Randy Harrison

Randy Harrison is an American actor recognized for his portrayal of Justin Taylor on the Showtime drama "Queer as Folk." Producers of the Showtime adaptation of the British drama selected Harrison, then an unknown, for the role of Justin Taylor, a character central to LGBTQ+ representation in television. Harrison attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater. He spent summers performing in productions such as "1776," "Anything Goes," and "Grease" at St. Louis' MUNY Theater and the Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati.

Harrison made his television debut as Justin Taylor in the American version of "Queer as Folk," a series that ran for five seasons and became a significant touchstone for LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment. He was among the youngest actors in the cast and, along with Peter Paige and Robert Gant, was openly gay. Beyond "Queer as Folk," Harrison appeared in the television film "Bang Bang You're Dead" and held a recurring role in the USA Network series "Mr. Robot."

While Harrison gained recognition on television, he has devoted much of his career to theater. He made his Broadway debut as Boq in the musical "Wicked." His stage credits include performances on Broadway in "Wicked," off-Broadway at Public Theater, Theatre for a New Audience, Primary Stages, and Red Bull Theatre, and regionally at Yale Repertory Theater, The Guthrie Theater, and Shakespeare Theatre DC. At Berkshire Theatre Festival, Harrison played roles such as Alan Strang in "Equus," the title role in "Amadeus," Bill Bibbit in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Lucky in "Waiting for Godot," and the title character in "The Who's Tommy."

Harrison led the national tour of the Tony Award-winning production of "Cabaret," performing as the Emcee in the Roundabout Theatre Company production. He also portrayed Prior Walter in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America." Harrison is a founding member of the New York theater company QWAN Company.

Throughout his career, Harrison has advocated for authentic LGBTQ+ representation in the entertainment industry. In interviews, he has discussed the importance of casting openly gay actors in gay roles and addressed the challenges faced by queer performers in media. Harrison later transitioned from acting to pursue a career as a therapist, reflecting his ongoing commitment to empathy and human experience.