NAB said it will give actor, singer, director composer and playwright Billy Porter, best-known currently for starring in the FX series Pose, its NAB Show New York Impact Award.
The award will be presented on Thursday, October 17, during the 2019 NAB Show New York at Javits Convention Center.
Porter, an Emmy, Tony and Grammy award-winner, will be honored for “his decades of success as an entertainer and his breakthrough performances,” NAB said.
“Billy Porter is a creative force in the New York community and beyond,” said NAB SVP of Communications Ann Marie Cumming in a prepared statement. “His talent, style and passion shine through in his roles as an actor, activist, singer, director, composer and playwright. It is an honor to present Mr. Porter with this esteemed award for his impact and influence as he continues to drive the industry forward through his artistry both on and off-screen.”
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Porter made his Broadway debut in Miss Saigon in 1991 before winning the role of Teen Angel in the 1994 production of Grease. In 2005, he wrote and performed in the one-man show Ghetto Superstar (The Man That I Am) at Joe’s Pub in New York City, and later originated the role of Lola in Broadway’s Kinky Boots. He stars in FX’s Pose, recently renewed for a third season, as Pray Tell. The role earned him a 2019 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — a first for an openly gay black man.
Next year, Porter will co-star with Rose Byrne, Tiffany Haddish and Salma Hayek in the feature film Like a Boss.
