Brian Michael Smith

Actor and advocate, Brian Michael was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He attended Kent State University where he continued to study acting and found a deeper passion for screen work. Upon graduating from Kent State, Brian returned to Michigan and began teaching drama and filmmaking to teens in the U of M's OAMI Gear Up program. Soon afterward he moved to New York City to continue his youth work at the LGBT Community Center in Manhattan and pursue his career in acting. His professional acting career began training under Terry Knickerbocker at the William Esper Studio in 2011. Building on his gift for comedy, Brian also trained and performed with several sketch and improv troupes, most notably Gotham City Improv. His Off-Broadway and regional theatre performances include Ivy Theatre Co.'s A Real Boy (59E59th Theatre; NYC) and Mitch Albom's Duck Hunter Shoots Angel (Penobscot Theatre; Maine). TV credits include Girls, Chicago P.D. and Homeland. He is most proud of his role as trans police officer, Toine Wilkins on OWN's Queen Sugar. Brian Michael Smith can currently be seen portraying the role of Paul Strickland Fox's 9-1-1: Lone Star.