Adina Porter and Billy Porter are both successful actors who have appeared in various television shows and movies. They have also been the subject of a rumor that claims they are related, either as siblings or cousins. However, this rumor is false and has no basis in reality. Here is the truth behind the rumor and some facts about the two actors.
Who is Adina Porter?
Adina Porter is an American actress who was born and raised in New York City, more specifically, The South Bronx. She is a first generation American; her father was born and spent his youth in Sierra Leone, Africa, while her mother was born in Bermuda.
She began her acting career in the theatre, appearing in off-Broadway plays and in regional theatre. She won an Obie Award in 1996 for her performance in Venus, written by Suzan-Lori Parks. She made her Broadway debut in 2001 with the revival of The Women, directed by Scott Elliott.
She is best known for her roles as Lettie Mae Thornton on the HBO fantasy horror series True Blood (2008–2014), Kendra James on the HBO drama series The Newsroom (2012–2014), Indra on the CW science fiction drama series The 100 (2014–2020), and various characters on the FX anthology series American Horror Story (2011–present). She received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and two Saturn Award nominations for her work in American Horror Story.
She has also appeared in films such as Swoon (1992), The Peacemaker (1997), Gia (1998), Body Shots (1999), The Fluffer (2001), The Salon (2005), and Lackawanna Blues (2005), for which she won a Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable.
She has been married twice and has two children with her second husband, Larry Earl Madison Jr., who died in 2016.
Who is Billy Porter?
Billy Porter is an American actor, singer, and writer who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the son of William E. Porter and Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter Ford. He has one sister called Mary Martha Ford-Dieng.
He began his career on Broadway, starring in musicals such as Miss Saigon (1991), Grease (1994), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (1995), Kinky Boots (2013), and Shuffle Along (2016). He won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots. He also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Aubrey Lyles in Shuffle Along.
He is best known for his role as Pray Tell on the FX drama series Pose (2018–2021), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, making him the first openly gay Black man to win the award. He also received two Golden Globe Award nominations and three Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations for his role. He is also set to play the Fairy Godmother in the upcoming live-action remake of Cinderella (2021).
He has also appeared in films such as The First Wives Club (1996), The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000), Noel (2004), The Humbling (2014), Like a Boss (2020), and Cinderella (2021). He has also released four solo albums: Billy Porter (1997), At the Corner of Broadway + Soul (2005), Billy’s Back on Broadway (2014), and The Soul of Richard Rodgers (2017).
He has been married to Adam Smith since 2017. He came out as HIV-positive in 2021, revealing that he was diagnosed in 2007.
Are They Related?
Despite their similar last names and appearances, Adina Porter and Billy Porter are not related at all. They have different parents, different backgrounds, and different careers. They have never worked together or claimed to be related.
The rumor that they are related may have originated from their shared involvement in American Horror Story, where they both played recurring characters in different seasons. However, they never shared any scenes or interacted with each other on the show.
According to AsAfrican.com, a website that covers African celebrities and culture, they are said to be look-alikes but are not related.
Therefore, the rumor that Adina Porter and Billy Porter are related is false and should not be believed.
Conclusion
Adina Porter and Billy Porter are both talented and accomplished actors who have made their mark in the entertainment industry. However, they are not related in any way, shape, or form. They have different families, different origins, and different paths. They are simply two people who happen to share a common surname and a passion for acting.
