Ryan Jamaal Swain is a renowned television personality of America. He has acted on numerous television series over the years. Moreover, the actor is best known for his performance in FX's television series Pose. He portrayed the character of Damon Richards-Evangelista, a homeless LGBTQIA dancer and the first member of House of Evangelista.
The media person was listed in Forbe's 30 Under 30 - Hollywood & Entertainment in 2019. His acting has also received much praise from film critics. Furthermore, the tv star is a talented dancer. He specializes in tap, modern, and hip-hop dancing.
So, let's learn more about Ryan Jamaal Swain's professional and private lives in this biography.
Barrett Doss Biography - Station 19 Star
Troubled Childhood, Multiple Siblings And Education
The performer was born on March 13, 1994, in Orlando, Florida. He later moved with his family to Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of six. Moreover, Ryan Jamaal Swain's father left the family when he was five or six years old. Afterward, Ryan Jamaal Swain's mother, Dee Smith, remarried to another guy. However, Ryan's stepfather was homophobic and verbally and physically abused him. His mother later divorced him when he was in college.
In Birmingham, Ryan Jamaal Swain's biological sister, Raven Lynette Swain, was shot dead on July 28, 2020. Nevertheless, he still misses her and often mentions her in his social media posts.
In addition, Swain's biological brother, Richard Braxton, is a basketball player. He also has a half-sister named Deanna from his stepfather. Further, the dancer also has an older half-brother from his father's subsequent marriage. Finally, he also had a younger half-sibling named Kendall, who died of bone marrow cancer.
After his father left, Ryan Jamaal's mother, Dee Smith, raised him and his siblings all by herself. Photo Source: Ryan Jamaal Swain's Instagram.
The actor began attending tap dance classes at the age of four. Afterward, he learned jazz, modern, ballet, and hip-hop routines. Furthermore, the dancer was also training to become a professional player in the Alabama School of Fine Arts. However, during his sophomore year, he became attracted to acting and later enrolled in Howard University.
Eventually, Swain graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts. Later, he joined the British American Drama Academy to hone his acting skills. Moreover, afterward, he moved to New York to pursue an acting career.
Ryan Jamaal Swain Net Worth And Career
The Birmingham native has performed in some of the notable television projects over the years. As such, he has obtained wide recognition and fortune from his profession. So, Ryan Jamaal Swain's net worth mainly comprises his earnings from his acting gigs. However, it also includes his income from endorsements, show appearances, commissions, etc.
However, the television personality hasn't revealed his earnings to the public. Still, according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an actor is $16 an hour and $32,367 yearly. As such, Swain's payroll must also be around the same range.
Earnings From Acting
Ryan Jamaal Swain initially began performing in school dramas and shows. Later in college, he appeared in musicals and plays, namely Anything Goes, Six Degrees of Separation, Thoughts of a Colored Man, etc. In addition, the artist also worked in Off-Broadway productions. His notable work was in Kill Move Paradise, shown at National Black Theatre.
Afterward, the theatre artist wrote and starred in a one-person show titled A Negro Writer. It was based on his and Langston Hughes' lives. Eventually, Ryan was cast in Ryan Murphy's television series Pose in 2017. He starred alongside Michaela Jae (MJ) Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Angel Bismark Curiel, and others.
The series features African-American and Latino LGBTQIA members fighting, resisting, and thriving within the 1980s New York City's ballroom community. For Swain, his character's persona and home situation resembled his own. As a result, it helped him dive deeper into the role and express his emotions and feelings clearly.
The tv actor's performance was both sentimental and touching for the audience. As such, he received many praises and support from the film community. Moreover, the performer appeared in two seasons of the show. However, afterward, he chose to exit due to the sudden demise of his sister Raven Lynette Swain. He later made an appearance in the third season finale.
In addition to Pose, Ryan has acted on Acting for a Cause and Kush. He also played in a short movie, Engaged in 2019.
Thus, Ryan Jamaal Swain's net worth must have increased throughout his acting career.
Is Also An Activist
Besides acting, Ryan Jamaal Swain spends most of his time as an activist. He is an ambassador of Stonewall Ambassadors, an organization supporting LGBTQ+. Moreover, the tv personality has also partnered up with It Gets Better Foundation on their #48HoursOfLove campaign in 2018. Its motto was to share uplifting messages to LGBTQIA students during the stressful back-to-school season.
Ryan Jamaal Swain is advocating for the rights and equality of the LGBTQIA community. Photo Source: Ryan Jamaal Swain's Instagram.
The activist is advocating for the equality of the LGBTQ+ community. He also gives speeches and honors other LGBTQIA activists. For instance, he honored Bayard Rustin, Audre Lorde, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others in Good Morning America in 2020.
Ryan Jamaal Swain Partner And Relationships
Ryan Swain is a proud member of the LGBTQIA community and identifies himself as Queer. He was aware of his sexual identity from a young age but only decided to come out in his college year. Moreover, the Broadway actor's grandparents and family were initially shocked but later supported his sexuality.
The actor first introduced his partner to his family during his university year. Ryan Jamaal Swain's ex-boyfriend was the production manager of A Negro Writer. Later on, he broke up with him and met another partner. In addition, the pair met while studying in London and Oxford. They were in a relationship for two years before calling it quit in 2018.
At present, Ryan Jamaal Swain seems to be focused on his career so, he is likely single for the time being. Photo Source: Ryan Jamaal Swain's Instagram.
Many fans also speculated the performer to be in a relationship with another co-star of Pose. It surfaced after the latter posed picture of him and his co-star on Twitter. However, both Swain and his rumored boyfriend, Dyllon Burnside, didn't confirm the news.
Ryan Jamaal Swain's fans are still waiting eagerly for his next project. Hopefully, he will soon return with another fabulous performance on television.
Trivia And Facts
- Ryan Jamaal Swain has 335K Instagram followers.
- He is currently writing an autobiography book.
- He idolizes Jeffrey Wright, Harry Belafonte, Joaquin Phoenix, and Meryl Streep.
