Emmy nominee Billy Porter, from Pittsburgh to 50
Starting in 2013, when he won the best actor Tony Award for “Kinky Boots,” Pittsburgher Billy Porter has had a seemingly meteoric rise as a performer, activist and fashion icon, and, in 2020, he will be immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Saturday, Porter turned 50, and on Sunday, he is considered a front-runner in the best actor in a drama category at TV’s Emmy Awards. Here’s just a glimpse of Porter’s path to the spotlight.
1969
Sept. 21: William Ellis “Billy” Porter II is born. He grows up in Lincoln-Lemington/East Liberty, singing in the Pentecostal church, in which his mother, Cloerinda Ford, is a pastor.
1980 11-year-old Billy’s “journey to the truth” begins when he hears Jennifer Holliday and the cast of “Dreamgirls” on Tony Awards.
1980s Attends Reizenstein Middle School and Pittsburgh Allderdice High School before graduating from Pittsburgh CAPA.
Has first paid gig, as an entertainer at
Kennywood.
1985 Comes out as gay at age 16.
1991 Graduates from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and has first Broadway role, in ensemble of “Miss Saigon.”
1992 Wins $100,000 prize as top male vocalist on TV’s “Star Search.” 1990-2000s Broadway roles include Teen Angel in “Grease” revival. He stars in “Dreamgirls” for Pittsburgh Playhouse (‘90), 20th-anniversary NYC benefit concert (2001) and Pittsburgh CLO
(’04).
1997 Releases R&B album “Billy Porter” with A&M Records.
2000 Moves to L.A., where he earns certification from graduate-level professional program in screenwriting at UCLA.
2000s At CMU as an educator, he instructs future Tony winners such as Patina Miller and Leslie Odom Jr.
2004 Stars in Suzan-Lori Parks’ “Topdog/Underdog” at City Theatre. Named Post-Gazette’s Performer of the Year.
2005 Debuts one-man show “Ghetto Superstar” at New York Public Theater, in association with City Theatre.
2010 Portrays Belize in “Angels in America” at NYC’s Signature Theatre, with a cast including CMU alumni Zachary Quinto and Christian Borle.
2013
April 4: “Kinky Boots” debuts on Broadway, with Porter kicking up his heels as inspirational drag queen Lola.
June 11: Takes Tony Award for best actor in a musical.
2014 Releases album “Billy’s Back on Broadway” (Concord Records).
2015
Aug. 4-9: Leaves Broadway to star with “Kinky Boots” tour at the Benedum Center. On opening night, Pittsburgh rewards him with a midshow standing ovation after he sings “Hold Me in Your Heart.”
2017
Jan. 14: Marries Adam Smith, co-owner of eyewear company Native Ken.
April 1: Receives GLAAD Vito Russo Award, given to an openly LGBTQ+ “media professional” for promoting equality. 2018
June 3: Ryan Murphy’s
“Pose” debuts on FX, with Porter as drag ball emcee Pray Tell. 2019
Jan. 6: Golden Globe nominee Porter becomes buzz of fashion world, in a pink-lined bejeweled cape.
February: Serves as sole ambassador for N.Y. Fashion Week men’s shows, and, later, as a preshow interviewer at the Oscars, his Christian Siriano tuxedo announces his arrival as a fashion icon.
May 6: Arrives at Met Gala decked out in gold as a winged sun god.
September: As he hurtles toward Fabulous 50, Vanity Fair declares Porter the fashion winner of 2019, and his song, “Love Yourself,” reaches No. 1 on Dance Club chart. September 22: And the best actor winner at the Emmy Awards is …