Actor Brian Michael Smith made history this week when he became the first transgender man to make People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” list. Smith was named one of “25 of the sexiest men you can watch on TV now.”
The 38-year-old actor was also recently named by the magazine as one of 15 rising stars to watch in Hollywood. Smith became the first transgender actor to have a regular role in a television series in 2019 when he was cast as Paul Strickland, a transgender firefighter in the Fox series “9-1-1 Lone Star.” He also has a recurring role on Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” which airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network where he plays a transgender police officer. Smith was ecstatic about the honor and shared his reaction on Instagram.
“I’ve been Called many things, this is a first 🤩🥰 Incredibly honored to be included in this list with so many actors I admire. Big love to @people for the historic shout out. #brianmichaelsmith #paulnation #911lonestar #Representationmatters #Transisbeautiful,” he wrote.
Other actors who made the list include Dyllón Burnside of “Pose,” Jay Ellis of “Insecure” and “Station 19” star Okieriete Onaodowan.
“Love Life” and “The Underground Railroad” actor William Jackson Harper was also named one of the magazine’s “sexiest men you can watch on TV now” along with former “Psych” star Dulé Hill, who now stars on “The Wonder Years.” Kim Kardashian’s alleged new beau and “Saturday Night Live” star Pete Davidson made the list, too.
Smith spoke with the Huffington Post this month about how times have changed and that trans character‘s lives need to be told in Hollywood storylines.
“This is why I feel like I was brought in for the role because I can really pull from some authentic experiences, or even if I haven’t had the experience myself, just a deeper understanding perhaps of what the character might be going through and then filtering it through the lens of his story. That’s what’s exciting for me, that’s been what the work is,” he said.
The third season of “9-1-1: Lone Star” kicks off in January 2022.
