Daniel Durant
Daniel Durant | |
|---|---|
 Durant in 2022 | |
| Born | December 24, 1989 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Gallaudet University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Spouse | |
Daniel N. Durant (born December 24, 1989) is an American stage and screen actor. Deaf since birth, his breakthrough starring role was as Moritz Stiefel in the 2015 Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. Durant had a major supporting role in the Academy Award-winning film CODA (2021). He and the cast won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, along with the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.[1] On television, he is known for his recurring role in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth (2013–2017).[2][3]
Early life
[edit]Durant was born deaf in Detroit, Michigan to deaf parents who struggled with addiction; he was adopted as a toddler by his paternal aunt Lori Durant and later her wife Mary Engels. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota.[4] He attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault and graduated in 2008.[5] He studied at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York, receiving an associate degree in applied computer technology in 2011.[6] He subsequently attended Gallaudet University, earning a degree in 2014.[7]
He joined the Deaf West Theatre in 2012 for its production of Cyrano de Bergerac.[8]
Career
[edit]On September 8, 2022, Durant was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Britt Stewart.[9] They reached the semifinals and finished in fifth place.[10] Durant performed the National Anthem in ASL at Super Bowl LVIII.[11]
Durant was cast the October 2024 "ASL-infused" revival of American Idiot, presented by Centre Theatre Group and Deaf West Theater, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Green Day's original album release.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Durant entered a romantic relationship with his Dancing with the Stars partner Britt Stewart in November 2022, shortly after his stint on the competition series ended.[13] In order to communicate with him, Stewart made the decision to learn ASL.[14] They got engaged on Christmas Eve 2023 during a hike in Lake Arrowhead, California.[15] Durant and Stewart were married on August 23, 2025, in Santa Margarita, California.[16] A number of their friends from the entertainment industry attended the ceremony, including Durant's CODA co-stars Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin.[16]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Silent Notes | Bruce | |
| 2021 | CODA | Leo Rossi | |
| TBA | Flash Before the Bang | Filming[17] | |
| Being Heumann | Steve McCleeland | Filming[18] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Archives at Gallaudet University | Gallaudet Student | TV Short |
| 2013–2017 | Switched at Birth | Matthew | 17 episodes |
| 2019 | You | James Kennedy | Episode: "Farewell, My Bunny" |
| 2022 | Good Morning America | Himself | Guest[19] |
| 2022 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Contestant (Season 31)[20] |
| 2023 | Florida Man | Max | [21] |
| 2023 | Chicago Med | Aiden Rogers | Episode: "Look Closely and You Might Hear the Truth" |
Theater
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Production company | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Cyrano | Ensemble | The Fountain Theater | Deaf West Theatre | Los Angeles production |
| 2012 | Police: Deaf: Near: Far | Stinger | Oakland University | TerpTheatre | Michigan production[22] |
| 2013 | Flowers for Algernon | Charlie | Wild Fire Theatre | Deaf West Theatre | Los Angeles production[23] |
| 2014 | Spring Awakening | Moritz Steifel | Rosenthal Theater | Los Angeles production | |
| 2015 | Wallis Annenberg Center | ||||
| 2015–16 | Brooks Atkinson Theatre | Broadway revival | |||
| 2017 | Jonas and the Body | Jonas | Teater Manu | Teater Manu | Norway production |
| 2019 | The Black Drum | Bulldog | Young Centre for the Performing Arts | Deaf Culture Centre | Toronto production[24] |
| Clin d’Oeil Festival | France production |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Ovation Awards | Best Acting Ensemble for a Musical | Spring Awakening | Won |
| BroadwayWorld LA Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| 2016 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance | Won | |
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards | Favorite Onstage Pair (with Alex Boniello) | Nominated | ||
| Fred and Adele Astaire Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Sundance Film Festival | U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast | CODA | Won |
| 2022 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 12, 2021). "'CODA' Review: A Voice of Her Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ "Daniel Durant". IMDb. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ "Daniel Durant Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ Lawler, Christa (February 28, 2022). "'CODA' actor Daniel Durant gets his Hollywood moment — in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Lawler, Christa (August 14, 2021). "Duluth actor, who earned his chops in deaf theater, makes his mark in new movie". Twin Cities. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "NTID alumnus stars in Oscar-nominated film 'CODA'". RIT. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ ""Spring Awakening" cast visits Gallaudet before performing at White House". Gallaudet University. December 3, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Lundstrom, Jim (August 19, 2021). "Daniel Durant hopes Duluth enjoys CODA". Duluth Reader. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31". People. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
- ^ Longeretta, Emily (November 15, 2022). "'Dancing With the Stars' Season 31 Finalists Revealed After an Emotional Double Elimination".
- ^ "NAD - Deaf Performers at Super Bowl LVIII". www.nad.org. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (August 28, 2024). "Daniel Durant, Tyler Hardwick, Mason Alexander Park, More Will Star in ASL American Idiot".
- ^ Wenger, Stephanie (February 14, 2023). "DWTS Pro Britt Stewart Reveals She's Dating Her Former Partner and CODA Star Daniel Durant". People. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (December 29, 2023). "Former DWTS partners Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart are engaged". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Mazzeo, Esme (December 29, 2023). "DWTS Pro Britt Stewart and CODA Star Daniel Durant Are Engaged (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ a b O'Brien, Ellen (August 27, 2025). "Exclusive: Dancing With the Stars Pro Britt Stewart and Actor Daniel Durant Are Married! See All of the Details of Their Family-Focused California Celebration". Brides. Archived from the original on August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ "Movie based on Oregon School for the Deaf championship track team filming in Salem". Statesman Journal. July 19, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (July 9, 2025). "Jon Beavers, Daniel Durant & Roberta Colindrez Among 6 Cast In Apple Film 'Being Heumann'". Deadline. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ Hayley FitzPatrick, Carson Blackwelder & (September 8, 2022). "'Dancing with the Stars' 2022: Meet the season 31 celebrity cast". www.goodmorningamerica.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
- ^ Jillian Sederholm, Maureen Lee Lenker and (September 8, 2022). "Dancing With the Stars reveals its cast of celebrities for season 31". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (April 25, 2022). "'CODA's Daniel Durant Signs With Buchwald". Deadline. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Laban, Katie. "BWW Reviews: Everyone Needs to Experience POLICE DEAF NEAR FAR Bringing Deaf Culture to Life On Stage". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Lead actors lift 'Flowers for Algernon' by Deaf West". Los Angeles Times. October 3, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Fein-Goldbach, Debbie (June 26, 2019). "The Black Drum is a musical that resonates for both deaf and hearing audiences". NOW Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
