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Who is Billy Porter?

AWARD-WINNING actor Billy Porter has made headlines for his outstanding taste in fashion.

The actor has taken home an array of accolades throughout his career and was honored at the National Liberty Awards in 2023 for his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

 Billy Porter is a Broadway star from Pennsylvania
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Billy Porter is a Broadway star from Pennsylvania

Who is Billy Porter?

Billy Porter is an American Tony Award-winning actor born on September 21, 1969.

The Broadway star was born in Pennsylvania and displayed an interest in drama and theatrics from a young age.

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts in Drama he went on to gain a certification from the graduate-level Professional Program in screenwriting at UCLA.

Billy made his Broadway debut in the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease! and has gone on to star in multiple productions over the years, including Smokey Joe's Cafe.

Beyond his extensive stage career - which saw him win Best Musical Theatre Album for Kinky Boots at the 2014 Grammys - he has also acted in Law & Order, Pose, and American Horror Story.

Billy is also a singer-songwriter who has produced four albums.

On May 19, 2021, Billy announced he was HIV positive.

He was diagnosed in 2007 and kept it a secret from the world "in fear of retaliation," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor told the publication: "For a long time, everybody who needed to know, knew — except for my mother.

"I was trying to have a life and a career, and I wasn’t certain I could if the wrong people knew. It would just be another way for people to discriminate against me in an already discriminatory profession.

"So I tried to think about it as little as I could. I tried to block it out.

Adding: "But quarantine has taught me a lot. Everybody was required to sit down and shut the f**k up."

However, Billy says he is "the healthiest he's been in his entire life" due to medication.

What is Billy Porter’s net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the actor and singer has a reported net worth of $5million.

His successes landed him a Tony Award for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots in 2013 and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2018 for Best Actor in the TV show Pose.

In 2019, Billy won a Primetime Emmy for Oustanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Pose.

Additionally, in 2022, Billy was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 Billy Porter poses with his estranged husband Adam Porter-Smith
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Billy Porter poses with his estranged husband Adam Porter-SmithCredit: Getty - Contributor

Who is Billy Porter’s estranged husband, Adam Porter-Smith?

Adam Porter-Smith currently resides in New York City and is the creative director for The Smith Society.

In 2003, Adam graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a bachelor in fine arts.

Following his graduation, Adam went on to work as a sales representative for Marchon Eyewear for four years.

He later went on to work as a sales director for Jil Sander before moving to Dita Eyewear in 2010.

Before working for Dita Eyewear, Adam met Billy at a dinner with mutual friends in February 2009 and began dating shortly after.

However, their relationship only lasted about a year before they called it quits.

In 2015, the two decided to give their relationship another shot. The following year, Billy proposed to Adam during a dinner on December 2016.

The newly engaged couple remained fiancés for only 16 days as they tied the knot on January 14, 2017.

The reasoning for their short engagement was that Billy wanted to get married whilst former President Barack Obama was still in office.

Unfortunately, in July 2023, Billy's rep, Simon Halls, confirmed the two called it quits.

Halls told People: "Billy Porter and his husband Adam Smith have made the sad decision to end their marriage after six years.

"The decision was an amicable and mutual one and was made after much consideration. They continue to love and support each other as they embark on this new chapter."

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