- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- September 21, 1969
- Place of Birth
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Billy Porter
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…
Filmography
movieThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
2026 · Magno Stift
movieBilly Preston: That's the Way God Planned It
2026 · Self
movieChristmas Karma
2025 · The Ghost of Christmas Present
movieFreeman Vines
2025 · Executive Producer
movieI Was Born This Way
2025 · Self, Executive Producer
tvMy Happy Place
2025 · Self
movie(pride/prom)
2024 · Executive Producer
tvLive from the Other Side with Tyler Henry
2024 · Self
movieDisco's Revenge
2024
movieEric André Live Near Broadway
2024 · Self
movieQueen of New York
2023
movieOur Son
2023 · Gabriel
movieTruth Be Told
2023
movieLet the Canary Sing
2023 · Self
movieCarol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023 · Self - Guest
movieLittle Richard: I Am Everything
2023 · Self
movie80 for Brady
2023 · Gugu
tvAccused
2023 · Director
movieMariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!
2022 · Self
movieA Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
2022 · Executive Producer
tvWho's Talking to Chris Wallace?
2022 · Self
tvThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
tvSherri
2022 · Self - Guest
movieHomeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
2022 · Self
movieAnything's Possible
2022 · Director
moviePRIDE: To Be Seen - A Soul of a Nation Presentation
2022 · Pray Tell (archive footage)
tvThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
2022 · Randall (voice)
tvRuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World
2022 · Self - Special Guest
tvThat's My Jam
2021 · Self - Guest
tvNever Mind the Buzzcocks
2021 · Self - Panellist
movieCinderella
2021 · Fabulous Godmother
movieSmoke, Lilies and Jade
2021
movieSanctuary
2021 · Writer
tvThe Circuit
2021 · Self - Singer/Actor
tvMiddlemost Post
2021 · Recycle King (voice)
tvGossip Girl
2021 · Singer
tvThat Damn Michael Che
2021
movieWhere Love Lives: A Story of Dancefloor Culture & Expression
2021 · (Himself)
movie25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love
2021
tvEqual
2020 · Narrator
tvThe Drew Barrymore Show
2020 · Self
moviePose-a-Thon for Pride
2020 · Self
tvDear...
2020 · Self
movieTogether in Pride: You Are Not Alone
2020 · Self
tvStars in the House
2020 · Self
tvVisible: Out on Television
2020 · Self
movieLike a Boss
2020 · Barrett
tvTamron Hall
2019 · Self - Guest
tvThe Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Self
tvThe Twilight Zone
2019
tvGlow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star
2019 · Self - Guest Judge
tvDesus & Mero
2019 · Self - Illustrious Guest
tvPOSE
2018 · Pray Tell
movieEvery Act of Life
2018 · Self
tvBig Mouth
2017 · Ocean (voice)
tvThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · Self, Self - Guest
tvClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015 · Self
tvCelebrity Family Feud
2015 · Self
tvThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015 · Self - Guest
movieThe Humbling
2014 · Prince
tvVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014 · Self
tvTrailblazer Honors
2014 · Self - Speaker
tvLast Week Tonight with John Oliver
2014 · Self
tvLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014 · Self, Self - Guest
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014 · Self, Self - Guest
tvAmerican Horror Story
2011 · Behold Chablis
movieHeart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
2011 · Himself
The Shoe
movieThe Shoe
2011
tvWho Do You Think You Are?
2010 · Self
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
movieIndie Sex: Teens
2008
tvKeeping Up with the Kardashians
2007 · Self
tvIndie Sex
2007 · Self
tvThe Graham Norton Show
2007 · Self
movieAll Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise
2006 · Himself
movieFabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema
2006 · Self, Original Music Composer
tvDancing with the Stars
2005 · Self - Guest Judge
tvProject Runway
2004 · Self - Guest Judge
movieNoel
2004 · Randy
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003 · Self - Guest
movieThe Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
2000 · Taylor
movieIntern
2000 · Sebastian Niederfarb
tvLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999 · Jackie Walker
movieColorz of Rage
1999 · Street Performer
movieAnastasia
1997 · Ensemble and Character Vocals (voice)
tvThe View
1997 · Self - Guest
movieTwisted
1996 · Shiniqua, Angel's friend
tvThe Daily Show
1996 · Self
tvThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996 · Self - Guest
tvMTV Movie & TV Awards
1992 · Self - Presenter
tvShake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story
1991 · Little Richard
tvLaw & Order
1990 · Greg Ellison
tvThe Simpsons
1989 · Desmond (voice)
tvLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988 · Self - Guest
movieRaquel: Total Beauty and Fitness
1984
tvMTV Video Music Awards
1984 · Self
tvOlivier Awards
1981 · Self - Host
tvNewsnight
1980 · Self
tvSaturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Cameo (uncredited)
tvPeople's Choice Awards
1975 · Self - Presenter
tvThe Grammys
1959 · Self
tvThe Oscars
1953 · Self
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Presenter
Camp
movieCamp
— · Mark, Director
movieBroadway: The Next Generation
— · Self
To Be Real
movieTo Be Real
— · Director, Executive Producer