| Trai Byers | |
| Birth Date: | 19 July 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actor, writer |
| Years Active: | 2009–present |
| Children: | 1 |
Trai Byers (born July 19, 1983)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for playing Andre Lyon in the Fox musical television series, Empire (2015–2020). In 2020, Byers co-wrote and starred in the historical drama film, The 24th.
Trai Byers was born in Kansas City, Kansas.[2] After a year of high school in Kansas City, he completed his high-school education in Georgia. Byers then graduated from Andrew College with an associate degree in Theater and graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in communications. He also attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, and the Yale School of Drama.
Byers made his screen debut in the 2009 comedy-horror film, Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre. In 2011, Byers had a recurring role on the ABC daytime soap opera, All My Children, and the following year had a role in The CW teen soap, 90210.[3] [4] He starred in two films directed by Kevin Willmott: Destination Planet Negro (2013) and Jayhawkers (2014).[5] In 2014, he played civil rights activist James Forman in the historical epic film, Selma directed by Ava DuVernay.[6]
From 2015 to 2020, Byers starred as Andre Lyon in Fox music-industry primetime soap opera, Empire.[7] [8] For this role, he received two NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nominations. In 2020, he played the leading role and co-wrote screenplay for the historical drama film, The 24th. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.[9] In 2022, Byers made his Broadway debut in the play The Piano Lesson by August Wilson.[10] [11] In 2023 he guest-starred in the Grace Byers' comedy series, Harlem during the show' second season.[12]
During the October 7, 2015 episode of the daytime talk show, FABLife, Byers's costar Grace Gealey confirmed that they were engaged.[13] He and Gealey married on Grand Cayman Island on April 14, 2016.[14] [15] On their wedding anniversary in 2023, Gealey gave birth to their son.[16]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre | Chip | ||
| 2013 | Destination Planet Negro | B-12 | ||
| 2014 | Jayhawkers | Nathan Davis | ||
| Selma | James Forman | |||
| 2017 | Americons | Theo Jones | ||
| 2018 | Bent | Chuck | ||
| 2020 | The 24th | Boston | Also co-writer and producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | All My Children | Mookie | 11 episodes |
| 2012 | 90210 | Alec Martin | 6 episodes |
| 2015–2020 | Empire | Andre Lyon | 102 episodes |
| 2023 | Harlem | Keith | 2 episodes |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 17th Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Scene Stealer | ||
| Choice TV: Chemistry | ||||
| 2017 | 48th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | ||
| 1st Black Reel Awards for Television | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series | |||
| 2018 | 49th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | ||