Tommy Dorfman Explained

Tommy Dorfman
Birth Date:13 May 1992
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2009–present
Education:Fordham University
Spouse:
    Relatives:Andi Dorfman (cousin)

    Tommy Dorfman (born May 13, 1992)[1] is an American actress, best known for playing Ryan Shaver in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (2017).[2]

    Early life and education

    Dorfman was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia to a Jewish family.[3] [4] Her cousin is Andi Dorfman, a former contestant on The Bachelorette. Dorfman graduated from Fordham University's drama program in 2015 with a B.A. in theatre arts.[5] [3]

    Career

    After graduating from university, Dorfman was cast in the role of Ryan Shaver on the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, which premiered in 2017.[6] Also that year, she helped design a fashion collection with ASOS,[7] and in October was honored with the Rising Star Award by GLAAD.[5]

    In the spring of 2019, Dorfman made her New York theatrical debut in The New Group's production of Jeremy O. Harris' play Daddy, directed by Danya Taymor.

    Personal life

    Dorfman is queer.[8] Dorfman and Peter Zurkuhlen became engaged in April 2015 and married in Portland, Maine on November 12, 2016.[9] In July 2021, Dorfman revealed she and Zurkuhlen had divorced but remain friends.[10]

    In November 2017, Dorfman came out as non-binary and began using they pronouns.[11] On July 22, 2021, Dorfman came out as a transgender woman and began using she pronouns. She revealed in an interview that she had already been "privately identifying and living as a woman" for almost a year.[12] She chose to retain her birth name of Tommy, to which she feels "very connected" and which honors her mother's brother who died when Dorfman was a month old. In April 2022, Dorfman identified as a lesbian.[13]

    In May 2024, Dorfman revealed that she had secretly eloped with girlfriend, Elise Williams, in Malibu, around late 2023. [14] [15]

    Filmography

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    2009 Foreign Exchange Student Short film
    2013 In My Skin Julian Short film
    2016 i-Witness Rob Jr. Episode: "The Smith Sisters"
    2017–2018; 2020 13 Reasons Why Ryan Shaver Recurring (seasons 1–2)
    Guest (season 4); 18 episodes
    2019 Jane the Virgin[16] Recurring role
    American Princess Nick Recurring role
    Fluidity Daniel
    Insatiable Jonathan 2 episodes
    2020 Love, Victor Justin Episode: "Boys' Trip"
    RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Guest judge Episode: "Snatch Game of Love"
    Love in the Time of Corona Oscar[17] Main role
    2021 The Shuroo Process Mark
    2022 Sharp Stick Tali

    Notes and References

    1. tommydorfmans . 995586490708066305 . Emily . Happy birthday to my precious angel [...] . May 13, 2018 . tommydorfman .
    2. Web site: . Out 13 Reasons Why Star Tommy Dorfman Responds to Brazilian Homophobia . November 8, 2017 . October 17, 2017 . August 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200827090322/https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/10/17/out-13-reasons-why-star-tommy-dorfman-responds-brazilian-homophobia . live .
    3. Web site: tommy dorfman is the 'unapologetically queer' actor from '13 reasons why'. i-d. June 5, 2017. Wheeler, André-Naquian. November 8, 2017. August 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827090323/https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/7xbbza/tommy-dorfman-is-the-unapologetically-queer-actor-from-13-reasons-why. live.
    4. ‘’https://www.out.com/celebs/2022/4/13/tommy-dorfman-recipe-for-change-jubilee-youtube-clip-jewish-trans-identities-lgbt-community Tommy Dorfman Opens Up About Being Trans & Jewish in New Special, Out.com
    5. Web site: Fordham News. Fordham Theatre Grad Honored by GLAAD. October 31, 2017. Loizzo-Desai, Alexandra. November 8, 2017. August 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827090328/https://news.fordham.edu/fordham-magazine/fordham-theatre-grad-honored-glaad/. live.
    6. Web site: Tommy Doorman Wants to Use Acting for Advocacy. Paper Magazine. November 7, 2017. September 27, 2017. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619092619/http://www.papermag.com/beautiful-people-tommy-dorfman-1-2488383804.html. live.
    7. Web site: MTV UK. 13 reasons why's tommy dorfman has released an awesome fashion collection. November 5, 2017. November 8, 2017. August 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827090332/http://www.mtv.co.uk/13-reasons-why/news/13-reasons-whys-tommy-dorfman-has-released-an-awesome-fashion-collection. live.
    8. Web site: Wheeler, André-Naquian. June 5, 2017. tommy dorfman is the 'unapologetically queer' actor from '13 reasons why'. November 8, 2017. i-d. August 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827090323/https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/7xbbza/tommy-dorfman-is-the-unapologetically-queer-actor-from-13-reasons-why. live.
    9. Web site: Gallagher. Caitlin. August 24, 2019. 13 Reasons Why Cast: Who's Single and Who's Taken. August 29, 2020. POPSUGAR Celebrity. en-US.
    10. Peters. Torrey. July 22, 2021. Tommy Dorfman Would like to Clarify. July 22, 2021. Time. "I love him so much, but we've been learning that as a trans woman, what I'm interested in is not necessarily reflected in a gay man. So we've had incredible conversations to redefine our relationship as friends.".
    11. Web site: Peoples. Landon. November 16, 2017. Tommy Dorfman's Latest Fashion Statement: Gender. May 8, 2020. refinery29.com. "Growing up, I hated the idea that clothing was gendered. I identify as non-binary," she reveals.. May 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230530152822/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/11/180981/13-reasons-why-tommy-dorfman-gender-equality. live.
    12. News: July 23, 2021. 13 Reasons Why star Tommy Dorfman comes out as transgender. en-GB. BBC News. July 25, 2021. October 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023004736/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57940888. live.
    13. Web site: tommy.dorfman on TikTok . 2022-08-17 . TikTok . en . August 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220817005058/https://www.tiktok.com/@tommy.dorfman/video/7087308414417784107?_r=1&_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8EEm8EwQazc809JYWnV78XUBOeoYwcM3DkXXAINT42k7k8KiIAcEYyPETg2CKcUQrXqP/6UbJRf3W5k40GgA%3D&checksum=490f36d1069d48b1a4beb231451cf8d7867e8de6e4af1d6c6a99ef919f695bf6&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAA_bf_vD1WwbEOSDPKqH6WQ60gt7_-48p3G3hNLM1I59aEUKT1PlFff9pNfepXjkMU&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=7087308414417784107&share_link_id=D63D0CCB-EA33-4E78-87F8-740F0AD85F59&source=h5_m&timestamp=1650331237&tt_from=copy&u_code=d3k9aem9aefkm0&user_id=6637664796416704517&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy . live .
    14. Web site: Dorfman . Tommy . 2024-05-02 . Tommy Dorfman on Her Whirlwind Elopement With Wife Elise—And the Story of Their Low-Key Romance . 2024-08-19 . Vogue . en-US.
    15. Web site: '13 Reasons Why' star Tommy Dorfman reveals she married in secret in 2023 . 2024-08-19 . EW.com . en.
    16. https://www.thewrap.com/13-reasons-star-tommy-dorfman-joins-final-season-jane-virgin-exclusive/ '13 Reasons Why' Star Tommy Dorfman Joins Final Season of 'Jane the Virgin' (Exclusive)
    17. Web site: 'Love In The Time Of Corona': Freeform Sets Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson, Tommy Dorfman, Rainey Qualley And 4 More For Limited Series Event. Deadline Hollywood. Dino-Ray. Ramos. June 29, 2020. July 27, 2020. December 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221222131158/https://deadline.com/2020/06/love-in-the-time-of-corona-freeform-leslie-odom-jr-nicolette-robinson-tommy-dorfman-rainey-qualle-gil-bellows-rya-kihlstedt-ava-bellows-l-scott-caldwell-1202972774/. live.

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