Tommy Dorfman

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Tommy Dorfman
Dorfman in 2022
Born (1992-05-13) May 13, 1992 (age 32)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
EducationFordham University
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present
Spouses
Peter Zurkuhlen
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2022)​
Elise Williams
​
(m. 2023)​
RelativesAndi Dorfman (cousin)

Tommy Dorfman (born May 13, 1992)[1] is an American actress, best known for playing Ryan Shaver in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (2017).[2]

Early life and education

Dorfman was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia to a Jewish family.[3][4] Her cousin is Andi Dorfman, a former contestant on The Bachelorette. Dorfman graduated from Fordham University's drama program in 2015 with a B.A. in theatre arts.[5][3]

Career

Dorfman in 2018

After graduating from university, Dorfman was cast in the role of Ryan Shaver on the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, which premiered in 2017.[6] Also that year, she helped design a fashion collection with ASOS,[7] and in October was honored with the Rising Star Award by GLAAD.[5]

In the spring of 2019, Dorfman made her New York theatrical debut in The New Group's production of Jeremy O. Harris' play Daddy, directed by Danya Taymor.

Personal life

Dorfman is queer.[8] Dorfman and Peter Zurkuhlen became engaged in April 2015 and married in Portland, Maine on November 12, 2016.[9] In July 2021, Dorfman revealed she and Zurkuhlen had divorced but remain friends.[10]

In November 2017, Dorfman came out as non-binary and began using they pronouns.[11] On July 22, 2021, Dorfman came out as a transgender woman and began using she pronouns.[10] She revealed in an interview that she had already been "privately identifying and living as a woman" for almost a year.[10][12] She chose to retain her birth name of Tommy, to which she feels "very connected" and which honors her mother's brother who died when Dorfman was a month old.[10] In April 2022, Dorfman identified as a lesbian.[13]

In May 2024, Dorfman revealed that she had secretly eloped with girlfriend, Elise Williams, in Malibu, around late 2023.[14][15]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Foreign Exchange Student Short film
2013 In My Skin Julian Short film
2016 i-Witness Rob Jr. Episode: "The Smith Sisters"
2017–2018; 2020 13 Reasons Why Ryan Shaver Recurring (seasons 1–2)
Guest (season 4); 18 episodes
2019 Jane the Virgin[16] Bobby Recurring role
American Princess Nick Recurring role
Fluidity Daniel
Insatiable Jonathan 2 episodes
2020 Love, Victor Justin Episode: "Boys' Trip"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Guest judge Episode: "Snatch Game of Love"
Love in the Time of Corona Oscar[17] Main role
2021 The Shuroo Process Mark
2022 Sharp Stick Tali
2024 Fantasmas Commercial Director 1 episode

References

  1. ^ Emily [@tommydorfmans] (May 13, 2018). "Happy birthday to my precious angel [...]" (Tweet). Retweeted by tommydorfman – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Out 13 Reasons Why Star Tommy Dorfman Responds to Brazilian Homophobia". The Advocate. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Wheeler, André-Naquian (June 5, 2017). "tommy dorfman is the 'unapologetically queer' actor from '13 reasons why'". i-d. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  4. ^ ‘’https://www.out.com/celebs/2022/4/13/tommy-dorfman-recipe-for-change-jubilee-youtube-clip-jewish-trans-identities-lgbt-community Archived September 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Tommy Dorfman Opens Up About Being Trans & Jewish in New Special, Out.com
  5. ^ a b Loizzo-Desai, Alexandra (October 31, 2017). "Fordham Theatre Grad Honored by GLAAD". Fordham News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  6. ^ "Tommy Doorman Wants to Use Acting for Advocacy". Paper Magazine. September 27, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "13 reasons why's tommy dorfman has released an awesome fashion collection". MTV UK. November 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  8. ^ Wheeler, André-Naquian (June 5, 2017). "tommy dorfman is the 'unapologetically queer' actor from '13 reasons why'". i-d. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  9. ^ Gallagher, Caitlin (August 24, 2019). "13 Reasons Why Cast: Who's Single and Who's Taken". POPSUGAR Celebrity. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d Peters, Torrey (July 22, 2021). "Tommy Dorfman Would like to Clarify". Time. Retrieved July 22, 2021. I love him so much, but we've been learning that as a trans woman, what I'm interested in is not necessarily reflected in a gay man. So we've had incredible conversations to redefine our relationship as friends.
  11. ^ Peoples, Landon (November 16, 2017). "Tommy Dorfman's Latest Fashion Statement: Gender". refinery29.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2020. "Growing up, I hated the idea that clothing was gendered. I identify as non-binary," she reveals.
  12. ^ "13 Reasons Why star Tommy Dorfman comes out as transgender". BBC News. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "tommy.dorfman on TikTok". TikTok. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  14. ^ Dorfman, Tommy (May 2, 2024). "Tommy Dorfman on Her Whirlwind Elopement With Wife Elise—And the Story of Their Low-Key Romance". Vogue. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "'13 Reasons Why' star Tommy Dorfman reveals she married in secret in 2023". EW.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  16. ^ '13 Reasons Why' Star Tommy Dorfman Joins Final Season of 'Jane the Virgin' (Exclusive) Archived July 23, 2021, at the Wayback Machine by Matt Donnelly, The Wrap. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  17. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (June 29, 2020). "'Love In The Time Of Corona': Freeform Sets Leslie Odom Jr., Nicolette Robinson, Tommy Dorfman, Rainey Qualley And 4 More For Limited Series Event". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
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