:Darryl Stephens

Stephens grew up in Altadena and Pasadena California and after college moved to the city of Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last=Gerami |first=Vic |date=2017-11-22 |title=10Q {{!}} DARRYL STEPHENS |url=https://thebluntpost.com/10-questions-with-vic-featuring-darryl-stephens/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=THE BLUNT POST |language=en-US}}

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|date=September 2007}} 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 2006 the second season of Noah's Arc was televised. 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 October 2008, a feature film version was release. Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom picks up where the show's second season left off and tells the story of the marriage between Stephens' character and Jensen Atwood's.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-black-gay-hollywood-20151019-html-htmlstory.html|title=Niche casting and Hollywood's lingering reluctance to feature gay black actors|last=Anderson|first=Tre'vell|website=Los Angeles Times|date=19 October 2015 |access-date=2018-03-27}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.newnownext.com/darryl-stephens-told-to-turn-down-noahs-arc-role-because-it-was-too-gay-and-would-limit-his-career/10/2015/|title=Darryl Stephens Told To Turn Down "Noah's Arc" Role Because It Was "Too Gay"|work=LOGO News|access-date=2018-03-27}}

In 2010, he guest starred in an episode of Private Practice, playing a transgender woman. His next film, released in 2011, was Bolden!, a bio film about jazz great Buddy Bolden starring Anthony Mackie as Bolden. Stephens' role is of cornet player Frank Lewis.

Stephens played the recurring role Gideon on B Positive on CBS.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2020-10-12|title='B Positive': Izzy G Joins As Series Regular, Briga Heelan & Linda Lavin Among 5 Set To Recur On CBS Comedy|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/b-positive-izzy-g-cast-series-regular-briga-heelan-linda-lavin-among-5-recurring-cbs-comedy-series-chuck-lorre-1234596133/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

Stephens released a self-published novel in 2011, entitled Shortcomings, which weaves together short stories he had written previously.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cJ46CgAAQBAJ&q=darryl+stephens|title=Required Reading|isbn=9781329320802|last1=Stephens|first1=Darryl|date=16 July 2015|publisher=Lulu.com }}

Although Stephens is reluctant to discuss his personal life, he is gay and his roles address issues of classism and sexuality.{{cite web |url=http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/people/2006/8/darryl2.html |title=Gay Series Changing Darryl Stephens' Career Arc (page 2) |publisher=AfterElton.com |date=2006-08-17 |access-date=2011-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906190754/http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/people/2006/8/darryl2.html |archive-date=2011-09-06 }}[http://www.insidesocal.com/outinhollywood/2008/09/darryl-stephens-talks-to-insti.html Darryl Stephens talks to Instinct about being a gay man on-screen and off...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009010248/http://www.insidesocal.com/outinhollywood/2008/09/darryl-stephens-talks-to-insti.html |date=2008-10-09 }} by Greg Hernandez on 18 September 2008. In August 2020, he became a father to a daughter with a surrogate.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-24|title=Darryl Stephens of Noah's Arc Nearly Quit Acting Before Becoming a Dad|url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2021/8/23/darryl-stephens-noahs-arc-fatherhood|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.advocate.com|language=en}}

Ovation Awards

• 2011: Nominated for Featured Actor in a Play for the role of Victoria in the Bootleg Theatre production of "The Interlopers"{{cite news|title=Kiss Me Kate Tops 2011 Ovation Award Nominations.|url=http://www.lastagetimes.com/2011/09/kiss-me-kate-tops-2011-ovation-award-nominations/|date=19 September 2011|access-date=9 February 2013|archive-date=20 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820063815/http://lastagetimes.com/2011/09/kiss-me-kate-tops-2011-ovation-award-nominations/|url-status=dead}}

http://www.thebody.com/content/80676/making-black-gay-lives-matter-a-conversation-with-.html

http://www.thebody.com/content/80679/untying-tongues-a-conversation-with-darryl-stephen.html

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• {{IMDb name|0826992|Darryl Stephens}}

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Category:1974 births

Category:20th-century African-American male actors

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:21st-century African-American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American gay actors

Category:African-American LGBTQ people

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Pasadena, California

Category:LGBTQ people from California

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people