Daniel Durant
{{short description|American actor}}
{{distinguish|Daniel Duranti|Daniel Castillo Durante}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Daniel Durant
| image = Daniel Durant 2022.png
| caption = Durant in 2022
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|12|24}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| alma_mater = Gallaudet University
| years_active = 2012–present
| partner = Britt Stewart (2023–present; engaged)
| occupation = Actor
}}
Daniel N. Durant (born December 24, 1989) is an American stage and screen actor. Deaf since birth, his breakthrough starring role was as Moritz Stiefel in the 2015 Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. Durant had a major supporting role in the Academy Award-winning film CODA (2021). He and the cast won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, along with the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.{{Cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|date=2021-08-12|title='CODA' Review: A Voice of Her Own|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/movies/coda-review.html|access-date=2021-08-13|issn=0362-4331}} On television, he is known for his recurring role in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth (2013–2017).{{Cite web |title=Daniel Durant |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3310289/ |access-date=2016-01-11 |website=IMDb}}{{Cite web |title=Daniel Durant Theatre Credits |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Daniel-Durant/ |access-date=2016-01-11 |website=www.broadwayworld.com}}
Early life
Durant was born deaf in Detroit, Michigan to deaf parents who struggled with addiction; he was adopted as a toddler by his paternal aunt Lori Durant and later her wife Mary Engels. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thederrick.com/ap/entertainment/coda-actor-daniel-durant-gets-his-hollywood-moment-in-minnesota/article_161ba3fc-171a-554b-8e04-e1ef0b18858f.html|title='CODA' actor Daniel Durant gets his Hollywood moment — in Minnesota|journal=Star Tribune|first=Christa|last=Lawler|date=28 February 2022|accessdate=27 March 2022}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault and graduated in 2008.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/08/14/duluth-actor-who-earned-his-chops-in-deaf-theater-makes-his-mark-in-new-movie/|title=Duluth actor, who earned his chops in deaf theater, makes his mark in new movie|journal=Twin Cities|first=Christa|last=Lawler|date=14 August 2021|accessdate=27 March 2022}} He studied at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York, receiving an associate degree in applied computer technology in 2011.{{Cite web |title=NTID alumnus stars in Oscar-nominated film 'CODA' |url=https://www.rit.edu/news/ntid-alumnus-stars-oscar-nominated-film-coda |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=RIT |language=en}} He subsequently attended Gallaudet University, earning a degree in 2014.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-03 |title="Spring Awakening" cast visits Gallaudet before performing at White House |url=https://www.gallaudet.edu/spring-awakening-cast-visits-gallaudet-before-performing-at-white-house/ |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Gallaudet University |language=en-US}}
He joined the Deaf West Theatre in 2012 for its production of Cyrano de Bergerac.{{Cite journal|url=https://duluthreader.com/articles/2021/08/23/119197-daniel-durant-hopes-duluth-enjoys-coda|title=Daniel Durant hopes Duluth enjoys CODA|journal=Duluth Reader|first=Jim|last=Lundstrom|date=19 August 2021|accessdate=27 March 2022}}
Career
On September 8, 2022, Durant was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Britt Stewart.{{Cite news |title=Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31 |url=https://people.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-season-31-cast-reveal/ |access-date=2022-09-08 |newspaper=People |language=en}} They reached the semifinals and finished in 5th place.{{Cite web |last=Longeretta |first=Emily |date=2022-11-15 |title='Dancing With the Stars' Season 31 Finalists Revealed After an Emotional Double Elimination |url=https://variety.com/lists/dancing-with-the-stars-finalists-double-elimination/}} Durant performed the National Anthem in ASL at Super Bowl LVIII.{{Cite web |title=NAD - Deaf Performers at Super Bowl LVIII |url=https://www.nad.org/2024/01/18/deaf-performers-at-super-bowl-lviii/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=www.nad.org}}
Durant was cast the October 2024 "ASL-infused" revival of American Idiot, presented by Centre Theatre Group and Deaf West Theater, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Green Day's original album release.{{Cite news |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Daniel Durant, Tyler Hardwick, Mason Alexander Park, More Will Star in ASL American Idiot |url=https://playbill.com/article/daniel-durant-tyler-hardwick-mason-alexander-park-more-will-star-in-asl-american-idiot}}
Personal life
On February 14, 2023, Durant confirmed his relationship with his former Dancing with the Stars partner Britt Stewart.{{Cite web|title=DWTS Partners Are Dating, Go IG Official: 'My Valentine'|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars/daniel-durant-britt-stewart-official-dating-relationship/|access-date=February 14, 2023|website=heavy.com|date=February 14, 2023 }}{{Cite web|date=March 24, 2023|first=Miranda|last=Siwak|title='DWTS' Pro Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant's Relationship Timeline: From Dancing to Dating|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/dwts-britt-stewart-daniel-durants-relationship-timeline-pics/|website=Us Weekly}} They announced their engagement on December 29, 2023.{{Cite web |title='DWTS' Pro Britt Stewart and 'CODA' Star Daniel Durant Are Engaged (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/dwts-couple-britt-stewart-and-daniel-durant-are-engaged-exclusive-8420621 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2020
|Silent Notes |Bruce | |
| 2021
|CODA |Leo Rossi | |
| TBA
| |date=19 July 2024}} |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
|The Archives at Gallaudet University |Gallaudet Student |TV Short |
| 2013–2017
|Matthew |17 episodes |
| 2019
|You |James Kennedy |Episode: "Farewell, My Bunny" |
| 2022
| Himself |
| 2022
| Himself | Contestant (Season 31){{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-season-31-cast-reveal/|title=Dancing With the Stars reveals its cast of celebrities for season 31|date=September 8, 2022|first=Maureen Lee Lenker and|last=Jillian Sederholm|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 8, 2022}} |
| 2023
|Max |
| 2023
|Aiden Rogers |Episode: "Look Closely and You Might Hear the Truth" |
= Theater =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role !Venue !Production company ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
|Ensemble |Los Angeles production |
| 2012
|Police: Deaf: Near: Far |Stinger |TerpTheatre |
| 2013
|Charlie |Wild Fire Theatre | rowspan="4" |Deaf West Theatre |
| 2014
| rowspan="3" |Spring Awakening | rowspan="3" |Moritz Steifel |Rosenthal Theater | rowspan="2" |Los Angeles production |
| 2015 |
| 2015–16
|Broadway revival |
| 2017
|Jonas and the Body |Jonas |Teater Manu |Teater Manu |Norway production |
| rowspan="2" |2019
| rowspan="2" |The Black Drum | rowspan="2" |Bulldog |Young Centre for the Performing Arts | rowspan="2" |Deaf Culture Centre |
| Clin d’Oeil Festival
|France production |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Award !Category !Work !Result |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|Best Acting Ensemble for a Musical | rowspan="5" |Spring Awakening |{{won}} |
| BroadwayWorld LA Awards
|Best Featured Actor in a Musical |{{won}} |
| rowspan="3" |2016
|Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance |{{won}} |
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards
|Favorite Onstage Pair (with Alex Boniello) |{{nominated}} |
| Fred and Adele Astaire Awards
|Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show |{{nom}} |
| 2021
|U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast |rowspan="2"|CODA |{{won}} |
| 2022
|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |{{Won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{Playbill person}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Durant, Daniel}}
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male deaf actors
Category:Gallaudet University alumni
Category:Male actors from Detroit
Category:Male actors from Duluth, Minnesota
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners