Ryan Jamaal Swain

Ryan Jamaal Swain was born in Birmingham, Alabama and spent much of his childhood training at local theatre and dance companies.

As a writer, in 2014, Swain wrote and starred in A Negro Writer, a one-man show about Langston Hughes and his life.In 2017, Swain was cast as Damon Richards in Ryan Murphy's FX television series Pose. The series premiered on June 3, 2018, and attracted critical acclaim. As a classically trained actor Ryan has performed on Broadway and Off Broadway. In 2019, he joined the cast of Academy Award Winner Tarell Alvin McCraney critically acclaimed 'Choir Boy', covering the lead role of Pharus. Among his favorite credits are his roles in Six Degrees of Separation " "Thoughts of a Colored Man, and Spring Awakening.

Swain studied at Howard University, British American Drama Academy in Oxford U.K. Ryan is working on a semi-autobiographical young adult book and is an active advocate for civil rights and queer rights.