“There is no world in which you can drop a stone in the water and there not be ripples,” says Kyri of the impact that queer actors have made. In light of the current political discourse around LGBTQ rights, Kyri maintains that having positive queer content creation is more important than ever. “I can’t say I had very many examples, of Black queer people growing up” he states, “ I spent a lot of my youth lost at sea, reconciling with my sexuality.” Having hardly any Black queer role models on television growing up, Kyri is inspired to seek out parts that are well represented in the intersections of his identity. “I want to be believed in whatever character I choose to slip into,” he says of his career aspirations.ĭespite any hesitation, Kyri says he is proud to be a champion of representation for his communities.
“There’s Daniel, who I am, and there’s Daniel the actor wants to be marketed in a certain way.” Like many marginalized actors, Kyri wants to make sure he isn’t pigeonholed into the same types of roles. “I’m obviously proud and open, but I also understand how the business works,” he says in reference to his concerns about being typecast.Īlthough Kyri says it’s not uncommon for viewers to conflate him with his character, he says he’s learning to navigate those expectations. The show follows a trans woman and a Black queer man (played by Kyri) who discovers he is HIV positive.Īlthough Kyri has been acting for over a decade, he says stepping into the role as Darren Ritter forced him to navigate parts of his career that he hasn’t previously encountered.
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Last year, Kyri also co-wrote and co-created an independent web series called the T. Kyri was nominated for a 2017 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Principal Actor in a Play for Objects in the Mirror at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The 25-year-old actor has already been recognized as an exceptional talent. “The way it was written was so simple and such a non-issue it brought actual tears to my eyes,” says Kyri, wondering out loud why acceptance of people’s sexuality can’t always go like this. Still, the actor says he felt a “measure of gratitude” for the delicacy and simplicity of the televised moment. “I’m not playing myself Darren does a bazillion things I would never do,” he insists, “so when this became part of the story I became protective, especially since my own experiences have not always been so glamorous.” The vulnerability of the scene hit close to home for Kyri, although he says his own experiences as an openly queer Black man have been less affirming. “To see fans tweet the network and applaud them for being inclusive-it feels like a step in the right direction.” While he prepared for the worst, Kyri was “pleasantly surprised” to see the outpouring of support online. Ritter’s “coming out” was mostly received positively by audiences, who rallied in support of the character’s development. “Watching the scene felt personal because it felt like I was the one coming out to the world on national television.” The openly LGBTQ actor said that although he differs from his character Darren in a lot of ways, this was one of the intersections that overlapped with his own. “You go into something like this and try not to have expectations,” says Kyri about the days leading up to the reveal. Darren Ritter (Kyri) tells Lieutenant Hermann (Eigenberg) he has a boyfriend on a Chicago Fire episode. People’s World spoke to Kyri about the significance of having an openly Black queer character on a mainstream cable television network.
Kyri joined the cast of Chicago Fire last season and quickly became a fan favorite, so it came as no surprise that fans embraced the news that Ritter has a boyfriend. People’s World talks to two openly queer actors who are currently helping challenge misconceptions of queerness by pushing the boundaries of LGBTQ representation on television.Ĭhicago Fire made waves last week when Darren Ritter (played by Daniel Kyri) came out on the popular NBC drama. With the current administration occupying the White House threatening to strip away LGBTQ rights, being “visible” remains an inherently political tool in shifting the public discourse around sexuality and gender identity. First observed in 1988, the day is dedicated to raising awareness of civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.
11, marks the annual recognition of National Coming Out Day.
Daniel Kyri (left) as Darren Ritter on "Chicago Fire" and Theo Germaine (right) as James Sullivan in "The Politician."įriday, Oct.