came out at the age of 16 during the middle of the AIDS crisis. On January 14th, 2017, he married his husband, Adam Smith after meeting him in 2009. Additionally, he was very keen to get married “while Obama was still president and before January 20th, 2017”. As such, the beautiful couple got engaged on December 29th, 2016, and got married 2 weeks later.
Billy Porter Daughter | Children | Billy Porter Singing
Billy Porter Fashion and Dress
During his young age, Porter was brought up in the black church which he describes as “a fashion show”. It is said that it is from here that he gained his passion for fashion. Over the years, his fashion has gone through many phases including vintage, geek chic, Fitch, and Abercrombie.
According to Billy, he says that he intentionally set out to use fashion in more of a political way and mainly to be a “walking piece of political art”. According to his stylist, Sam Ratelle, Porter has been able to work on 150 red carpet looks as of January 2020. All the designs are made by Porter himself. As of 2021, his stylist is Ty Hunter who has previously worked with Beyoncé.
To view his official designs and wears, click here.
Billy Porter Pose
Pose is an American drama television series about New York City’s African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming drag ball culture scene in the 1980s, early 1990s in the second season, and the mid-to-late 1990s in the third season. Porter portrays the role of Pray Tell and was featured in all its seasons.
Billy Porter Cinderella
Porter played the role of Fabulous Godmother in the 2021 movie film titled Cinderella.
Billy Porter Movies and TV Shows
Films
The following are movies that Billy has been featured in:
- 1996 Twisted
- 1996 The First Wives Club
- 1997 Anastasia
- 2000 The Intern
- 2000 The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
- 2004 Noel
- 2014 The Humbling
- 2020 Like a Boss
- 2021 Cinderella
- TBA Little Shop of Horrors
Tv Shows
The following are television shows that Billy has been featured in:
- 1998 Another World
- 1999 Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story
- 2004 Law & Order
- 2007–12 So You Think You Can Dance
- 2012 The Big C
- 2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2013 Land of Lola: Backstage at Kinky Boots
- 2014 Christmas at Rockefeller Plaza
- 2015 Billy Porter: Broad & Soul
- 2016 The Get Down
- 2018–21 Pose
- 2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse
- 2019 Saturday Night Live
- 2019–present Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
- 2020 The Simpsons
- 2020 The Twilight Zone
- 2020 Saturday Night Seder
- 2021 That Damn Michael Che
- 2021 Middlemost Post
- 2021 Gossip Girl
- 2021 Fairfax
- 2022 The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Theater
Sources: Playbill Vault; Off-Broadway Database
- 1991 Miss Saigon, Ensemble/John (u/s), Broadway
- 1994 Grease, Teen Angel, Broadway
- 1995 The Merchant of Venice, Solanio, Off-Broadway
- 1995 Songs for a New World, performer, Off-Broadway
- 1995–1997 Smokey Joe’s Cafe, performer, Broadway
- 1998–1999 Miss Saigon, John (replacement), Broadway
- 1998 Jesus Christ Superstar, Jesus of Nazareth, Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center, Nyack, NY
- September 2001 Dreamgirls, James Thunder Early, New York Actors Fund concert
- 2003 Radiant Baby, Various, Off-Broadway
- 2004 Topdog/Underdog, City Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2004 Little Shop of Horrors, Audrey ll (replacement), Broadway
- 2004 Chef’s Theater: A Musical Feast, Performer, Off-Broadway
- 2005 Ghetto Superstar, Performer, Off-Broadway – also playwright
- 2005 Birdie Blue, Bam/Little
- 2005 Pimp/Sook/Minerva, Off-Broadway
- 2009 Putting It Together, performer, New York
- 2010 Angels in America, Belize, Off-Broadway
- 2013–2015 Kinky Boots, Lola, Broadway
- 2014 Kinky Boots, Lola (replacement), Tour
- 2015 HAM: A Musical Memoir, Off-Broadway – director
- 2016 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
- 2017 Kinky Boots, Lola (replacement), Broadway
Billy Porter Songs
Albums
- 1997: Billy Porter (DV8/A&M Records)
- 2005: At the Corner of Broadway + Soul (Sh-K-Boom Records)
- 2014: Billy’s Back on Broadway (Concord Music Group)
- 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
- “Only One Road” on Love Rocks compilation album
- “Love Is on the Way” on The First Wives Club album
- “Destiny” with Jordan Hill on Jim Brickman’s Greatest Hits album
- “Where Is Love?” with Liz Callaway
Appears in
- Featured on a number of songs on tribute album It’s Only Life: The Songs of John Bucchino
- Adam Guettel’s album Myths and Hymns in 1999
- He is featured with Alan Cumming, David Raleigh, and Ari Gold in a cover of “That’s What Friends Are For”, of ‘The Friends Project’ in support of the Ali Forney Center, an NYC shelter for homeless LGBT youth. The song was arranged and produced by Nathan Leigh Jones and directed by Michael Akers.
Billy Porter Net Worth
Billy has made a great fortune from his career. He has an estimated net worth of $42 million.
Billy Porter Instagram
To view his official Instagram page click here.
