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Daniel Franzese

5 out of 5

Actor Best Known for "Mean Girls"

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Daniel Franzese Biography

Activism and art go hand-in-hand for Daniel Franzese. He has committed his life to both in equal measure. Initially, he made history by originating the classic role of Damian in Mean Girls. The character stood out as the first plus-size open LGBTQ character in mainstream culture way back in 2004. It also paved the way for a series of artistic breakthroughs for Franzese, spanning his stint as the boundary-breaking HIV-positive Eddie in HBO’s "Looking" and his successful "YASS! You’re Amazing!" two-year comedy tour—which gave much-needed LGBTQ representation in the world of standup comedy. In 2020, he joins "RuPaul’s DragRace" on VH1 as a guest judge, furthering his role as a proud champion for the community. Meanwhile, he remains a staunch supporter and active pillar of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As a child, he identified the power of his voice, setting the stage for him to emerge as a confident body-positive voice for entertainers in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

“Very early on, I learned I could bring people joy by entertainment,” he recalls. “I used laughter to battle everything I dealt with growing up. When I came out of the closet, it allowed me to be fully authentic, and authenticity is exactly what you need to be a comic. For the first time in my career, I feel like I’m being who I’m supposed to be. This is the real version of me.”

He quietly worked towards unveiling this version. After booking his first commercial in second grade, Franzese committed himself to acting. He often visited a local Barnes & Noble and “bought a coffee just to read all of the books in the acting section.” Graduating from high school in Florida, he caught his first big break with a role in Larry Clark’s cult classic Bully followed by Party Monster in 2003, and the critically acclaimed Mean Girls where he lit up the screen a year later. The blockbuster emerged as a cultural force and accelerated Franzese’s career. Relocating to Los Angeles, he appeared in everything from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster War of the Worlds to the critically acclaimed remake of I Spit On Your Grave. He wrote and created his own rock opera, JERSEY SHORESICAL: A FRICKIN ROCK OPERA! Following its premiere at The Fringe Festival on the East Coast, it ran at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles. In its wake, he launched the one-man Off-Broadway show "I’ve Never Really Made the Kinda Money to Become a Mess" and achieved viral success with the YouTube series "Shit Italian Moms Say," viewed over 10 million times.

In 2015, he joined the cast of "Looking" for the duration of the second season as well as Looking: The Movie. Depicting the first HIV-positive character on scripted television in a decade, Entertainment Weekly christened Eddie as “such a modern version of someone living with HIV” and “very groundbreaking.” Around the same time, Franzese became an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As part of his activism, he implored Hollywood to spotlight the stories of characters living with HIV and AIDs, presenting a media playbook to MSNBC in tandem with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and GLAAD. 2016 saw him star in ten episodes of "Recovery Road" on Freeform followed by yet another series lead playing the role of Jackson Morrison on ABC’s "Conviction." While filming the latter in Toronto, he immersed himself in standup by regular performances at The Second City. This paved the way for the "YASS You’re Amazing!" tour. Not only did he pack clubs, theaters, and colleges, but he also built a platform for up-and-coming comedians to shine such as Anthony Desamito, Nicky Paris, Katie Molinaro, and many others.

With more tours and roles on the horizon as well as increased activism for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and launch of his YASS! Jesus! podcast, he continues to empower and unite.

“I like to unify audiences,” he leaves off. “I try to create something where everyone can be involved. I endeavor to be a people curator and bring everyone together.”

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FAQs
  • HOW TO BOOK Daniel Franzese?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Daniel Franzese for both live and virtual events for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Daniel Franzese, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Daniel Franzese or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BOOK Daniel Franzese?

    Speaking fees for Daniel Franzese, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Daniel Franzese charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Daniel Franzese, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • WHO IS THE AGENT FOR Daniel Franzese?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Daniel Franzese for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Daniel Franzese for your next private or corporate function.
  • WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE TALENT BOOKING AGENCY?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Daniel Franzese or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Daniel Franzese or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Actor Best Known for "Mean Girls"

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Daniel Franzese Biography

Activism and art go hand-in-hand for Daniel Franzese. He has committed his life to both in equal measure. Initially, he made history by originating the classic role of Damian in Mean Girls. The character stood out as the first plus-size open LGBTQ character in mainstream culture way back in 2004. It also paved the way for a series of artistic breakthroughs for Franzese, spanning his stint as the boundary-breaking HIV-positive Eddie in HBO’s "Looking" and his successful "YASS! You’re Amazing!" two-year comedy tour—which gave much-needed LGBTQ representation in the world of standup comedy. In 2020, he joins "RuPaul’s DragRace" on VH1 as a guest judge, furthering his role as a proud champion for the community. Meanwhile, he remains a staunch supporter and active pillar of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As a child, he identified the power of his voice, setting the stage for him to emerge as a confident body-positive voice for entertainers in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

“Very early on, I learned I could bring people joy by entertainment,” he recalls. “I used laughter to battle everything I dealt with growing up. When I came out of the closet, it allowed me to be fully authentic, and authenticity is exactly what you need to be a comic. For the first time in my career, I feel like I’m being who I’m supposed to be. This is the real version of me.”

He quietly worked towards unveiling this version. After booking his first commercial in second grade, Franzese committed himself to acting. He often visited a local Barnes & Noble and “bought a coffee just to read all of the books in the acting section.” Graduating from high school in Florida, he caught his first big break with a role in Larry Clark’s cult classic Bully followed by Party Monster in 2003, and the critically acclaimed Mean Girls where he lit up the screen a year later. The blockbuster emerged as a cultural force and accelerated Franzese’s career. Relocating to Los Angeles, he appeared in everything from Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster War of the Worlds to the critically acclaimed remake of I Spit On Your Grave. He wrote and created his own rock opera, JERSEY SHORESICAL: A FRICKIN ROCK OPERA! Following its premiere at The Fringe Festival on the East Coast, it ran at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles. In its wake, he launched the one-man Off-Broadway show "I’ve Never Really Made the Kinda Money to Become a Mess" and achieved viral success with the YouTube series "Shit Italian Moms Say," viewed over 10 million times.

In 2015, he joined the cast of "Looking" for the duration of the second season as well as Looking: The Movie. Depicting the first HIV-positive character on scripted television in a decade, Entertainment Weekly christened Eddie as “such a modern version of someone living with HIV” and “very groundbreaking.” Around the same time, Franzese became an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. As part of his activism, he implored Hollywood to spotlight the stories of characters living with HIV and AIDs, presenting a media playbook to MSNBC in tandem with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and GLAAD. 2016 saw him star in ten episodes of "Recovery Road" on Freeform followed by yet another series lead playing the role of Jackson Morrison on ABC’s "Conviction." While filming the latter in Toronto, he immersed himself in standup by regular performances at The Second City. This paved the way for the "YASS You’re Amazing!" tour. Not only did he pack clubs, theaters, and colleges, but he also built a platform for up-and-coming comedians to shine such as Anthony Desamito, Nicky Paris, Katie Molinaro, and many others.

With more tours and roles on the horizon as well as increased activism for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and launch of his YASS! Jesus! podcast, he continues to empower and unite.

“I like to unify audiences,” he leaves off. “I try to create something where everyone can be involved. I endeavor to be a people curator and bring everyone together.”

Daniel Franzese Videos

  • I was fired today for being gay...
    I am actor and comedian Daniel Franzese. Today I was fired from a job as a scripted emcee for an event at WALSH UNIVERSITY because I ...
  • Daniel Franzese On The 15th Anniversary Of "Mean Girls" & More ...
    A self-proclaimed Mama's boy, Daniel Franzese's upbeat, high energy comedy act is all about inclusion, love and activism, and captures his ...
  • Behind The Scenes Of Daniel Franzese's “Sh*t Italian Moms Say ...
    Comedian Daniel Fanzese describes the process for creating his viral sensation, "Sh*t Italian Moms Say."BUILD is a live interview series like ...

Speaker Lists Featuring Daniel Franzese

FAQs on booking Daniel Franzese

  • How to book Daniel Franzese?

    Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Daniel Franzese for both live and virtual events for over 20 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Fill out a booking request form for Daniel Franzese, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get pricing information and check availability for Daniel Franzese or any other celebrity of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Daniel Franzese?

    Speaking fees for Daniel Franzese, or any other keynote speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The amount that Daniel Franzese charges to speak often varies according to the circumstances, including their schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. The speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Daniel Franzese, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.
  • Who is the agent for Daniel Franzese?

    All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Daniel Franzese for clients worldwide for more than 20 years. As a full-service talent booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Daniel Franzese for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service talent booking agency?

    All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Daniel Franzese or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Daniel Franzese or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.

Daniel Franzese is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Daniel Franzese for your event is available upon request. Daniel Franzese generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Geena Rocero, Chris Mosier, Shane Ortega, Wilson Cruz and Amiyah Scott. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Daniel Franzese for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Daniel Franzese Speaker Videos

  • I was fired today for being gay...
    I am actor and comedian Daniel Franzese. Today I was fired from a job as a scripted emcee for an event at WALSH UNIVERSITY because I ...
    Daniel Franzese On The 15th Anniversary Of "Mean Girls" & More ...
    A self-proclaimed Mama's boy, Daniel Franzese's upbeat, high energy comedy act is all about inclusion, love and activism, and captures his ...
  • Behind The Scenes Of Daniel Franzese's “Sh*t Italian Moms Say ...
    Comedian Daniel Fanzese describes the process for creating his viral sensation, "Sh*t Italian Moms Say."BUILD is a live interview series like ...
    Daniel Franzese's Hollywood Encounter Starring His Mom and Ryan ...
  • Mean Girls Actor Daniel Franzese Speaks Out About Being Harassed

Daniel Franzese News

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Speakers Similar to Daniel Franzese

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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