William Ellis Porter II, known as Billy Porter, was born on September 21, 1969. He is a multifaceted American actor and singer who first gained prominence on Broadway before transitioning into a successful solo career. Porter's standout performance as Lola in the hit musical *Kinky Boots* earned him numerous accolades, including the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award. He has described this transformative role as pivotal in helping him embrace his feminine side and challenge toxic masculinity. Additionally, Porter won a Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Musical Theater Album for the show's cast recording.
Porter is also well-known for his role in the groundbreaking television series *Pose*, where he portrayed Pray Tell across all three seasons. His work earned him three Golden Globe nominations and the 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, marking a historic moment as he became the first openly gay Black man to win in a lead acting category at the Emmys. In 2020, he was recognized by *Time* magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2022, Porter won another Tony Award as a producer for the acclaimed musical *A Strange Loop* and made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy *Anything's Possible*. He also received the Isabelle Stevenson Award at the 77th Tony Awards for his philanthropic efforts with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Entertainment Community Fund.
