- Darryl Stephens
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Darryl Stephens
Darryl Stephens At an HBO event.Born March 7, 1974
Pasadena, California, United StatesDarryl Joseph Stephens (born March 7, 1974, Pasadena, California) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Noah Nicholson on the television dramedy Noah's Arc.
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Early life
Stephens grew up in the Altadena and Pasadena areas of Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley where he studied sociology and ethnic studies along with drama and dance before earning a Bachelor's Degree in American Culture Studies. He performed for four years in San Francisco with the cult theater troupe Sassymouth before returning to Los Angeles to pursue a film and television career. He also worked with the Berkeley Black Theater Workshop.
Film career
Back in L.A., Stephens appeared on the sexy late-night serial MTV's Undressed, the short-lived series That's Life, and VH1's Red Eye. During the same period, he was also appearing in various commercials for products such as Dockers and performing in small theater venues and scene study classes. He also played a "future funked"[citation needed] Greta in a Hollywood revival of the well-known play Bent.
Stephens had supporting roles in the films Seamless (with Shannon Elizabeth), Not Quite Right, and Circuit. However, his breakout role came in 2004, when independent filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk cast him as the lead character for the new series Noah's Arc. The original intention was for the show to be released direct-to-DVD after it had received rave reviews at various film festivals. However, in the fall of 2005, LOGO picked up Noah's Arc, which debuted on October 19. In August of 2006 the second season of Noah's Arc was televised. Upon the end of the series, it was announced that there would be a feature film version, Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom that picks up after the show's second season finale, which Stephens would star, along with Jensen Atwood and remainder of the series cast.
By the end of 2006, Stephens had completed roles in the comedy Another Gay Movie and the drama Boy Culture, the latter alongside newcomer Derek Magyar. In 2010, he guest starred in an episode of Private Practice, playing a pre-op transgendered character. His next film, scheduled for release in 2011, is Bolden!, a bio film about jazz great Buddy Bolden starring Anthony Mackie as Bolden. Stephen's role is of cornet player Frank Lewis.
Personal life
Although Stephens is reluctant to discuss his personal life, he is openly gay and his roles address issues of classism and sexuality.[1][2]
Filmography
Year Title Role 2008 Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom Noah 2007 Boy Culture Andrew 2006 Another Gay Movie Angel 2005–2006 Noah's Arc Noah 2005 Not Quite Right Evan 2001 Circuit Julian 2001 That's Life 2000 Undressed (TV)(Season 2) 1999 Seamless Devin References
- ^ "Gay Series Changing Darryl Stephens' Career Arc (page 2)". AfterElton.com. 2006-08-17. http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/people/2006/8/darryl2.html. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ Darryl Stephens talks to Instinct about being a gay man on-screen and off... by Greg Hernandez on 18 September 2008.
External links
Categories:- African American actors
- American television actors
- Actors from California
- Gay actors
- LGBT African Americans
- 1974 births
- Living people
- People from Pasadena, California
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