# Daniel Durant

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. On television, he is known for his recurring role in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth (2013–2017).

## Early life

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. He attended the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault and graduated in 2008. 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. He subsequently attended Gallaudet University, earning a degree in 2014.
He joined the Deaf West Theatre in 2012 for its production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

## Career

On September 8, 2022, Durant was announced as a contestant on season 31 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Britt Stewart. They reached the semifinals and finished in 5th place. Durant performed the National Anthem in ASL at Super Bowl LVIII.
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.

## Personal life

On February 14, 2023, Durant confirmed his relationship with his former Dancing with the Stars partner Britt Stewart. They announced their engagement on December 29, 2023.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Silent Notes | Bruce | |
| 2021 | CODA | Leo Rossi | |
| TBA | Flash Before the Bang | | Filming |

### Television

| 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 |
| 2022 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Contestant (Season 31) |
| 2023 | Florida Man | Max | |
| 2023 | Chicago Med | Aiden Rogers | Episode: "Look Closely and You Might Hear the Truth" |

### Theater

| 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 |
| 2013 | Flowers for Algernon | Charlie | Wild Fire Theatre | Deaf West Theatre | Los Angeles production |
| 2014 | Spring Awakening | Moritz Steifel | Rosenthal Theater | Deaf West Theatre | Los Angeles production |
| 2015 | Spring Awakening | Moritz Steifel | Wallis Annenberg Center | Deaf West Theatre | Los Angeles production |
| 2015–16 | Spring Awakening | Moritz Steifel | Brooks Atkinson Theatre | Deaf West 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 |
| 2019 | The Black Drum | Bulldog | Clin d’Oeil Festival | Deaf Culture Centre | France production |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2015 | Ovation Awards | Best Acting Ensemble for a Musical | Spring Awakening | Won |
| 2015 | BroadwayWorld LA Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Spring Awakening | Won |
| 2016 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance | Spring Awakening | Won |
| 2016 | Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards | Favorite Onstage Pair (with Alex Boniello) | Spring Awakening | Nominated |
| 2016 | Fred and Adele Astaire Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show | Spring Awakening | 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 | CODA | Won |