Billy Porter

ActorProducerDirectorWriterComposer Sep 21 (age 56) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 1972–2026 (54 year career)

6.1 avg rating

Biography

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 …

Known For

Film

Anastasia

Ensemble and Character Vocals (voice)

Film

POSE

Pray Tell

Film

Cinderella

Fabulous Godmother

Film

Like a Boss

Barrett

Film

Noel

Randy

Film

80 for Brady

Gugu

Film

Accused

Director

Film

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

Taylor

Filmography

Acting (101)

Movies (41)

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

2026 Upcoming

as Magno Stift

Nov 18

Billy Preston: That's the Way God Planned It

2026

as Self

Christmas Karma

2025

as The Ghost of Christmas Present

5.1

I Was Born This Way

2025

as Self

Eric André Live Near Broadway

as Self

Disco’s Revenge

Truth Be Told

Queen of New York

80 for Brady

as Gugu

Little Richard: I Am Everything

as Self

Our Son

as Gabriel

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

as Self - Guest

Let the Canary Sing

as Self

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!

2022

as Self

5.7

PRIDE: To Be Seen - A Soul of a Nation Presentation

2022

as Pray Tell (archive footage)

7.5

Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon

2022

as Self

Cinderella

2021

as Fabulous Godmother

6.3

Smoke, Lilies and Jade

2021

1.0

Where Love Lives: A Story of Dancefloor Culture & Expression

2021

as (Himself)

4.0

25 Years of Rent: Measured in Love

Like a Boss

as Barrett

Pose-a-Thon for Pride

2020

1.0

Together in Pride: You Are Not Alone

2020

as Self

10.0

Marvelous Moments with Maisel

2020

as Self (Moderator)

Every Act of Life

2018

as Self

6.4

Giving and Receiving

2018

as Pray Tell

Broadway: The Next Generation

2017

as Self

The Humbling

2014

as Prince

5.1

The Shoe

2011

Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

2011

as Himself

Indie Sex: Teens

2008

3.5

Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema

2006

as Self

5.4

All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise

as Himself

Noel

as Randy

Intern

as Sebastian Niederfarb

3.4

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

as Taylor

Colorz of Rage

as Street Performer

Anastasia

as Ensemble and Character Vocals (voice)

7.6

Twisted

1996

as Shiniqua, Angel's friend

2.8

Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness

1984

7.0

Camp

as Mark

Television (60)

My Happy Place

2025

as Self

1.0

Live from the Other Side with Tyler Henry

2024

as Self

7.0

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Sherri

as Self - Guest

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

2022

as Randall (voice)

5.6

Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?

2022

as Self

3.7

RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World

2022

as Self - Special Guest

Gossip Girl

as Singer

Middlemost Post

as Recycle King (voice)

7.7

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

as Self - Panellist

That's My Jam

as Self - Guest

That Damn Michael Che

2021

6.1

The Circuit

2021

as Self - Singer/Actor

The Drew Barrymore Show

2020

as Self

5.8

Stars in the House

2020

as Self

Visible: Out on Television

as Self

Dear...

as Self

Equal

as Narrator

The Kelly Clarkson Show

as Self

Tamron Hall

as Self - Guest

The Twilight Zone

Desus & Mero

as Self - Illustrious Guest

5.1

Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star

2019

as Self - Guest Judge

POSE

as Pray Tell

Big Mouth

as Ocean (voice)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

as Self - Guest

6.1

The Late Late Show with James Corden

2015

as Self - Guest

5.2

Celebrity Family Feud

2015

as Self

7.8

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

2015

as Self

6.2

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014

as Self

5.9

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014

as Self

5.2

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

2014

as Self - Guest

7.8

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

as Self

Trailblazer Honors

as Self - Speaker

American Horror Story

2011

as Behold Chablis

8.1

Who Do You Think You Are?

2010

as Self

6.6

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009

as Self - Guest

5.1

The Graham Norton Show

2007

as Self

7.2

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

as Self

Indie Sex

as Self

Dancing with the Stars

2005

as Self - Guest Judge

6.1

Project Runway

2004

as Self - Guest Judge

6.2

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003

as Self - Guest

5.4

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Jackie Walker

The View

as Self

The Daily Show

as Self

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

1996

as Self - Guest

3.9

MTV Movie & TV Awards

1992

as Self - Presenter

8.1

Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story

1991

as Little Richard

Law & Order

as Greg Ellison

The Simpsons

as Desmond (voice)

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988

as Self - Guest

5.4

MTV Video Music Awards

as Self

Newsnight

as Self

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

7.0

People's Choice Awards

1975

as Self - Presenter

9.0

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest

1972

as Self - Co-Host (New Orleans)

The Grammys

as Self

The Oscars

as Self

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Presenter

Crew (11)

Movies (10)

I Was Born This Way

2025

Executive Producer

Freeman Vines

2025

Executive Producer

(pride/prom)

2024

Executive Producer

Anything's Possible

2022

Director

5.7

A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

2022

Executive Producer

6.4

Sanctuary

2021

Writer

Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema

2006

Original Music Composer

5.4

Camp

Director

To Be Real

Director

To Be Real

Executive Producer

Television (1)

Accused

2023

Director

6.9