# Dyllón Burnside

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American actor and singer

Dyllón Burnside Born Dyllón Burnside (1989-01-27) January 27, 1989 (age 37) Miami, Florida, U.S. Occupations Actor, singer Years active 2014–present

**Dyllón Burnside** (born January 27, 1989) is an American actor and singer. He is known for his role as Ricky Evangelista in the [FX](/source/FX_(TV_channel)) [television series](/source/Television_show) *[Pose](/source/Pose_(TV_series))*.[1][2]

## Career

Burnside got his first start at age 12 when he performed as the lead singer of [hip-hop](/source/Hip-hop)/[R&B](/source/R%26B) [boy band](/source/Boy_band) “3D” with 2 of his cousins and managed by his mother, touring with the likes of [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder) and [Rihanna](/source/Rihanna), with a distribution deal with [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) and performing in venues including [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden) and the [Nokia Theater](/source/Nokia_Theater_(New_York)).[3][4] After 10 years, he began feeling constricted by fronting a boy band and wanted to explore arts less traditionally masculine: "The things that I was interested in didn’t necessarily align with my family’s or society’s idea of what it meant to be a man. ... I can still be a male and sing Mozart or take a ballet class and that it not have anything to do with anything other than I wanted to take a ballet class."[4] As a result, he enrolled at the [CAP21](/source/Collaborative_Arts_Project_21_(CAP21)) [conservatory](/source/Music_school) to take a vocal major, moved to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and took acting and dance classes[3][4] including studying for a [bachelor's degree](/source/Bachelor's_degree) in [media studies](/source/Media_studies) and writing from [The New School](/source/The_New_School).[3]

While at CAP21, Burnside starred in the [Tupac](/source/Tupac)-inspired musical *[Holler if Ya Hear Me](/source/Holler_If_Ya_Hear_Me_(musical))* on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) in 2014, where he played Anthony.[5][3][6][7][8] While studying, Burnside was also a part of NBC's *[Peter Pan Live!](/source/Peter_Pan_Live!)*,[3][9] [HBO](/source/HBO)'s *[High Maintenance](/source/High_Maintenance)*[3] and performed in [BeBe Winans](/source/BeBe_Winans)'s musical *Born For This* in both [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta) and [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)[4]

Burnside has also worked as a [film producer](/source/Film_producer) on the award-winning [short](/source/Short_film) *The Jump* and as [theatrical producer](/source/Theatrical_producer) on *Hold Up The Light* at the non-profit [Arena Stage](/source/Arena_Stage) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)[3] He has also taught [performing arts](/source/Performing_arts) workshops and has spoken at schools about how studying performing arts can be empowering and help young people find their means of self-expression.[3]

Burnside [emceed](/source/Master_of_ceremonies) a benefit concert, duetting with *Pose* co-stars [Billy Porter](/source/Billy_Porter_(entertainer)) and [Ryan Jamaal Swain](/source/Ryan_Jamaal_Swain) to celebrate the *Pose* season 1 finale on July 23, 2018, raising money for [GLSEN](/source/GLSEN),[7][9][4][10] and talking about his [coming out](/source/Coming_out) story and speaking with former *[Vibe](/source/Vibe_(magazine))* [editor-in-chief](/source/Editor-in-chief) [Emil Wilbekin](/source/Emil_Wilbekin) about the importance of [safe spaces](/source/Safe_space) for LGBTQ people.[10]

In July 2021, in the same period the final episode of *Pose* was aired, it was released the musical single *[Heaven](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heaven_(Dyll%C3%B3n_Burnside)&action=edit&redlink=1)* featuring the British singer [Daley](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daley_(singer)&action=edit&redlink=1), written in February 2021 as a celebration of LGBTQ love.[11] In the same month Burnside was featured in the fourth episode of the anthology TV series *[American Horror Stories](/source/American_Horror_Stories)* by Murphy&Falchuk.[11] In Fall 2021 he came back on Broadway stage as one of the seven Afroamerican leads of the show *Thoughts of a Colored Man*.[11][5]

In 2025, Burnside portrayed celebrity stylist Dwen Curry in the [BET+](/source/BET%2B) Original Film "[Fighting to Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story](/source/Fighting_to_Be_Me%3A_The_Dwen_Curry_Story).[12]

## Personal life

Burnside grew up on a ranch in [Pensacola, Florida](/source/Pensacola%2C_Florida).[3] His family raised farm animals including: chickens, cows, horses and pigs.

Burnside has spoken about [toxic masculinity](/source/Toxic_masculinity): "All of the work that I seek to do and the work I want to do is about pushing the boundaries or blurring the lines of what it means to be a man. I think manhood as a construct is very dangerous and has caused a lot of pain and destruction in our world"[4] and recognises the importance of *Pose* for representing LGBTQ people of color.[6][13] For [National Coming Out Day](/source/National_Coming_Out_Day) 2019, he wrote about the importance of acceptance and representation, "which is why I stand so firmly in my truth and speak openly about my experience".[14] He has described influences including [bell hooks](/source/Bell_hooks), [James Baldwin](/source/James_Baldwin), [Eckhart Tolle](/source/Eckhart_Tolle) and [Marianne Williamson](/source/Marianne_Williamson),[4] as well as [gospel music](/source/Gospel_music) being a part of going to church that spoke to him.[4]

In an interview for *[Men's Health](/source/Men's_Health)* magazine in September 2020, Burnside described his identity as "[queer](/source/Queer), not gay", describing that he has had "relationships — romantic and sexual — with women as well as men", adding that "for me, queerness is about understanding that I exist outside of the sexual binary of just gay or straight".[15][16]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 2016 Misunderstood Sin Short film 2017 Central Park Christian 2018 Yinz Shane Tompkins 2023 Wild Goat Surf Jason 2025 Fighting to Be Me: The Dwen Curry Story Dwen Curry

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 2014 High Maintenance Lionel Episode: "Genghis" 2014 Peter Pan Live! Prickles Television movie 2018–21 Pose Ricky 18 episodes 2021–24 American Horror Stories James Episode: "The Naughty List" Malcolm Episode: "X" 2022 Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Ronald Flowers 2 episodes

## Theatre

Year Title Role Ref. 2023 BLACK SUPERHERO King [17]

## Discography

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PopSugar_2018-07-21_1-0)** Roschke, Ryan (July 21, 2018). ["*Pose* Is Actually Changing People's Lives, and Dyllón Burnside Has Proof"](https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Dyllon-Burnside-Pose-Interview-July-2018-45072682). *[PopSugar](/source/PopSugar)*. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Chill_2018-06-07_2-0)** ["Dyllón Burnside Is Pumping Up the Volume"](https://www.chill.us/entertainment/2018/6/07/dyllon-burnside-pumping-volume). *Chill*. [Here Media](/source/Here_Media). June 7, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FX_biog_3-8) ["Dyllón Burnside as Ricky in *Pose* on FX"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180816230554/https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/pose/cast-crew/dyllon-burnside-ricky). [FX Networks](/source/FX_(TV_channel)). Archived from [the original](https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/pose/cast-crew/dyllon-burnside-ricky) on August 16, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Crush_2018-07-20_4-7) Daniels, Christopher Leo (July 20, 2018). ["Dyllón Burnside, A Study of a Crush, Part I"](http://crushfanzine.com/dyllon-burnside-a-study-of-a-crush-part-1-by-christopher-leo-daniels/). *Crush Fanzine*. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IBDB_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IBDB_5-1) ["Dyllón Burnside"](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dylln-burnside-531626). *Internet Broadway Database*. Retrieved October 26, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-them._2018-07-20_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-them._2018-07-20_6-1) Reign, Eva (July 20, 2018). ["All Hail the Beautiful, Black Gay Love on *Pose*"](https://www.them.us/story/pose-black-gay-love). *them*. [Condé Nast](/source/Cond%C3%A9_Nast). Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Time_Out_2018-07-17_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Time_Out_2018-07-17_7-1) Feldman, Adam (July 17, 2018). ["Dyllón Burnside: Up Close and Personal"](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/dyllon-burnside-up-close-and-personal). *[Time Out New York](/source/Time_Out_New_York)*. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-amNY_8-0)** ["*Pose* ball scenes a high-energy 'sensory overload'"](https://www.amny.com/entertainment/pose-ball-scenes-1.19965664). *am New York*. Retrieved August 26, 2018.(Link not available in the European Union)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Playbill_2018-07-14_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Playbill_2018-07-14_9-1) Hetrick, Adam (July 14, 2018). ["FX's *Pose* Stars, Dyllón Burnside, Mj Rodriguez, and Ryan Jamaal Swain, Will Perform NYC Concert"](http://www.playbill.com/article/fxs-pose-stars-dyllon-burnside-mj-rodriguez-and-ryan-jamaal-swain-will-perform-nyc-concert). *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Boy_Culture_2018-07-24_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Boy_Culture_2018-07-24_10-1) ["To Be Real: The Cast Of *Pose* Gives Back — Already! — At NYC GLSEN Benefit"](https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2018/07/monday-night-at-the-cutting-room-was-the-highly-anticipated-concert-to-benefit-glsen-staged-by-my-pal-wayne-laako-and-featuri.html). *Boy Culture*. July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WWD_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WWD_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WWD_11-2) Kristen Tauer (June 11, 2021). ["Dyllón Burnside Was Caught Off Guard by the 'Pose' Finale"](https://wwd.com/eye/people/dyllon-burnside-pose-finale-heaven-music-single-broadway1234840964-1234840964/). *WWD*. Retrieved October 26, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Paramount Press Express | FIGHTING TO BE ME: THE DWEN CURRY STORY - FACT SHEET"](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/bet-plus/releases/?view=110995-fighting-to-be-me-the-dwen-curry-story-fact-sheet). *www.paramountpressexpress.com*. February 13, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PopSugar_2018-07-21_with_quote_13-0)** Roschke, Ryan (July 21, 2018). ["*Pose* Is Actually Changing People's Lives, and Dyllón Burnside Has Proof"](https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Dyllon-Burnside-Pose-Interview-July-2018-45072682). *[PopSugar](/source/PopSugar)*. Retrieved August 26, 2018. We've seen the painful kind of love. We've seen the [closet](/source/Coming_out#Closeted) cases and the [DL](/source/Down-low_(sexual_slang)) brothers. And we've seen interracial couples. But we haven't seen two black queer boys trying to figure out what it means to be attracted to each other and to have intimate feelings for each other, and to kind of figure out what to do with those things.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Burnside, Dyllón (October 11, 2019). ["I encourage every one of you to live your most full, authentic and fulfilling life. ..."](https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/dyllonburnside/2152563535988069764) Archived from [the original](https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fcSGXBxWE/) on December 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2019 – via [Instagram](/source/Instagram). I encourage every one of you to live your most full, authentic and fulfilling life. I believe coming out is a truly personal and individual journey. I look forward to the day when no child or adult feels the pressure of having to explain their identity and existence for the comfort of the masses. That being said, I also recognize the need for visibility and representation, which is why I stand so firmly in my truth and speak openly about my experience. Grateful for this day and what it represents but will be even more grateful when it's no longer necessary.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Men's_Health_2020-09-17_15-0)** Freedman, Adrianna (September 17, 2020). ["Dyllón Burnside on Being Queer: 'I Exist Outside of the Sexual Binary of Just Gay or Straight'"](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a34054822/dyllon-burnside-pose-interview/). *[Men's Health](/source/Men's_Health)*. Retrieved September 21, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Queer Black and Brilliant: Dyllón Burnside and the art of Self"](https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFAbNMDnzgO/). *[Men's Health](/source/Men's_Health) Friday Sessions*. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020 – via [Instagram](/source/Instagram). I just want to assert that I identify as queer, not gay. Some might think it's semantics but for me it's important. ... My experience of my sexuality has been one that is a bit more fluid and a bit more complex than just identifying as gay. I've dated women and have had many relationships — romantic and sexual — with women as well as men. But I don't identify as bisexual. And I think that, the more that we understand sexuality as something that exists on a spectrum and is not so black-and-white, the more we can better understand humanity as a whole. And so, for me, the term *queer* just opens up space. It opens up space in our language and language is a technology, a technology by which we come to understand the world. And so I think, for me, queerness is about understanding that I exist outside of the sexual binary of just gay or straight.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["BLACK SUPERHERO"](https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/black-superhero/). *Royal Court*. Retrieved April 6, 2023.

## External links

- [Dyllón Burnside](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6824171/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Dyllón Burnside](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/531626) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [Dyllón Burnside](https://www.facebook.com/dyllonburnside) on [Facebook](/source/Facebook_(identifier))

- [Dyllón Burnside](https://x.com/dyllonburnside) on [X](/source/X_(social_network))

- [Dyllón Burnside](https://www.instagram.com/dyllonburnside/) on [Instagram](/source/Instagram_(identifier))

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dyllón Burnside](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyll%C3%B3n_Burnside) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyll%C3%B3n_Burnside?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.