Daniel Durant: 5 Things To Know About The Deaf Actor Competing In ‘DWTS’ Season 31

Daniel Durant volition beryllium making his ballroom debut successful the Dancing With the Stars play 31 premiere connected September 19. The 32-year-old is 1 of the celebrity contestants successful the new season, which volition aerial connected Disney+.

Daniel continues to person an epic twelvemonth aft his critically-acclaimed movie won Best Picture astatine the 2022 Oscars. Daniel’s casting connected DWTS makes him lone the 2nd deaf contestant successful the show’s history. Learn much astir this rising star.

Daniel Durant with pro Britt Stewart. (Disney+)

1. Daniel is deaf.

“I’m afloat deaf. I can’t perceive thing astatine each but I emotion feeling the vibration done my body,” helium said connected The Kelly Clarkson Show in March 2022. He revealed however helium learned to perceive to euphony arsenic a child. “Sometimes I’d inquire my mom, ‘Can you crook it up truthful I tin consciousness the bass?’ And my ma was like, ‘Yeah,’ but we struggled to perceive it,” helium continued. “So my ma went up and bought a caller dependable system, and I loved it. You could consciousness the bass. It was truthful strong. The windows were shaking. It felt truthful good.”

2. Daniel roseate to fame successful CODA.

Daniel played Leo Rossi successful the Apple TV+ movie which besides starred Marlee Matlin, a DWTS alum. The movie won Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor astatine the 2022 Academy Awards.

Prior to CODA, Daniel was known for his relation arsenic Matthew successful the bid Switched astatine Birth. He besides appeared successful a 2019 occurrence of You.

3. Daniel is paired with Britt Stewart.

Daniel volition beryllium dancing with Britt Stewart successful play 31. Their squad sanction is “Team Sign to Shine.” Britt antecedently danced with Martin Kove and Johnny Weir.

Daniel Durant successful the Oscar-winning movie ‘CODA.’ (Apple TV+/Everett Collection)

4. Daniel grew up successful Minnesota.

Daniel was raised successful Duluth, Minnesota, but helium really calved successful Detroit, Michigan, according to his authoritative bio. He attended the Minnesota State School for the Deaf starting successful eighth grade. He went connected to be RIT successful New York and Gallaudet University successful Washington D.C. He presently lives successful Los Angeles.

5. Daniel is besides a signifier actor.

Daniel made his signifier debut successful a 2021 accumulation of Cyrano. He is known for his show arsenic Moritz Stiefel successful the 2015 Broadway revival of Spring Awakening.